Scenario: (Manila is pictured above)
American in Paris (ok, or Manila).
Problem:
The, not-so-pretty, American stereotype.
Question:
Is the American in "Pulse of the Land" an accurate stereotype? Is this how other countries really view us? If so, why do you think we are portrayed in this light??
BLOG AWAY! (oh, and, quiz tomorrow!)
I don't know if i would considerate it an "accurate" stereotype because I don't think an accurate stereotype exists however, I do think that it is a commonly used stereotype. In other literature that I've read and my own experiences, foreign people have this assumption that all Americans are stupid or unappreciative or selfish. Like earlier said in class, my friend from camp who is from Singapore told us how everyone in Singapore made judgments about Americans and about how stupid they are. What's even worse is, the school that she goes to is an international school so there are students from all over the world with the same stereotype. Another common one is that Americans are so fat and greedy. When I was on a cruise this past winter break, one of my British friends told my sister and I, the first day, how fat and stuck up Americans are. Good thing he changed his mind about us after he learned not ALL Americans are like that.
ReplyDeleteThe American in "Pulse of the Land" is an accurate stereotype because the American in the story is wasteful and not appreciative which is how we are viewed by other countries. The common stereotype is unappreciative and wasteful because most Americans take almost everything for granted, even things which seem to small to us, such as water. In the Philippines, water is very scarce and it takes a lot of effort to get it. In America, we are used to just being able to turn on the faucet and get water whenever we need it. Therefore, when the American goes to the Philippines, he is unappreciative of how much the children have to go through to keep bringing him water. He is very wasteful of the water, by pouring it on his head and splashing it on his face. I think that Americans are portrayed in this light because we have many things that other countries don't have. Because of this, Americans usually act superior to other countries, just as the American does to the Philippine people in the book.
ReplyDeleteI think the American in the story is being stereotypical about the people in Manila and Manila as a place. However, I also believe that the author is being stereotypical of Americans. My belief is while its true that some Americans are wasteful, and stuck up, and all that stuff, I think you will find that anywhere. I just think those types of people exist all over. I'm almost positive there is at least ONE person in Manila who isn't the nicest person you'll ever meet. However, for one reason or another, I believe that other countries do view America and Americans with this stereotype. I think its normal and O.K though because we have stereotypes about them too. I think we as Americans are portrayed this way because people in other countries see famous Americans on TV, in papers, and on the Internet acting this way and they make the wrong assumption that all Americans act like this. Its no different from how we view other people and other countries. While I think its wrong to view people and places like this, it is part of human nature to judge others. So is this an "accurate" stereotype, no because most stereotypes aren't accurate, thats what makes them stereotypes. Just like how the American stereotype that third world countries are dirty stinky places where no one would want to live. Like Ms. Rosen said in class, just because its different than what you're used to doesn't make it wrong or "weird." Its just different.
ReplyDeleteI believe the American in the story is an accurate sterotype of Americans. The stereotype is that Americans are not thankful and are very wasteful human. This is really how other countries view Americans. Compared to other countries, America is very wasteful and does not appreacitae what they have. For example, in the place in the story they were a third world nation with little to no water. They were very thankful for what they had and were even willing to share. I think Americans are portayed in this light because it is TRUE. Americans do not appreciate what they have and it really is not their fault. They do not know any better and are ignorant to the world around them. Stories like this teach Americans to be very thankful for what they have and to also realize that we are fortanute for our lives
ReplyDeleteI don't want to sound like an idiot but is this homework?
ReplyDeletePOST ON THE Way
yes it is homework.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that other countries view us in this light, yet they show us respect at the same time. It would be ignorant to say that they feel this way out of jealousy, but it is almost like that in some way. We endulge in things that a lot of other countries do not experience such as single family homes and cars and television and in the case of Manila, running water. We take these things for granted everyday and it isn't until we experience these other lifestyles that we really compare our lives. For some people it will open up their eyes and make them change but for others it does not affect them. It isn't a fair stereotype because we as a people are not all the same. Some people dedicate their lives to change around the world and helping others who are less fortunate while the stereotype comes from those who endulge in their daily luxuries and don't take a second glance at other peoples' lives. That is where I believe the stereotype comes from and although a lot of Americans are born into our lifestyles it doesn't mean that we don't see what goes on around the world and appreciate the things we have. The American was a stereotype of what other cultures believe us to be, but he eventually realized everything he had compared to the people there and their tough daily lives. At one point he calls these peoples' lives pointless and says that they don't have a purpose on this Earth, but for them that is all they know and their purpose is to get food and water and make a hut and survive. These are the goals of all human beings we just go about getting them in a different way and that is what creates stereotypes and igorance to other nations and cultures.
ReplyDeleteYES I FINALLY GOT IT TO WORK! and I have a nice picture too :)
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ReplyDeleteI do think that this is an accurate stereotype, however, I don't think that it portrays all Americans. I believe that other countries do view the American people in this way. It's not like the author of this story just made up the stereotype, they obviously had to have gotten the idea from some previous experience or such. The thing with Americans is that not all, but many take things for granted. Many Americans grew up with everything and didn't have to work for it. Most of us are all provided with water and we certainly do not have to work for it, like they do in this story and other countries in the world. I think that we are portrayed in this light because the American stereotype of selfishness and wastefulness is true. We take way too much for granted and don't really appreciate what we have.
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ReplyDeleteYes, the American in Pulse of the Land is an accurate stereotype. I say this because as a whole americans as we all well know tend to lack care for other people and their property. We tend to be wasteful,carefree people who sometimes look down on others that aren't like ourselves. I think this is how most countries view us. I think they see us as this because they are given the impression that americans are rich. This leads them to the conclusion that we are lazy and that won't don't work hard.Also, we don't value work as much as other countries do. We tend to do get as much done with the least amount of effort. Plus, we don't focus on the well being of others, we only focus on ourselves. We don't "use a village to raise a child". The other problem with Americans is that we judge this we don't really know. Like, in the story the american was talking about how worthless this village and the people's lives were without really knowing much about it. This is why other coutries think Americans are wasteful, lazy, and ignorant.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Carly about how I don't think "accurate" stereotypes exist. However I also think that this is how other countries view us. I think there are 2 stereotypes of America. 1) It is the land of opportunity and 2) it is the land of greed. I think Americans are viewed this way because of how they act when they travel to other countries. I think the way that some Americans act portrays an ugly viewpoint on the American people as a whole. How the media represents Americans also creates a bad stereotype. With all of the negativity and false generalizations that reporters "report", it is easy to see how other countries view us as hard to get along with, greedy, obnoxious and dumb.
ReplyDeleteIn the story, the American is an accurate stereotype. Reason being is that some countries view us as either a person who doesn't give a hoot about their lifestyle, a person who can't handle the fact that they do things differently than us, or a person who wastes alot in order to satisfy our needs or wants. We are portrayed in this manner due to us tend to being a wasteful nation and trying to help or control other countries political systems.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a pretty accurate stereotype because Americans view anything different from the the "normal" American way as bad. Although it may be different from what we're used to, it doesn't necessarily make it bad.
ReplyDeleteI think this is really how other countries view us because America is so spoiled and we don't even realize it. We take the smallest tihngs for granted each and every day. I think other countries just feel that we think we're so much better than them because we have it easy. We don't have to work as hard as them in order to survive. However, this is not the entire case. Although we don't have to work half as hard as other countries in order to survive, we don't think we're better than them. This is just simply because this was how we were raised and what we are used to. Since we were raised with necessities of life handed to us (such as water, food, etc.) we don't stop to appreciate how lucky we are each time we take a sip of water or a bite of food. It's just simply a habbit NOT to think about it.
Whether we deny it (or want to deny it), it is an accurate sterotype: the American considering himself better than the other becuase he is more technologically advanced, and thinks himself better.
ReplyDeleteOther countries think this about America, becuase we are so over-hyped as a country. Imagine a young half-naked boy in the Phillipenes learn that people in American Skyscraper buildings in a hi-tech security enclosed area is creating a vaccine, while he's vetting water from a cocunut shell. THe truth is, this stereotype isn't good becuase it makes us Americans look at life in a much narrower light, that all people need to serve the purpose of going to college.
In the Phillepens, they don't get technology becuase they don't eed it. They are happy with their life, even if the American thinks his is better, the American style is more complicated.
IN summary, the American is a good stereotype becuase he thinks he's superior, and other people see this becuase of the glorification and propoganda surrounding America, as well as the technological disparity.
To first understand if the American is an accurate stereotype I first searched the proper definition of a stereoype from dictionary.com which is "a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group". By this definition the stereotype given in "The Pulse of the Land" is very accurate because that is what other cultures simplify the AVERAGE American to be. Reasons for this stereotype may have risen from jealousy, although probably not, but they may have most likely arisen from tourist visiting places different from America and being ignorant of different cultures causing other countries and regions to form this view of an igrorant, disrespectful, Americans. Also I think that the story of the American could have possibly been based on partially true events and because of multiple events like this the veiw of Americans was formed.
ReplyDeleteI think that the stereotype in "Pulse of the Land" is accurate for the average American because whether the average American realizes it or not, we take things for granted everyday and would be shocked to see what other people in different cultures have to go through to get simple everyday necessities. Other countries look at America in many different perspectives. One is the stereotype displayed in the story of the snobby, stuck up, takes everything for granted American. Then there is the America that has it's arms out to welcome anybody and is the classic "land of opportunity." American's can be seen by other countries in either extreme or in between.
ReplyDeleteSo really, I think that in the context of the story, Americans are portrayed as the stuck-up ignorant fools because to the people who have to work for what they have we are very spoiled. Americans are taught from an early age to depend on others to help them succeed, whether it be providing food and shelter, or just getting them educated enough to be successful. We all waste things that are used to exhaustion in other countries, whether we like it or not, we fulfill the stereotype in some way in our everyday life. We just may not realize it because we are ignorant of the tendencies, which is also ironically part of the stereotype itself.
I believe that the American in this story is a pretty accurate stereotype of many Americans. The stereotype is that Americans are wasteful and inconsiderate which is true for many Americans. In the story when the American poured the water on the ground it showed how Americans waste things that many other people need. This is how other countries really view us because they think we are selfish and dont really care about the needs of other countries.
ReplyDeleteI think I fixed my name...
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