american culture from an outsiders perspective american culture from an outsiders perspective

I think it comes from two places: sports, and a sense of community. American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States. The point is that we have many amazing things in this country, but how much of it is concretely ours? We in Europe have smaller things What I liked when I was over there was the service level, it was very high. Money rules everything. Though the conditions of pre-Columbian America and 15th-century Iberia are beyond the scope of Latin American history proper, they must be given consideration in that connection. And what do you think of when you think of a typical American? Americans are gallant." Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And for more on why we pronounce this letter differently, check out Why the World Pronounces "Z" as "Zed" And Americans Don't. It is told in a first-person narration style, with the narrator being a 14-year-old boy. While many love how so patriotic we are as a people, some, to be blunt, find it a bit creepy. This extraordinary insight highlights the power that outsiders have, forcing us to see ourselves from an altogether different perspective. For example, the view of Northpolians regarding Acimerans is an etic perspective. Culture, or the environment a person is exposed to, can alter how people behave, along with shaping part of someone's, or their whole, life. In America, on the other hand, taking time off is often treated like a sin. Red Solo Cups are the symbol of college keggers and backyard barbecues alikeand yet, they're rarely seen outside of the U.S. At Slate, Seth Stevenson gave a good explanation of the appeal of the plastic cup: Its opaque color makes it impossible for authorities to casually tell what's in the cup; its sturdy design makes it virtually spill-proof; and its newly created square bottom makes it easy to hold. Supersizing Food. I found this quite interesting and maybe a bit eye opening, because as Americans, these things are completely normal to us. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); In most other countries, you take the time to at least park the car and walk through the front doors of the place you're patronizingnot in America, though! The biggest thing I found was that non-Americans are almost disgusted by the sheer amount of sugar in almost all our food. I hate to put even more pressure on . Loudness. "Here in New Zealand, lemonade generally equals . Eggs are a universal delicacy, but outside of the U.S., they are seldom stored in the fridge. A good book on a rainy day or with calming music is a wonderful way to take a break from the responsibilities of life and escape into another world. An outsider can clearly observe behavior but they cannot understand it while conversely an American would not be able to observe an attitude but they would be able to understand the . It's like your entire concept of beauty hangs on it. Now, besides the few, awesome things, I will end with what was a bit of a mixed review from non-Americans. And it is a great country; I have visited it. We have black, asians, white, hispanics, indians just to name of few and yet we don't have massive in fighting between races or religions. Marketing companies that work from outside of your company bring a fresh perspective that doesn't exist from within your company. They're calm and kind and friendly and they like to smile." I also like a challenge. The paper,written by University of Chicago trained anthropologist Horace Miner wasoriginally published in 1956. In continuation with time, the culture of the native people developed. Curious about which things are considered freaky by foreigners' standards? [] detailed search help you gain a new perspective on the Nacirema people. In some of my classes, as part of a paper exploring the concepts and influenceof culture, I ask students to explore a ritual within their own culture but from an outsiders view as if they were witnessing the practice for the first time and trying to understand it. I'm sure you have left over hot chocolate from November and December, so it's time to finish them off. These wires are attached to a side of the house and only come on at night. Flashnewb, many Chinese people do not understand how America can function so "well" since the people here are all so different. They believe in the right to have a good life and to help others to have a good life, and I think that's part of what makes them Americans." Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. . If not, think of a country or place where youve always wanted to go, and become aware of the images your mind creates when you think of this place and its people. To begin, Ill stick with the positives. Like, for example, in real life, you cant kill people. Not only did the geography of precontact America persist, but both the new arrivals and the indigenous inhabitants long retained their respective general characteristics, and it was the fit between . A society that has more things than our society." Even when it's the dead of winter, coffee shops are still serving up iced coffee. Fenrir89, I get made fun of all the time in Russia for having an attachment to my college. You can describe American culture in general, as Miner does, or you can describe an American subculture, such as a specific geographical group (e.g., New Yorkers), a . It is a great country and would love to live there. What is even more confusing is that these items in the boxes are often not kept. There's an undercurrent of savagery and violence waiting to be expressed on a grand scale it seems, and I believe it's because American culture is unwittingly pushing for complete atomization of society, people can no longer rely on the elite for virtuous principles and leadership, and that people are starting to realize that . They cannot generate these results, because they are based on, and restricted by, the ethnocentric perspective. The growth and diversification of the Asian American population in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Starting off your day this way could increase your odds of cognitive decline. But in the U.S., people are happy to just toss their card in a folder with the bill and let the server take it away for swiping. The fellow in line asked me in a very American accent, 'Y'all can't get what in the States?' Sign up for notifications from Insider! 2 - A Chinese Golden Lily Foot by Lai Afong, c1870s. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group, Saying "how are you?" the culture being studied such that he/she can blend his/her etic (outsider) perspective with the emic (insider) perspective of the society being studied. But to watch Al Jazeera Americas reports is to discover that the truth lies somewhere in between these visions the network as fundamentally foreign versus the network as all-American. To non-Americans the fact that we have a choice of, what kind of bread we want our sandwich on, and what kind of cheese we want on said sandwich, along with what kind of dressing, is just mind blowing. What do they think of when they think of America? In many instances, the name of a coin will tell you something about how much it's worth. - Pedro Ivan Gonzalez, 35, juice seller, Havana, "It is a world imperialist power country. But one thing for sure, they cannot make beer." teach well, it matters. - Christopher Darroch, 39, actor, Toronto, "I was stunned to see how big everything is over there. Jun 25, 2018. Not sure whether I actually am ready to move there because it must be a tough country to live in. These kind greetings can catch foreigners by surprise, and usually it takes a few "hellos" before they trust that it's not some kind of scam. Mix it up using almond or coconut milk. Do they think of our wide range of geography and national wonders? Like so much else in the United States, we go big with our roads, which are a huge contrast to the tight city streets of most European towns and winding mountain roads found in much of the rest of the world. paper from an anthropological perspective. They must be of some great importance or have some great wisdom, which allows them the honor of completing this task. Here, we're far too busy to waste time, so we have drive-through restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, liquor stores, and more. Anyone can have a good idea, so you could expect the distribution of U.S. patents to resemble the demographics of the workplace. Another oddity of American advertising are those spots you see for prescription medication during every commercial break. I think that anybody with good ideas, if they want to make a mark, it gives you an equal opportunity in that country. - Liu Xiaodan, 30, hotel manager, Beijing, "My impression of Americans is that they uncomplicated. Driving everywhere. You might have been counting down the days until spring, but make the most of these chilly and cloudy days. Wrapping up in a warm blanket with a hot drink and some calming music is one of the best ways to spend and indoor kind of day. First off, there are a variety of flavors, from White Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice, Mint, Caramel and the list goes on. The spectacle of the Tupinamb men in the French court, as described by Montaigne, could be said to be an instance of "reverse colonization," a phenomenon in which those who embarked in a colonial . Anthropologists conduct their research in the field with the species, civilization, or groups of people they are studying. - Gennelyn Escopete, 33, DVD street vendor, Manila, Philippines, "Probably capitalism, but I see it more as freedom that every person can do what he wants, when he wants - true freedom, but it costs a lot I think, and sometimes it brings you lower than takes you higher." Some of the answers are pretty hilarious and/or eye-opening. It was reported to me that the ritual consists of inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders, and then moving the bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures., Now without the photo below (but maybe skewed by the photo above) and in the context of the rest of the paper, many students do not recognize this as our daily habit of brushing our teeth. They have to lift it up and tie it to the top of their vehicle, and then drive very slowly so the tree will not fall off the car. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Cheese is life people. By the time you've been inside an American establishment in the summertime for just 10 minutes, you'll be freezing cold and eager to get back out into the sweltering sun. In S.E. There was a bit of a culture shock when I first went there because the way people dress there is very much different from the way we dress here. There is, of course, diverse reporting on health care and the stock market and climate change on Al Jazeera America, but there is unmistakably in its coverage a hint of this thesis Americas bountiful callousness. What does it mean to be an American? Non-Americans of reddit, what aspect of American culture strikes you as the strangest. All the pomp and circumstance surrounding prom, I have cousins who live in the US and just hearing about the number of hoops they had to jump through to ask someone to a dance is hilarious. The photo below shows different tools for cleaning ones teeth yes, even the sticks. Hinton's young adult novel The Outsiders, stereotyping is a significant issue. What identifies an American? There are two gangs in this novel, the "greasers", and the "Socs". In addition, for some reason, the tree must be a rather large tree with lots of foliage. This story deals with issues that are very close to the hearts of teens, whether in the 1960s when this book was written or today. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Cultural relativism is the idea that the beliefs and practices of a culture should be understood within the context of that particular culture's background, history, and current events surrounding it. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A star, or in some cases an angel or other figurine is put on top of the tree, and it seems to be an honor for the person who is allowed to put it there. Cultural relativism can be seen with the Chinese culture and their process of feet binding. - Gennelyn Escopete, 33, DVD street vendor, Manila, Philippines, "There is a lot of misconception about their politics. Why is so much trouble taken to offer the items to people, wrapped and put under this gaudy tree only to be given away? Despite the fact that these people are so punctilious, about care of the mouth, this rite involves a practice which strikes the uninitiated stranger as revolting. When they do, the house and shrubs look very bright, and not a single house on the street is without these wires. As well as supporting your college as an alumni. Okay, so besides us Americans in general, what about the other stuff, like our food, drink and entertainment? While we face the last couple of weeks of winter there are many things you need to do. - Ingerlise Kristensen, 68, retired bank employee, Copenhagen, Denmark, "America is food fast food and (Coca) Cola. The particular Skittles flavor we call "grape" is an American curiosity of its own, but for those in the United Kingdom and Australia, this flavor doesn't even exist. 600 Words3 Pages. 2. What I've concluded from my time here so far is that most of the people in Europe consider Americans good-hearted, but completely insane people. Bacon or sausage? WHAT IS THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD "AMERICA"? It's not that we're lazy, per se; it's just that we like to be comfyand despite the weird looks we get from European tourists, being cozy simply trumps looking put together sometimes. Let's move to the music, more specifically, blues and jazz, which are two personal loves of mine. jdavem, The way its often described to me is that Americans have a very "open mind", and that we can handle having a lot of different people around, even when we don't agree. Mehta, 34, health insurance agent, New Delhi, "Has a very liberal culture, great people and a country that drives innovation." Is this not a national travesty? Miner gives an insight on the Nacireman people, which he describes in his essay as an unknown tribe, and the completing of the Nacireman's magical beliefs . cota main grandstand; chocolate pudding with 2 percent milk For example, 84% of those ages 18 to 29 in Taiwan hold this view . - Ksenia Smertova, 21, student, Moscow, "America? right back and expect an answer," Sophie-Claire Hoeller wrote for The Independent. Now, Im not talking about Bud Light and the like, Im talking about the large amount of micro-breweries and craft beers we make. Ethnocentric views are often closely tied to racism. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { - Karin Cohen, 25, bookshop worker, Jerusalem, "The first thing I think when I hear United States is a world power." However, young people both in and outside the U.S. are particularly fond of American popular culture. NEW YORK Al Jazeera wants to make its name as American as pizzaburgers. White or wheat? An Outsider Looks at Life in America. Why go Tall when a Venti is just a dollar more? fawkesandthehound. - Marren Cahilig, 21, bartender, Manila, Philippines, "A friend had an American friend over and he was surprised to see how laid back we are. Once they get home, they have to lift it once again off the car and into their house. The etic perspective is data gathering by outsiders that yield questions posed by outsiders. The idea of being self-sufficient is valued highly in the U.S. Many Western media companies have seized upon this reality to create sites devoted to the domestic consumption of their foreign reporting including The New York Timess India Ink blog, to cite an example. People are nice but superficial. The difference is one of cultural ownership and general acknowledgement, of giving credit where it's dueespecially when credit is long overdue to a historically oppressed people. Build a pillow fort on your bed in any clear space using four chairs, an abundance of blankets and all the pillows you can find. Instead, their purple Skittles taste like blackcurrantand while this fruity flavor used to be popular in America, legislators banned the fruit itself in the 20th century because it served as a vehicle for a wood-destroying disease known as white pine blister rust. For example, the average American may be used to big tips and even bigger portions, but to foreigners, that's all far from the norm. Whats more is that once Christmas is over, all of the gaudy gems and balls on the tree have to be removed and the tree must be moved out of the house. "Body Rituals Among the Nacirema, " by Horace Miner, is an essay written about the Nacirema, or American people, from an outsider's perspective. Persons from religious perspectives other than Christianity, which emphasizes "individual salvation," may see the individual as equal to all living things, as on a journey toward individual fulfillment, or even as . In anthropology, folkloristics, and the social and behavioral sciences, emic (/ i m k /) and etic (/ t k /) refer to two kinds of field research done and viewpoints obtained.. Families also make sure they get a hold of a rather sizable green tree, butthey go outside of their property to find such a tree. they aren't actually looking for an answer. While New York City famouslynever sleeps, it's not the only city with 24-hour businesses. But, besides the Willy Wonka level of sugar, we use a substantial amount of cheese in everything. What one culture does and believes to benormal, others may see as unusual. Here are some of the best: 1. Once the tree is inside, for some reason they put it in the center of the room, and proceed to decorate it with various gaudy balls and gems on strings. Cultural Perspective on African American Culture Angela Khristin Brown E-mail: brownlas6@aol.com Received: 05-09- 2013 Accepted: 09-10-2013 Published: 31-10-2013 . Overweight people, Donald Trump, elections, shootings." Despite the fact that these people are so punctiliousabout care of the mouth, this rite involves a practice which strikes the uninitiated stranger as revolting. There's the American way and then there's everybody else. A thread on Reddit asks the question: Non-Americans of reddit, what aspect of American culture strikes you as the strangest? I found the people very hospitable, nice and very cordial." Americans love their free refills. Mehta, 34, health insurance worker, New Delhi, "America is a land of opportunities. Included 600 grams of cheese. Americans really love their ice. One problem that anthropologists may run in to is that people tend to act differently when they are being observed. - Summer Abu Ltaif, outside the American University of Beirut, "I think everyone is very tolerant there, in a way that there are all kinds of people, whether from different ethnicities, different countries, different religions. As the stage moves on, Claudette has managed to separate a little more of herself from wolf culture by saying "I used my new motor skills. Collectivist cultures are usually contrasted with individualistic cultures. But when Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based television empire that has long broadcast to viewers around the world in Arabic and English, announced plans to start a U.S. news channel, it ignited a wildfire of controversy. The novelty here has at least two dimensions. The culture of the United States includes traditions, regional customs, institutions, art and so much more. One habit was found to help keep the brain healthy over time. (2) the interlocking nature of oppression; and (3) the importance of Afro-American women's culture. Scouring forums and blogs, I found that most found Americans very friendly, caring, welcoming, and open people who live in a geographically diverse nation! Independence. All of them wear shorts." For those who are used to a more leisurely meal with little interruption, all of those check-ins and the waiter's eagerness to bring the bill can be a bit grating. Now without the photo below (but maybe skewed by the photo above) and in the context of the rest of the paper, many students do not recognize this as our daily habit of brushing our teeth. The drum is . Saysthingsfromabush, In Scotland our equivalents are ceilidhs and in school you just go and f***ing dance. - Ziva Meizels, retiree, Jerusalem, "I think their patriotism, you know, God bless America. Still, and after more than a decade following the publication by Headland, Pike and Harris (1990), discussions about insider versus outsider status of the researcher remain alive and relevant. In fact, in a 2017 report from the National Retail Federation, 65 percent of consumers reported owning a U.S. flag. The Socs live on the west side and are known as the west side rich kids who have all the breaks. When a young girl there was asked about the low-level warfare that engulfs her neighborhood, her answers heart-sinking simplicity seemed to vouch for this approach of chronicling America as though seeing it for the first time. As we said before, Americans live by the phrase, "The more, the merrier!". This might be less surprising these days thanks to the ubiquity of Starbucks, but Americans originated the practice of ordering coffee to go, and it still strikes many Europeans as bizarre behavior. How big the country is and the amount of time you guys are willing to drive. Sure, fried chicken is hardly a foreign conceptbut try explaining chicken-fried steak or deep-fried Oreos to a non-American. I prefer it here. Lastly, the best part is the toppings. And yet the "Ugly American," it would seem, isn't all bad. -- B_Underscore, A friend came from the UK and he said Wal-mart was the weirdest thing, you could buy 24 rolls of toilet paper and a 12 gauge shotgun in the same store. Nacirema, that exotic, far-off place where people do strange things is one of the best ways to help students look at Americanculture as an observer rather than as the standard by which all other cultures should be compared. In England, the so-called "chemist" is the place you go to for medicine and medical suppliesand that's it. . "It's uncomfortable and I just don't get why," she wrote. After searching the web, I have found a few answers to my questions and quandaries about what makes usus. in /nfs/c05/h04/mnt/113983/domains/toragrafix.com/html/wp-content . The United States of America serves as the global symbol of 'madness' and 'non-stop chaos' in the best and worst ways possible. - Men Xuezhi, 54, doctor, Beijing, "I don't like American guys who always pursue their own personal interests. It's your target audience. Holding "Trials of the Century". the United States, along with further themes such as African-American culture, racism, religion, slavery, a sense of home,[5] segregation, migration, feminism, and more. When done well, this is in the finest tradition of foreign correspondence: a genre that soars when offering sharp, deeply reported answers to seemingly dumb questions dumb because they are so basic and self-evident that the smugly well settled never think to ask them, any more than fish inquire about the water. It's cars. They miss nuances." - Kenni Friis, 28, computer technology student, Copenhagen, Denmark, "They're generous. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); My American studies courses here have given me the opportunity to observe America from an outsider's perspective and really get an understanding of what Europeans actually think of us. Shopping malls, meals, people, cars. Cultural relativism is not the same as moral relativism, however. Americans are, apparently, much friendlier than most people around the world. Yet, America's admirers have felt betrayed by other shades of the American character: the military interventions in Vietnam, Iraq and elsewhere; the gun violence; the right (inexplicable to many) to carry weapons; the deep and angry racial divisions; and, lately, a presidential nominee calling for harsh restrictions on Muslims and Mexicans. used by the People to entertain and amuse themselves.". Your email address will not be published. Burgers, the American dream, choppers, Elvis, cowboys. Please enter valid email address to continue. Through the eyes of an etic perspective, we can view the American higher educational system that we all accept as normal and question the system with critical comparisons between ours and those of other . To discover more amazing secrets about living your best life, click hereto follow us on Instagram!