...A thorough look at Africans in America would not be complete without considering African-American dance. From plantation dances that enslaved Africans used to express their tragedy and triumph, to the ever-changing slick motions of modern hand dancing, black rhythmic movements are an integral weave in the fabric of American culture. Dance grew out of hardship but became entertainment. African dance has contributed a plethora of qualities to dance in America; and we can see proof of this through the dance of today. Being such a diverse country, America has the gift of consolidating unique moves from various societies to acquire an outstanding dance collection. American dance as we know it would be totally different if not for African Americans....
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...mountains and majesties. These two images are just a few of the many images that are celebrated within the United States. Recruiting and migration are two ways that culture is born. American culture has also evolved in many ways. Today American culture is still evolving. Religion, ethnicity, and politics are just a few ways culture has also evolved. Traditionally, the United States was considered a Western Culture that consists of an Anglo majority which prevails politically and economically. The United Stated is chiefly based of British culture. Its influences derive from Europe, the indigenous peoples, African Americans, and Asian Americans. Because of the enormity of United States culture, there are many integrated and exclusive subcultures that exist. There are two prominent artifacts that dominate American culture, the symbols are, the Bald Eagle and the red, white and blue flag. Associated with American culture are espoused values. Espoused values is the diversity that people share such as; strategies, goals and philosophies. America is the “land of opportunity” and for this reason, many have migrated to America and are motivated to seek out a better life. Their customs and espoused values are factored into why there are so many sub cultural influences in the United States. Americans in the earlier generations with ethnocentric ideas established their communities throughout the United States. Those who have migrated have settled into regions...
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...Analysis American culture value through the film The Pursuit of Happiness The reason why the Hollywood films are popular, besides its wonderful plots, the characters in the films could always reflect the special American cultural values to audiences. The American spirit such as individualism, heroism, religious and pursuit of freedom are all reflect in the Hollywood films. However, the American dream is a unique American culture and has inspired many Americans to rely on personal struggle to make their dreams come true. Films from different culture have their different cultural values, in turn, the different cultures have reflect and strengthen their own culture values in their films, so that audiences could get to know the mainstream American culture values from Hollywood films. Hollywood as the largest American film media has created many motivation films to express the importance values of American dreams to the world. The film The Pursuit of Happiness (2006) by Gabriele Muccino is a very classical Hollywood biographical film which is based on Chris Gardner’s life story. The film talks about how a homeless man success from the hardship and finally became a famous investment expert through his struggle step by step. The narrative of the main character Chris’s story refers to the key aspect of American Dream which is the equity opportunity of everyone in the society. It has showed the thought that happiness will come to everyone as long as we do not give up and make unremitting...
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...The lives of the plain Indians were positively affected by the technological development and government actions in the latter half of the 19th century, due to the simulation of Plain Indians in American culture in the reservation. However, the government funded transcontinental railroads; removal of Indians on to reservations, the encouragement for colonization in the west had catastrophic effect, and the effects and conflicts due to assimilation. Therefore, the negative impact by technological development would affect them for years to come. The transcontinental railroad brought unity to the United States linking the East with the West. However, this transformation was cataclysmic for the Plain Indians living the west. The federal government...
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...to western films, Native American women pulled the shortest straw. Their biggest achievement is falling in love with the white male hero. When their relationship inevitably fails, her fate ends tragically, in a murder or suicide. Indian women are inaccurately portrayed as virginal, vulnerable and welcoming to the white male, symbolic of the American land. Indian women in film embody sexuality, American soil, and the importance of the dominant white culture. Pocahontas in The New World (2005) is the best example of symbolizing the American land. As stated by Marrubio, Pocahontas is “innocent, attached to an exotic culture, [and] linked to the American landscape”, a perfect love interest for the western hero. The Englishmen that land on the coast are representative of the paramount white civilization and culture. She is a bridge between Native Americans and European settlers, promoting assimilation to the ‘dominant’ culture. Just like white settlers thought it was their right to claim this land for England, so did John Smith with Pocahontas. The conclusion that Native American culture is dissipating was reinforced when Pocahontas started dressing and speaking like the English, as well as being christened. When Pocahontas chose the white culture over her own, it also...
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...Many, Huntington chronologically goes thru the immigration of the United States detailing how early immigrants had a desire to become American in both nationality and core culture. He illustrates how American business and government used their resources to assist in the teaching of immigrants both the language and culture. It was a time when an industrial powerhouse like Ford Motor Company was thinking in line with US Government, both creating schools that taught “American ways, the English language, and the right way to live.” Huntington goes further to explain how immigrants had a desire no only to assimilate, but how they internally believe in the United States as their Country. The decline of this belief in Core Culture is explained by way of Government trying to move to a multicultural position even as the American public remains strong to the Core Culture. Huntington details how in several cases the Government was out of touch with the voters. Where both presidential candidates in 1988 opposed official English language measures on ballots in Florida, Arizona, and Colorado. Joined by many other government agencies and officials, the view of both candidates differed from elections results where all three measures passed easily. Huntington further goes on to explain the strong Hispanic influence in the United States and how that culture in...
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...My Definition of American Culture Each individual has his own definition of American culture. While some may focus on freedom and liberty others might identify more with technology, sports, or music. The United States is composed of a multitude of diverse individuals each from a different background. With all these human beings coming together each brings his own traditions and customs to further mold American culture. As an immigrant, the American dream is synonymous with American culture. For generations many immigrants have been talking of this particular dream and how it is achieved. Foreigners as well as Americans all have the mentality that they can make their dreams come true. For this reason, America is often called the Land of Opportunity. Many immigrants are aware of this concept and in result they decide to pack up their lives, leave their families behind, and move to the United States in search of a better life. The concept that one can achieve anything he puts his mind to is extremely alluring to many individuals. As an outsider looking in, I see firsthand how great of an advantage it is to be living in the U.S. While living in Romania I knew I had to fight for a better life and even then I might not succeed. Seeing everyone struggle around me has motivated me to get an education and excel in my future. My parents made the decision to move to the States for one purpose. That purpose was the American Dream. Back home we kept hearing about this place...
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...Native American culture and their perception of health and healthcare are quite different from other cultures, especially those who are from a Caucasian culture. When it comes to the world of healthcare and different cultures, there is always room for errors and miscommunications. Therefore, knowing the six principles of cross-cultural communication will help health care providers move forward toward effective communication regardless of the many differences encountered while interacting with people from different cultures and linguistic backgrounds (Cheesebro, O'Connor, & Rios, 2010). Realizing how different cultures affects how people communicate, understand, and respond to health information will help health care professionals in assisting people from different cultural backgrounds. According to Indian Health Service, Health Communications (n.d.), "Cultural and linguistic competency of health professionals contribute to health literacy" (para. 1). Therefore, recognizing the cultural beliefs, values, attitudes, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of American Indians and applying that knowledge to communicate in a manner that will produce positive health outcomes can only help health care professionals move toward effective communication despite the cross-cultural differences (Indian Health Service, Health Communications, n.d.). Thus, keeping the six principles of cross-cultural communication in mind will help health care providers move toward...
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...own specific beliefs and cultures. One of the things I learned in Sardegna was that even though the cultures from the different regions were similar, they were still different. Each province had a dialect different from each other. Since we have decided to extend our fast food hamburger franchise to include UAE (United Arab Emirates), Israel, Mexico and China we must first do some research on the culture, language, religious beliefs, and values of these new countries. The first thing I would research is the different cultures and how they will impact the business. Does their culture even allow for this type of food? In the articles that I researched, the countries that I will expand my franchise to will only have one major issue, which is the same issue in the United States. That issue is obesity. United Arab Emirates – With American fast food already being global I foresee no issues with the type of food prepared in my fast food chain expanding to the UAE. Since the 1980’s the Middle East has had American fast food chains. (Pulitzer Center, 2012) According to Shane McGinley “The UAE restaurant market is set to grow 30 percent to $780m in the next four years and will be dominated by American-style fast food brands, an industry expert have said.” (McGinley, 2011) Israel – Nathan Jeffay say “For two decades it has been flying the flag for American fast food in a sea of falafel shops and shwarma joints.” (Jeffay, 2010) He also states that several American fast food chains have...
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...related and linked together. The most important factor that influences migration flows is the economic pressures. People who pursue better wages and a higher standard of living economically motivate most labor migrations. This is generated by the push- pull theory that explains how migrants are pushed to leave the areas of origin because of demographic growth, low standards of living, and lack of economic opportunities (Castles and Miller 22). Migrants are then pulled to move to receiving countries because they are attracted to the demand they have for labor, availability of land, economic opportunities, and political freedoms (Castles and Miller 22). The push-pull factor is one of the main explanations as to why the economic pressures are the biggest factors that influences international migration flows. You can further analyze this theory and see that without the positive attracting factors from the receiving country and the negative aspects of the sending country, migrants wouldn’t seek the desire to move internationally. Receiving countries seem to attract migration flow due to the positive benefits and incentives the developed country has to...
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...S. Culture is the most influential factors in the human life which have deep impacts on the personal behavior. Here in this case same things happen where two different culture believer clash with each other in the working place. The cultural system in America is more focused on individualism. Due to those factors American people work hard to climb up in the upper position in the work place therefore they thrive in any types of work environment and anywhere in the world. Writer, LisaHoecklin (P1, 2012) explains about the American culture and its success. “People in individualistic cultures emphasize their success/achievements in job or private wealth and aiming up to reach more and/or a better job position. Especially in the USA the fight about jobs and trying to climb up in the hierarchy ladder is something very common there. It just counts to get there less caring who will leave behind one. In business they try to improve their connections and to gain more value out of them, not for establishing a good relationship but just to be involved in a calculative way.” The Polish culture focuses more on community or organization rather than individuals where in another term we can define as relationship driven culture. Therefore, in these circumstances American employees more enjoy the competition within the organization between the workers where as their counterpart emphasizes on their community to achieve the company goals. This is the big risk for the organization to move forewords...
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...1 An Analysis of African American Culture in the Health and Human Services Setting Introduction Communication has often been defined by scholar as the process by which people send messages and generate meanings across various contexts, cultures, and media. The process of communicating does not stop; it occurs cycle after cycle. Whether through verbal or non-verbal messages, the transaction takes place and is inevitable, named by scholars as The Principle of Communication Inevitability. Recognizing that communication will exist, whether intentional or not, it is important to understand the various areas of our life where communication may be vital to the success of the structure. One important area is focused on human welfare—medical, physical, emotionally, mentally, and financially—of children and adults. The method in which health and human service workers communicate with the people whom they serve is one that must be studied, implemented, and constantly improved. Health and human service workers are focused on the quality of life for an individual. They are not present to meet the wants out of life. The ultimate focus is rendering services that are conducive to one’s ability to live. Whether communicating good or bad news, professionals, patients, and clients have mutual responsibility for effective sending and receiving messages. People belong to certain demographics that shape who they are, how they feel, how they learn, their exposure to certain aspects of life...
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...Research Paper While traditional Native American dance and the Polynesian dance are both unique to their cultures, a developed comparison reveals they share many similarities in technique and meaning. In this essay, I will evaluate these similarities along with the differences that make each dance unique to its people and their culture. “Dance is a poem in which each movement is a word and is the most hidden language of the soul” this was found searching the web for what others felt the meaning of dance meant to them. An interesting fact about cultures and dance is that dance was used to express how they felt and emit their own expression of themselves. One thing that both Native American and Polynesian both have in common are they both believe in the spirits of their ancestors. When the Polynesian's danced the Hula they thought that if done incorrectly that something would happen and may turn disastrous while Native American dance specifically for a reason and believed if they asked for thanks for necessities they would acquire it. Both dances were created for one reason and one reason only to ask for help spiritually. Native American culture and the way they danced were entirely for their Gods, basically as an offering to show how important they were and how much their Gods were believed in. As the Polynesians too were spiritual and wouldn’t dance until an elder blessed the area in which would be danced upon, they also danced to perform for their people as entertainment...
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...Native American Culture Have you ever wonder how the world was created from another culture’s perspective? Native Americans used creation myths to explained to their people how the world was developed overtime. Creation myths are a big part of the Native American culture. they have been passed down from generation to generation. In the creation myths, harmony with nature, rituals, and strong social values are shown in each myths. The purpose of having strong social value in these myths is to teach younger Native Americans valuable lesson if they ever do something bad. These myths reveals how the rituals were created and their intentions for doing it. Creation myths has harmony with nature in it to show a very close kinship between them and nature. Native American explained how the world began with their myths. Various works of literature reveal the Native American tradition and beliefs of rituals, strong social value, and harmony with nature. Rituals plays an important role in Native American Culture. In the short story, “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”, the Laguna ritual was shown when Leon did the funeral rites on Teofilo. For example, “ Leon ties feathers to Teofilo’s hair, paint his face, and sprinkle holy water on his grave” (50). This quote is important because it is part of the Native American’s tradition that was past down from generation to generation, and the purpose of doing this funeral rites is to make him be part of nature. Another example of Native American ritual...
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...members of all ages. Because of the emphasis on familial bonds, Spanish speakers can celebrate and dance with family members of all ages. 3. In your opinion, what are the reasons that Spanish‐speaking culture could be considered to be more family oriented than some other cultures? Spanish speaking cultures are more family oriented because Spanish families’ lives are more intertwined. Many family events occur through a child’s life, for...
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