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Influence of media informing public opinion
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Influence of media informing public opinion
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Owen Sanders
Dr. Coby
English 101
13 Oct 2016
A National Identity Crisis
"We all use stereotypes, all the time, without knowing it. We have met the enemy of equality, and the enemy is us." (Paul). When people stereotype, they judge a group of people who are different from them based on their own opinions and generalized facts. Stereotypes can be negative or positive, but most of the time negative and untrue. Americans, as a whole, always seemed to get stereotyped negatively. Apparently, others view all Americans as ignorant, gun-loving, fat, and racist. The stereotypical definition of Americans needs to change because it does not truly represent who Americans really are. Although some Americans might possess certain examples of those traits,
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the majority of them do not. Last Summer, my family went on a vacation to the Bahamas. While in the Bahamas, I got stereotyped negatively countless times. People called me lazy and racist just because I came from America. I certainly don’t embody the stereotypes presented, but it still cut deep to know others view us that way. I believe that Americans are hard-working, intelligent, proud, and willing to give their life for their country. According to Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of American is a person born, raised, or living in the U.S (Merriam-Webster). Basically it means that if one was either born in America or currently living in America, they are considered an American. Oddly enough, the definition doesn't mean the same thing as an American citizen, which would mean if one wasn't born in America, they would have to get a green card to stay. This excerpt literally defines who Americans are according to the dictionary, but it falls a long short of how Americans are viewed, which is much more negatively. I personally think that this definition needs to be changed. There needs to be a definition which somehow expresses the true meaning of what it means to be American. America is the land of the free and home of the brave, so why is the definition of an American so generic? Probably the most common stereotype of Americans presents them as materialistic.
Apparently, Americans only care about money and tangible goods. All Americans are also apparently obsessive over having the best of the best. One example from popular culture, The Great Gatsby, shows Gatsby portrayed as someone who only cares about having the nicest house, the best parties, and having plenty of expensive things. Shown to be pursuing the “American Dream” of riches, he shows why others may have a poor view of Americans. Kim Kardashian is the perfect example of how other countries view how materialistic Americans are. According to E! News, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West just bought a $20 million house. This dream house includes two spas, two pools, and their own vineyard. (You Won!) Celebrities like Kim and Kanye give Americans a bad reputation. Sure they work hard for their money, but why is it necessary to have a house so large? That’s why Americans are viewed as obsessively materialistic. Although some Americans only care about materialistic goods, the majority of them don’t care about materialistic things. To my knowledge, the majority of Americans care more about happiness, love, and family. To the Americans I know, these ideas represent the real American …show more content…
Dream. Americans are also seen as gun-loving and extremely violent. Americans are viewed as always carrying a gun and always wanting to pick a fight with someone. Apparently, we always think violence is the answer and we never think things out. Clint Eastwood could definitely be seen as an embodiment of a true American and, because of his affinity for guns and violence, it could further support the thought that Americans are this way as well. All the movies about the wild west also help support the idea that Americans are violent. In those movies, there is always a showdown between two characters, most of the time between a villain and the hero. Fighting is always the answer in these movies. Superhero movies also support this claim. Although the hero is fighting crime for the better and to save the day, heroes are usually extremely violent in getting the job done. They punch, they kick and even use their powers to kill the villain. Despite this unfair assumption, and even though a large number of Americans household own firearms, this doesn’t mean that they are all inherently violent. The topic of gun control is a controversial topic in America. A good amount of Americans are for gun control, and a good amount is against. If all Americans were gun-loving, I’m sure the topic of gun control wouldn’t be so controversial. Another stereotype of Americans is that they are all ignorant.
This stereotype shows them being completely unaware of what’s going on outside of the United States, and that they are not intelligent. Americans are also seen as being completely unaware and unconcerned about the environment. This idea of ignorance started at a very early time in our history. When the settlers took over Indian land, they showed that they had no respect for the Indian’s culture and beliefs. Other countries view Americans as still having that same mentality now even though that time in our history has passed. Some American’s are also portrayed as being dumb. In a majority of movies nowadays, the jock is portrayed as being completely unconcerned about their academics. All they care about is their sport and trying to be the best athlete they can be. Movies also portray most blondes as being ditsy and completely unaware of what is going on around them. They just care about shopping, looking good, and having the most attractive boyfriend. The stereotype that jocks and blondes represent Americans is feeding to the negative stereotype that Americans are
ignorant. Also linking with ignorance of other countries is how American people, in general, are portrayed as being racist. According to Albert Einstein, racism is America’s “worst disease.” When one thinks of how to define a nation, one might look towards the leader of that nation. The leader, or the president, is someone who is the figurehead of a country. When another country thinks of America, they are going to imagine Americans in the way that the president presents himself. Donald Trump is running to be the president of America and because he makes what can be seen as racist comments and is still embraced by Americans, the other countries see Americans as sharing the views that Donald has. My definition of an American is different than how others view it. To me, an American is someone who is hard working, proud, free, and willing to give their life for their country. My dad is the absolute epitome of an American. He embodies all of the traits that I believe defines who a true American is. My dad and I work at the same company, so daily I see how great he is. Seeing my dad at work showed me what a true American is. He is someone who is always working extremely hard, always supporting his country no matter what, and someone who is proud to be an American. America is full of people like my dad, so why are Americans viewed as lazy and not hard-working? I also got this definition from the actions of my grandfather who served our country in the Vietnam War. He kept fighting for his country until he was physically unable. He would have kept serving had they let him, but unfortunately, a bayonet to his knee caused him to be discharged. This attitude that my grandpa exhibits is what makes me know that “American” needs to be redefined. My definition is the best because it captures the true heart of what an American is. Despite all of the definitions that other countries give based on their generalizations of Americans, my definition represents who Americans really are. What our country needs is more powerful Americans showing other countries that we aren’t what they think we are. We need more Americans like Martin Luther King Jr., Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates in our society today. These people are what truly represents American ideals. All of these individuals are hard-working and extremely intelligent. They all had an idea or dream, and they worked as hard as they could to accomplish their goals. America is full of smart and capable people, but the media doesn’t focus on people like that. All the media cares about is attractive celebrities and anything that makes a juicy story. We need media to broadcast the Americans that represent the true American. Instead of a news segment about the fact that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt broke up, why not broadcast a story about a local person donating to a charity or helping clean up the environment? Americans are so much more than an ignorant, gun-loving, fat, and racist country. A true American is someone who is hard working, proud, and would do anything in order to serve their country. The stereotypical definition of Americans needs to be changed because it does not accurately represent who Americans really are and how the world should really see them.
Chapter 1: Chapter one introduces the reader to the narrator Nick Halloway and most of the other other characters of the story. Including his cousin daisy, her husband tom and their friend jordan - the golfer. Nick comes from a wealthy family; however, doesn’t believe in inheriting their wealth. Instead he wishes to earn his own wealth by selling bonds in the stock market. Chapter one also talks about the separation of the rich. Where the east egg represents the inherently rich whereas west egg represents the newly rich. The people in the east also seem to lack social connections and aristocratic pedigree. Whereas the people in west egg possess all those qualities usually lacked by people in the east.With nick living
What Is a Stereotype? The definition of a stereotype is any commonly known public belief about a certain social group or a type of individual. Stereotypes are often created about people of specific cultures or races. Stereotyping is a big problem, and everyone can be affected by it. There are many ways to stereotype a person such as, all white Americans are obese, lazy, and dumb, men who spend too much time on the computer or read are geeks, that all Mexicans are lazy and came into America illegally, all Arabs and Muslims are terrorists, or that all Americans are generally considered to be friendly, generous, and tolerant. All of these examples of stereotyping are found in the novel, Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream by Joshua Davis, published on December 2, 2014. This is a nonfiction/documentary book that follows the true story of how four undocumented teens from Mexico, leaving in Arizona, are joined by two teachers who were able to beat some of the best engineering schools
4) Discuss the novel’s theme that outward appearances can be deceptive. What does the novel
In the essay The Way We Lie, Stephanie Ericsson writes that “All the ‘isms’-racism, sexism, ageism, et al.-are founded on and fueled by the stereotype and the cliché, which are lies of exaggeration, omission, and ignorance. They are always dangerous. They take a single tree and make it a landscape.” This quote is important due to the fact that stereotypes play a major role in many aspects of our society. In American society we have a tendency to pass judgment on people just because of a pre-existing stereotype that our society has formed on particular groups over the years. American Society tends to create stereotypes because of the simplicity it adds to our lives, but stereotypes can cause us to oversimplify the characteristics of others, encourage prejudice, and can even create many more severe dangers.
Great literary characters are immortalized and perpetually discussed not because they are individually so grand and majestic, but because they exist as more than themselves. A great literary character truly exists in the external and symbolic associations that the author and audience apply. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald reveals social and emotional elements of his character Daisy Buchanan through the symbols of white dresses and a pearl necklaces in order to convey a message concerning detrimental class values, a theme that can be better understood by comparing Daisy to a diamond.
One of the major stereotypes is racial/stereotypical thoughts against Mexicans. Lots of people say that all Mexicans like soccer and/or professionally play soccer. Also people like to joke around and say that all Mexicans like tacos and burritos. Even though there might be some kids that are of mexican heritage that don’t like soccer or don’t like tacos or burritos. Just because so one is Mexican or even just looks Mexican doesn't mean that they play soccer, eat tacos, listen to marrache, or that their families are poor.
Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s visionary writing style during the early twentieth century revolutionized a new style for other writers. “Theme is most dramatically expressed through character, and Fitzgerald used the people he created to convey his personal vision of the world” (Keshmiri 2). As Keshmiri states, Fitzgerald, unlike many other writers at the time, expresses his stories through the development of the characters. Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and The Beautiful and the Damned illustrate the many flaws of human nature and how these flaws contribute to the downfall of the characters through their obsession with status, their inability to accept reality, and the use of alcohol.
F. Scott Fitzgerald is well known for being an excellent writer, for expertly describing the Jazz Age, and for having a drinking problem. However, he is not so well known for creating deep and intriguing characters. In The Great Gatsby, the majority of the characters remain one-dimensional and unchanging throughout the novel. They are simply known from the viewpoint of Nick Carraway, the participating narrator. Some insight is given into characters in the form of their dialogue with Nick, however, they never really become deep characters that are 'known' and can be identified with. While all of the participants in the novel aren't completely flat, most of the main characters are simply stereotypes of 1920's people from the southern, western, and eastern parts of America.
The world is filled with cheapskates, phonies, and two-faced people. Many use others for their own benefits. In The Great Gatsby, through the motif of superficiality, Fitzgerald critiques the theme that displaying materialism and superficiality can ruin true love and a chance at true love. Objects cannot define a relationship; it should be the feelings developed that defines the relationship of two people. The characteristic of materialism is a barrier for true love between two people. Nick Carraway has just moved to a West Egg, and his mysterious neighbor is Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s long living dream is to rekindle his love and relationship with Daisy Buchanan, who is currently married to Tom Buchanan. He attempts to pursue his relationship with Daisy through his unexplained wealth. However, their love couldn’t be true because of their focus on “things” rather than each other.
According to Richard T. Schaefer, (2012) the author of Sociology: Thirteenth Edition, stereotypes are “false images or unreliable generalizations about all members of a group that do not recognize individual differences within the group” (Schaefer, 2012). Some stereotypes that I have heard are; that Indian is another proper name for Native American, and Native Americans are all alike, worship nature, and smoke a peace pipe. Of course, I know this is untrue, but books and movies often do not focus on actual Native American tribes, so people remain naïve about past and current Native American cultural facts. For example, the article North Dakota lawmakers vote to keep “Fighting Sioux” (2011) claims “at the Florida State University a mascot dressed in an Indian headdress rides horseback at football games and fans wave their...
Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby, there is a constant theme present: social class. Fitzgerald makes a connection between the theme of social class, and the settings in the novel for example The Valley of Ashes which is described as a “desolate area of land” (p.21) and a “solemn dumping ground” (p.21) which is where the poor people live. The Valley of Ashes is situated between West Egg and New York, West Egg being the place where the aspiring classes are situated, which is the “less fashionable of the two” (p.8), this is where Gatsby lives. West Egg is the place of ‘new money’, Fitzgerald shows this by the idea of the main character Jay Gatsby, rumoured to be selling illegal alcohol (prohibition) which means he is quickly making vast amounts of money.” Who is this Gatsby anyhow? Some big bootlegger?”(p.86) Gatsby shows off the amount of wealth he has by his fabulous parties and oversized mansion. “There was music from my neighbour's house through those summer nights. In his enchanted gardens, men and girls came and went like moths, among the whispering and the champagne and the stars.”(p.33) Fitzgerald uses the word ‘enchanted’ to paint a visual picture of what the house and the scene looks like, a magical and enchanted castle, with elegant furniture. This is in comparison to East Egg where Tom and Daisy Buchanan live, in a house where “The windows were ajar and gleaming white against the fresh grass outside” (p.10). East Egg being the place of ‘old money’ which is made from the inheritance of their past generations, the people who live it East Egg are mainly well educated, historically wealthy and live quite elegantly, but they are also quite ‘snobbish’. Gatsby’s background does not fit into the social standards of East Egg...
At one point in time, these stereotypes may have been true; however, in today’s modern society, most of these stereotypes are outdated and false, which leads them to turn into misconceptions. Usually, stereotypes are utilized to humiliate and degrade the person or group; they also do not provide any beneficial outcomes. Stereotypes focus on how a particular group acts because of the radical ideas and actions of the few, how a particular group looks, or how that group is physically lacking in some way. These stereotypes often lead to conflicts because the group does not appreciate the way it is perceived. Seldom are the stereotypes placed on a group of people truthful and accurate.
To have a strong American Dream, there must be a fear of failure. In both works, failure is defined as losing manhood, and success is equated with being the “ideal male”. The American Dream becomes an extension of masculinity attained through material possessions, work ethic, and status. Manhood is represented by the determination, achievement, and accomplishment, which makes failure more threatening as it equates to the destruction of the individual rather than his goals. Fear is another motivation which turns the struggles for greatness very personal for the cast. The theme of the film is based on antiquated concept that males are supposed to protect and provide for women; therefore, failing to succeed becomes a threat to the male’s domestic
In conclusion, stereotypes are always going to come in different shapes and forms. We may not realize it at first, but we need to know they are there. In order for stereotypes to be broken, people need to stop feeding people what they think it is to be something or someone they have no idea about. Stereotypes come from uneducated biased people and with that cause a lot of false information. We need to change what information we give out because we are hurting other humans with our assumptions.
There is a lot of stereotypes and different groups that people see and identify. I could tell you right now that there is a stereotyped