"Sometimes I enjoy ordering freakishly large things over hereit turns consumption into tourism and makes me feel as though I'm at a carnival. - Kenni Friis, 28, computer technology student, Copenhagen, Denmark, "They're generous. But one thing for sure, they cannot make beer." To simplify matters, let's assign letters (yup, engineer at work). Now, besides the few, awesome things, I will end with what was a bit of a mixed review from non-Americans. Their approach is different from ours we do it because we care about others, they do it because they get tips they were raised that way." To be fair, most Americans don't either. A journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. The ones immediately outside their house are apparently not fit. Native Americans believe that the beating of the drum is a uniting force, bringing together people of different tribes, as well as uniting a person's spirit to their body and mind. It's not good." 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 . American culture, they help younger generations avoid changing their personalities to be accepted. She was a happy person, better than my Chinese roommate there were three of us in the room. In England, the so-called "chemist" is the place you go to for medicine and medical suppliesand that's it. 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. Does the eating of the man-shaped biscuits represent some sacrifice? Whether we're dropping by the post office or shopping for groceries, we Americans are surprisingly comfortable with wearing our clothes typically reserved for bed out in public. An emic view of culture is ultimately a . The reporter, Lori Jane Gliha, made deft use of practiced innocence. This termas well as terms used in the United States such as "Native American" and "American Indian"refers to hundreds of culturally diverse groups who inhabited the Americas before Europeans settled there. "hey would you like to come and get bruised with me doing some fast dances to violins?" Eggs are a universal delicacy, but outside of the U.S., they are seldom stored in the fridge. Starting off your day this way could increase your odds of cognitive decline. But people expect to be tipped so that is why they are so services-minded. An odd ritual occurs the night right before Christmas: children hang socks above a structure that houses a fire although they look far too large to be anyones sock. The "emic" approach is an insider's perspective, which looks at the beliefs, values, and practices of a particular culture from the perspective of the people who live within that culture. Now that you have you hot chocolate, it is time to relax. In many instances, the name of a coin will tell you something about how much it's worth. The general consensus is that Americans are very optimistic dreamers and have been; that we believe that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance. So yes, they are fortunate, and it is God bless America - that's what makes America, America." We dream of America and they dream about Europe. - 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." 48-49). 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. They just don't get the idea of loyalty to the school. American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States. In the process, the new Pittsburgh is helping point the way to the old. The greasers live on the east side and are known as "hoods". Many are so flabbergasted by the amount of choices we have in, not only our restaurants, but our grocery stores as well. Many say how underrated our beer is. The Outsiders was actually published when the author was only 17 years old. Through this exercise, students hopefully see both their own and other cultures in a new light one that understands how we are all so embedded in a culture that it is difficult not to see dramatically different rituals as exotic or weird. 2022 Galvanized Media. So, traveling down any city block, suburban street, or rural road, a foreigner will probably encounter at least a few American flags flying high, which likely isn't the norm in their home country. Foreigners might not realize right off the bat that those soft-focus commercials featuring happy couples prancing through corn fields are advertising medications for diabetes and back pain. 2 - A Chinese Golden Lily Foot by Lai Afong, c1870s. How big the country is and the amount of time you guys are willing to drive. 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. The concept of dancing cheer squads that help support sports teams (or compete against each other) is pretty odd for most non-Americans. But its way of seeing is foreign, the perspective of the curious outsider for whom nothing is obvious and whose questions are big and nave and, in their navet, important. What is even more confusing is that these items in the boxes are often not kept. It's pretty infuriating to live somewhere where something as natural and beautiful as the human body is viewed as taboo and "corrupts" our youth, but a guy getting his head cut off or getting beaten to death is perfectly okay for kids to watch. Y'all get snow up there.'" document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { This is down to the US communication style which is influenced by the need to be direct, clear . I can imagine that persons evaluation would be something like the following: During this holiday called Christmas, families take great care to ensure that they decorate their houses and various shrubs with wires. The biggest thing I found was that non-Americans are almost disgusted by the sheer amount of sugar in almost all our food. Scouring forums and blogs, I found that most found Americans very friendly, caring, welcoming, and open people who live in a geographically diverse nation! Old charges of Al Jazeeras giving a platform to Islamists resurfaced. used by the People to entertain and amuse themselves.". In most countries outside the U.S., vacation time is a highly utilized way to get away from work for a few weeks (or even months) every year. All Rights Reserved. - Ayumi Takeoka, 41, housewife, Tokyo, First published on August 4, 2016 / 5:32 PM. Everything else, I do not understand.. If movies aren't your style or you need a quieter way to relax, pick up a good book. At one moment, she is playing the game while addressing viewers, and, standing before us, begins to beat an innocent man with a golf club: fresh, jarring, thought-provoking television. While we do have some American comfort food, especially here in the South, what is there that we created ourselves? Don't get me wrong, dental hygiene is important, but not everyone needs a perfect Hollywood smile. 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. It's cars. Another oddity of American advertising are those spots you see for prescription medication during every commercial break. 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 . American Culture: The Outsider's Perspective. NACIREMA: UPDATING A CLASSIC TO SEE YOUR OWN CULTURE AS AN OUTSIDER. He clearly thought that was more important than spending time with his family or friends. I have recently begun thinking about my country and our culture, and wanted to learn more about what exactly makes an American. Andersen, Margaret L. and Taylor, Howard F. 2008. Grab a blanket and a glass of hot chocolate, and do these five warm indoor activities for those rainy winter days. From the exotic to the ancient, and to the high end cities of the world, we are obsessed. - Kanti, 74, travel agency owner, New Delhi. On my search I was pleasantly surprised to see the opposite view. For example, we can look at Christmas from the perspective of someone who is not a part of American culture. They cannot generate these results, because they are based on, and restricted by, the ethnocentric perspective. But while these American traditions might seem normal stateside, they are certainly not universal. "Long winter nights and the seclusion of the reservation. While every region of the United States has its own quirks and identity, there are also certain customs that are commonplace nationwide. The following is an excerpt from one of the excellent papers I received from a student, Emily Ong (used with her permission). Warning: "continue" targeting switch is equivalent to "break".Did you mean to use "continue 2"? I read on several different forum sites how things such as the pledge of allegiance and how our flag is plastered everywhere you go is quite strange to outsiders. Scouring forums and blogs, I found that most found Americans very friendly, caring, welcoming, and open people who live in a geographically diverse nation! - Ksenia Smertova, 21, student, Moscow, "America? There's the American way and then there's everybody else. [] detailed search help you gain a new perspective on the Nacirema people. To examine these facts other cultures are taken into consideration to accurately without prejudices towards African Americans. The growth and diversification of the Asian American population in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal. WHAT MAKES AMERICANS AMERICAN? Upon graduating secondary school, many Americans choose colleges and universities outside of and often far from their hometowns. Hash browns or home fries? By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Americans can come across as self-interested, aggressive and rude to some outsiders. I found this quite interesting and maybe a bit eye opening, because as Americans, these things are completely normal to us. DESCRIBE THE COUNTRY AS YOU SEE IT: "The first word that comes to mind when I hear the word America is 'Arrogance.' Ethnocentrism either restricts us to clear-cut, static, homogenous definitions of us-and-them, or . Saysthingsfromabush, In Scotland our equivalents are ceilidhs and in school you just go and f***ing dance. BANGKOK -- The rest of the world may think Americans eat a lot of burgers, have huge shopping malls and are ruled by an arrogant government.And yet the "Ugly American," it would seem, isn't all . The background. - Shitij, 26, sales and marketing worker, New Delhi, "A lot of (consumer) products. The culture of the United States includes traditions, regional customs, institutions, art and so much more. You get a vision of their culture and their way of life. 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 fact, most of these Americans I have observed highly treasure their material items from under the tree as they pay more attention to them than to fellow Americans. -- Teaching_man, I was not aware that you can buy guns in supermarkets in America. NEW YORK Al Jazeera wants to make its name as American as pizzaburgers. I prefer hanging out with Canadians or students from Europe, because at least they are quite polite." 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. I had a friend who drove for 16 hours to visit family for the weekend. And after 9/11, the world grieved with America. - Christopher Darroch, 39, actor, Toronto, "Americans are American because they feel (they are) better than the rest of the world but in reality we are as good as they are. Views differ considerably, however, among the country's religious communities - 72% of Lebanese Christians say the spread of these ideas is a good thing; only 23% of Sunni and 13% of Shia . One habit was found to help keep the brain healthy over time. One of the reasons why we see so much of servers in the States is because they are constantly refilling customers' water glasses. The cultural norms and values surrounding the artifacts are relative to the Native American culture and cannot be understood or appreciated from an outsider's perspective. 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. The general consensus is that American's are very optimistic dreamers and have been; that we believe that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance. Money rules everything. Foreigners, on the other hand, aren't even familiar with the concept. The idea of being self-sufficient is valued highly in the U.S. - Pedro Ivan Gonzalez, 35, Havana, "I think the way they are talking and dealing with personal relations is quite direct. Interpersonal relations among Americans are much more practical, in contrast to the complicated way that we Chinese people treat each other." Costco, Wal-Mart, and other big-box stores that you need a map to navigate are a particularly American thing. - Men Xuezhi, 54, doctor, Beijing, "I don't like American guys who always pursue their own personal interests. Miner describes Americans as "magic-ridden people" (Miner 2009, 507). The channels subjects and reporting are unassailably American. They are also unified in the sense that the dream isn't really a real thing anymore. Finding creative ways to fry things that probably shouldn't be fried is an American specialty and something that definitely confuses tourists. In most European countries, service fees are included in the price of a meal, and tips don't usually go above 8 to 12 percent. This small lifestyle change could make a big difference to your long-term brain health. The paper,written by University of Chicago trained anthropologist Horace Miner wasoriginally published in 1956. I came to realize how many things are truly American and what makes us great people of a great nation. 20 American Habits That All Other Countries Think Are Crazy. - Shitij, 26, sales and marketing worker, New Delhi, "They believe in democracy, in freedom; they are willing to die, kill, et cetera, for that. So what does this foreign gaze, as presented on Al Jazeera America, reveal? - Pedro Ivan Gonzalez, 35, juice seller, Havana, "It is a world imperialist power country. Boy was I wrong. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Americans love their red, white, and blueeven when it's not the Fourth of July or Veterans' Day. There are no Americans as such. If we ask for a high price, they don't bargain. How big the country is and the amount of time you guys are willing to drive. WHAT IS THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD "AMERICA"? 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. - Zhila Gudzueva, university lecturer, Moscow, "My definition of Americans is those who are cheerful, friendly and willing to communicate." The Associated Press sent reporters across the world to ask ordinary people about their views of America. Enter Al Jazeera, which recently sent a correspondent to Cleveland, a city it called Americas infant mortality capital. The question it pursued fused the local and the global: why rates of premature birth and infant death in many neighborhoods exceed those of developing nations.. cultural frames of reference" and "learn to step outside of their own thinking in order to examine it and also to acknowledge others' thinking" (pp. 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. So when it is too cold for an ice cream party, you can have a hot chocolate party instead! Countries whose intellectuals have long protested the Wests tendency toward Orientalism in its presentation of foreigners now have an opportunity to engage in a bit of Occidentalism.. Our collective workaholism is totally bizarre to outsidersand quite frankly, we can see why. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. I kind of like doing some things that I know I cant do in real life, the boy replies. Americans really love their ice. For example, the view of Northpolians regarding Acimerans is an etic perspective. as well as other partner offers and accept our. D. When Asian Americans speak about their experiences as minorities, they help younger generations feel comfortable in After doing a little adventuring on the web and seeing all different kinds of opinions and views from people all over the world, I came to love my country even more. This I do not know. Collectivist cultures are usually contrasted with individualistic cultures. To me a pumpkin spice coffee is so strange!-- TallGrass2, dressing up young girls in short skirts and getting them to dance around and cheer on young men strikes me as odd preparetodobattle, I work at a summer camp and there is nothing funnier than watching the international counselors be totally weirded out by the flag ceremony we have every morning/evening (5-7 camper colorguard raises flag, salutes, 60-90 people recite pledge and girl scout promise in unison, we turn on our heels and file out silently in the morning, in the evening we fold the flag, sing taps, turn on our heels and file out silently to dinner) izzielosthermind, Eating/drinking coffee as you go, to me the best part of eating is sitting down, talking, and relaxing tallgrass2, I know this does not apply to everyone but your attachment to your college/university AFTER you have left. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); They're calm and kind and friendly and they like to smile." - Gennelyn Escopete, 33, DVD street vendor, Manila, Philippines, "There is a lot of misconception about their politics. When they do, the house and shrubs look very bright, and not a single house on the street is without these wires. Please enter valid email address to continue. Non-Americans of reddit, what aspect of American culture strikes you as the strangest. I want an outsider's perspective on why this country is so fucked. And it is a great country; I have visited it. . 5. These are the kind of zoomed-out, big-picture stories that result from asking the most basic questions and that in other newsrooms might be killed because they are too obvious, or have been done 1,000 times, or dont have a new angle. They are the kind of stories that result from sending reporters out to ask the biggest unresolved questions about their own society from making them think, in short, like a foreign correspondent freshly returned to a now-unfamiliar home. Why go Tall when a Venti is just a dollar more? I had a wonderful time doing my book report on "American Cultural Patterns: A cross-cultural Perspective". Due to the individuals moulding as an anthropologist and as a person by society, ethnographies can be clouded by researchers views on subjects as active agents through upbringing, sex . And yet the "Ugly American," it would seem, isn't all bad. Americans go nuts with air conditioning, cranking it up on hot days to the point that you might actually need a sweater. 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. In every public surveyed - including the U.S. - people ages 18 to 29 are more likely than those ages 65 and older to rate U.S. entertainment as above average or the best. Americans are, apparently, much friendlier than most people around the world. Flashnewb, many Chinese people do not understand how America can function so "well" since the people here are all so different. Sign up for notifications from Insider! It's a wonderful country and there is high security, standard of living is very high. At another moment, she sits beside an 11-year-old as he plays the game, asking him, simply enough, what he likes in it. It is so much work to get a hold of the tree and to decorate it, and it seems very important, yet at the end of the day many of the trees are thrown away. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb. Nacirema, that "exotic", far-off place where people do "strange" things is one of the best ways to help students look at American culture as an observer rather than as the standard by which all other cultures should be compared. Let's look at 10 traditions Americans celebrate without even considering how strange the rest of world consider them. Such houses, I have observed, draw peoples eyes as they pass by. I hate to put even more pressure on . Contents. 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 particular ethnicity (e.g., African Americans), or an agerelated category of Americans (e.g., millennials). Collectivism stresses the importance of the community, while individualism is focused on the rights and concerns of each person. Although the insight of an outsider can clearly observe another's culture, I do not agree with him or her criticizing it as if it is his or her own country. "Here in New Zealand, lemonade generally equals . 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. But if you were to use this pronunciation in conversation with an English speaker from another country, they'd probably give you a puzzled look. 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. 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. Shopping malls, meals, people, cars. Sure, fried chicken is hardly a foreign conceptbut try explaining chicken-fried steak or deep-fried Oreos to a non-American. 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 . In cultural anthropology, our fieldwork is referred to as ethnography, which is both the process and result of cultural anthropological research. Loudness. - B.S. Throwing Tailgate Parties. We love our cheese. Burgers, the American dream, choppers, Elvis, cowboys. Individualism vs. Collectivism. Holidays are integral parts of different cultures and by looking at them through the eyes of an outsider, we can see how culture influences perspective. And what do you think of when you think of a typical American? - Christopher Darroch, 39, actor, Toronto, "I was stunned to see how big everything is over there. We don't know what lemonade is: In many countries, lemonade is not the iconic sugary drink that American kids sell at stands in summer. Once they do, everyone admires the tree even more. For example, 84% of those ages 18 to 29 in Taiwan hold this view .
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