American Stereotypes

American Stereotypes

As we know, there are many stereotypes of different countries. They are generalized and simplified assumptions about a certain nationality, which are not always right, but they are used by the media, literature or general public opinion. Here are some well-known stereotypes about the citizens of the US:

Some negative stereotypes 👎:

1) Materialism

Some countries may think that Americans are focused on money and they judge many things by their economic values. It may be partially caused by the importance of some popular brands.

2) Obesity

Because of the popularity of fast food in the US, the problem of overweight seems to be a very common stereotype connected with the typical American cuisine.

3) Ignorance

Some people claim that Americans are not interested in other countries - they are focused on their nationality and they lack some basic knowledge and interest in the rest of the world.

4) Supernatural and paranormal

They are also considered as the ones who often believe in some paranormal phenomena like haunted houses, fortunetelling or the existence UFOs.

Some positive stereotypes 👍:

1) Generosity

Americans are known for supporting other countries and being involved in many forms of charity.

2) Optimism

Because of their generally positive approach to life, Americans may seem extremely optimistic - especially to the nationalities, which tend to complain and perceive everything in a negative way.

3) Hard-working

Americans are also perceived as hard-working people - no matter if we talk about their jobs or other spheres in life.

4) Volunteerism

Finally, the Americans are perceived as the people, who are happy to help others. Many of them take part in some charity and they willingly donate their time and money.

TASK 1.
1. What are the reasons for stereotypes? Think about it and discuss it with your friends. Are they always right?

TASK 2.
2. Think about some stereotypes of other countries. Which ones do you agree with?

The movie which fires women's imaginations

~Dirty Dancing~

''That was the summer of 1963, when everybody called me 'Baby' 

and it din't occur to me to mind.''

Baby (Jennifer Grey) is travelling with her family to Kellerman's resort. It appears to be a typical family holiday: boring dinners with family, silly activities.
While dancing, Baby's eyes are drawn to the professional dancer hired to entertain guests: Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). He is dancing with penny Johnson who also happens to teach dancing in the resort. On the very same day, Baby helps one of the workers carry a watermelon to the emplyees' cabin. She wintesses some bumping and grinding. Not only is this is the moment where Baby's path crosses with Johnny's, but also the story takes off. 

This scene where Baby and Johnny are singing and dancing at the same time, was not supposed to be in the film. Actors were fooling around when the camera was on. The director did commend the scene, that he decided to place it in the film. 

She is like a wind song is performed by Patrick Swayze himself. He wrote it for his beloved wife. 

When in 1987, the film was shown to one of the greatest directors, he said: '' Burn the negative and pick your insurance.'' He thought that it was worthless.

Dirty Dancing is one of the most romantic films of all time.

Task: Watch the film and write a review (300 words). Do yout think that Dirty Dancing is a all time film or a total flop?

How it all started? Brief history of Google.

We all use Google that is the most widely used web-based search engine. There is even a verb to google !

Everything started in Stanford Univeristy with an idea of two students: Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Both Brin and Page were working on the Stanford Digital Library Project (SDLP). The SDLP's goal was “to develop the enabling technologies for a single, integrated and universal digital library". It began with a research project called "BackRub.

The first iteration of Google production servers was built with inexpensive hardware and was designed to be very fault-tolerant.

Do you imagine world and Internet without any crawler? Write a short essay about life without Google.

10 weird things about Americans.

Every nation has its weird customs, traditions and here are ten weird things that you encounter only in the United States:

1. Flags everywhere!

2. Price tags without tax included. “How do you know how much you’re spending until you get to the cashier?”

3. The bread in the U.S. is very sweet.

4. Lawyer advertisements everywhere.

5.  Soda being cheaper than bottled water.

6. Wearing shoes indoors.

7.The lack of annual leave from work and not getting paid maternity/paternity leave.

8.  Laws changing drastically between states.

9. Smiling to strangers.

10. Drive-through everything.

Think of ten werid things that can be encountered in your country!

How it all started? Brief history of Internet.

It all started in United States about 50 years ago when American government was scared of Soviet Union and its potential ability to destroy the whole network of lines and wires that made efficient long-distance communication possible. With this fear into existence came an idea to creat “galactic network” of computers that could talk to one another. It would be used as a back up plan in case of destruction of telephone lines.

In 1969 the first message was send: LO. Why LO? There should be LOG IN but one of the computers crashed from the amount of information. By the end of 1969 only four computer were connected to each other but with a time Internet and its connection was growing fast.

 In 1991 the Internet changed. That year, a computer programmer in Switzerland named Tim Berners-Lee introduced the World Wide Web: an Internet that was not simply a way to send files from one place to another but was itself a “web” of information that anyone on the Internet could retrieve. Berners-Lee created the Internet that we know today.

Imagine world without Internet and write a short essay how would world look like without it.

How cute :)

Flowers

FIREWORKS!

Soon

Americans love dogs!!!

Statue of Liberty - Jigsaw Puzzle

puzzle

The Visionary- Elon Musk

If you haven't heard of Elon Musk- founder of the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, you must have hidden somewhere veeeeeery deep underground for last two decades. However, even if you know who is he, you probably don't know much about his history.

Elon Musk was born in South Africa in 1971. He spent his early childhood with his brother Kimbal and sister Tosca.
Being 10, the introverted Elon developed an interest in computers. During that time, his parents got divorced. Young Musk taught himself how to program, and when he was 12 he made his first software- a game called Blastar. 

Musk's first software- game Blastar

In 1989, he moved to Canada (his mother was Canadian) to attend Queen’s University and avoid mandatory service in the South African military, but he left in 1992 to study business and physics at the University of Pennsylvania. 

“I don’t have an issue with serving in the military per se, but serving in the South African army suppressing black people just didn’t seem like a really good way to spend time.” said Musk.

He graduated with an undergraduate degree in economics and stayed for a second bachelor’s degree in physics. 

 After leaving Penn, Elon Musk headed to Stanford University in California to pursue a Ph.D in energy physics. However, his move was timed perfectly with the Internet boom, and he dropped out of Stanford after just two days. 

He launched his first company, Zip2 Corporation right away. An online city guide, Zip2 was soon providing content for the new Web sites of both the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, and in 1999, a division of Compaq Computer Corporation bought Zip2 for $307 million in cash and $34 million in stock options. Later on Must developed an interest in space and "clean" energy, which eventually led to setting up SpaceX as well as Tesla Motors.

Do you think he is one of the most successful men on the planet? Let us know and comment below!

Coachella- The Hottest Music Festival

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, or just Coachella, is one of the best music festivals in the US. 

Coachella is held annualy in a small town called Indio in Southern California's Colorado Desert region. Its origins might be traced back to a 1993 Pearl Jam concert. 

1993 was a year that several bands started speaking out about what they considered to be ridiculously high processing fees that Ticketmaster was adding to every ticket they sold. Pearl Jam was one of the bands at the time, and in protest they deliberately sought out a venue that wasn’t controlled by Ticketmaster. This brought them to the Empire Polo Club in Indio. 

Once Pearl Jam proved the venue could work, and it allowed the inaugural Coachella Festival to be held in October 1999 over two days, just three months after the disastrous Woodstock '99. After no event was held in 2000, Coachella returned on an annual basis beginning in April 2001 as a single-day event. In 2002, the festival reverted to a two-day format. Coachella was expanded to a third day in 2007 and eventually a second weekend in 2012; it is currently held on consecutive three-day weekends in April, with each weekend having identical lineups.

In 2017 there are is going to be held yet another Coachella, which certainly might blow your mind. The variety of artist is high and everyone can find something for themselves. Let us know if you agree in the comment below. Below you can find the lineup

The King of Youth

Richard Steven Valenzuela born on May 13, 1941 was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement.

In 1958 "The Little Richard of San Fernando" was seen by Bob Keane, the owner of small record label Del-Fi Records in Hollywood at a movie theater in San Fernando. Impressed by the performance, he invited Richard to his small recording studio in his basement. After the first audition the musician took the name "Ritchie" to become unique and shortened his surname to "Valens" in order to widen his appeal beyond any obvious ethnic group.

After several songwiriting and demo recording sessions Ritchie entered the studio with a full band. The first songs recorded at Gold Star Studios were "Come on, Let's Go" and "Framed". In the autumn of 1958, Valens quit high school to concentrate on his great career. 

Ritchie had a fear of flying due to a freak accident where several of his friends were injured and killed. He eventually overcame his fear for his career. After the February 2, 1959, performance in Clear Lake (which ended around midnight), Holly, Richardson and Valens flew in a small plane that Holly had chartered. Valens was on the plane because he won a coin toss with Buddy Holly's backup guitarist. Just after 1:00 AM on February 3, 1959, the plane crashed a few minutes after takeoff for reasons still unknown. As with Holly and Richardson, Valens suffered massive and unsurvivable head injuries along with blunt force trauma to the chest. At 17, Valens was the youngest to die in the crash. The day of his death was called "The Day the Music Died".

His recording career lasted only eight months. Can you imagine what would have happened if he had lived longer?

The girl who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth

PARIS HILTON

"I went to Wal-Mart for the first time. I always thought they sold wallpaper. I didn't realize it has everything. You can get anything you want there for really, really cheap."

"That's hot!" 

A multimillionaire heiress of the Hilton Hotel Group, a model, DJ, celebrity, actress, writer, jet-setter and many more... Born in 1981 in New York, she is the eldest of her three other siblings - Nicky, Barron and Conrad. She may depict the stereotype of a stupid blonde, but also an American Dream - she is undoubtedly a successful businesswoman.

She once attended school, but dropped out and didn't go to any other ever since. Later on, she appeared with her friend Nicole Ritchie on the TV show The Simple Life, which made her a famous celebrity. She played in a few movies, including the blockbuster horror The House of Wax, for which she won a Teen Choice Award. She also had a cameo in Zoolander and had a sextape leaked into the public, what resulted with headlines in most of world's newspapers. 

Besides being a successful actress, she also has a fruitful career as a singer. She has released two long plays, which included such hits as Nothing In This World, Stars Are Blind or Good Time. At the moment, she is a DJ in the clubs of Ibiza. 

What is remarkable is her fashion sense - she has had released several collections of perfumes, watches, clothes or jewellery. All of them, signed with her name, were selling incredibly fast. She aspired to be more than just another heiress. With bad media surrounding her at all times, she fought against all odds and managed to reach new heights of success. 

Task - choose one:

1) Write a short essay starting with the words "If I were Paris Hilton..."

2) Watch the full movie The House of Wax or the fragment below. Write a short review of the style in which Paris Hilton acted and what is so specific about it.

 

Will Smith - the most powerful actor in Hollywood

Willard Carroll "Will" Smith Jr. is a widely known American actor, producer, rapper and songwriter. He was born on September 15, 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  to Caroline, a school board administrator, and Willard Carroll Smith, Sr. who was a refrigeration engineer. He was raised baptist. Smith attended Overbrook High School. What is interesting, he could have studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology but he said he never wanted to apply to college because he "wanted to rap". 

Smith started his recording career as The Fresh Prince in the hip hop band DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. They performed humorous songs and became very famous. They released 3 albums with hits like "Parents Just Don't Understand",  "Rock the House" or "Girls Ain't Nothing But Troubles". In 1998 the group won the first Grammy awarded in the Rap category. 

What could go wrong? - you may ask. Well, in the years 1998-1999 Smith spent his money so freely that in 1990 he was almost a bankrupt. With some help came the NBC television network - he was to play in a sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". This is how his acting career started.  Will Smith set for himself the goal of becoming "the biggest movie star in the world", studying box office successes' common characteristics.

Smith didn't give up his music career, with the group he released another album with the hit "Summertime" for which they got the second in their career Grammy award. At that time many of Hollywood producers started to offer him roles in their movies. His first major roles were in the drama "Six Degrees of Separation" from 1993 and the action film "Bad Boys" from 1995. 

In 1996 Smith starred in "Independence Day" - a massive blockbuster becoming the second highest-grossing film in history at the time and bringing a huge popularity to the actor. 

In his acting career he starred in more than 20 movies, he was also a producer of many of them. One of the best are: "The Pursuit of Happyness","Ali", "I Am Legend" and "Seven Pounds", which is my favorite. Personally, I consider will Smith as a great actor because of his acting skills, his sensitivity in playing and the perfect choose of the films he plays in - in my opinion he plays only in those ones that he knows that will be good.

Smith has been nominated for five Golden Globe Wards and two Academy Awards and honestly... I don't know why he doesn't have an Oscar yet!

In April 2007 "Newsweek" called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood". He is the only actor to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic box office, eleven consecutive films gross over $150 million internationally, and eight consecutive films in which he starred open at the number one spot in the domestic box office tally. He has been ranked as the most bankable star worldwide by "Forbes". As of 2016, his films have grossed $7.5 billion at the global box office. Even president Obama admitted that a biographical movie about him was ever made, he would like Will Smith to play his role. He also spoke to Smith about the possibility of making a movie about the election of 2008. 

It may not be a surprise, but Will Smith is my favorite actor. I watch all of his movies and they never dissappointed me. If you are also interested, his newest one, "Collateral Beauty" is now in cinemas. :)

Task: Think about your favorite actor/actress and write a letter to a friend in which you will describe that person. 

King of Blue Eyes

   Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra born on December 12, 1915 was an American singer, musician, actor and filmmaker. His singing carreer lasted for 60 years but faced several crises. At first, he was known as a singer of love songs. By the 1950's and 60's he was also singing jazz and swing songs. At those times he was also a member of informal group called Rat Pack.

   As a person, he was nervous and high-handed - vicious to his enemies but kind and gentle to his friends. He was married four times but he never showed his affection.

   On May 14, 1998 all lights in Las Vegas went out as a sign of death of "Ol' Blue Eyes" as Sinatra was called. He died after suffering a heart attack with his wife, Barbara Marx at his side.
   

The New York Times declared him to be "the first modern popstar"

Sundance Film Festival

The biggest annual festival of independent films.

For the first time, it was held in September 1978, under the name of Utah/Us Film Festival, and was ment to attract as many artists as possible to Utah.

One of the factors which led the to development of this festiwal is a a commitment of Robert Retford, whose name managed to attract the attention of a huge number of people.

The largest independent film festival in the United States. It comprises competitive sections for American and international dramatic and documentary film, both feature films and short films and a group of out-of-competition sections, including NEXT, New Frontier, Spotlight, Midnight, Premieres and Documentary Premieres. 

History of Sundance Film Festival in brief: 

•  It was founded by Sterling Van Wagene, John Earle, and Cirina Hampton Catania. 

•  The goal of the festival was to showcase  American-made films, highlight the potential of independent film, and to increase visibility for filmmaking in Utah.

• The main focus of the event was to conduct a competition for independent American films.

•  In 1979, Sterling Van Wagenen left to head up the first-year pilot program of what was to become the Sundance Institute.

• More than 60 films were screened at the festival that year, and panels featured many well-known Hollywood filmmakers. 

• Several factors increased the growth of Utah/US Film Festival - the involvement of actor and Utah resident Robert Redford, the common hunger for more venues that would celebrate American-made films.

• In 1981, the festival moved to Park City, Utah, and changed the dates from September to January. 

TASK: find out what the Sundance Institute is and write about its main goals. 

American food

Characteristisc of American kitchen

Athough generally american food is fat, caloric and unhealthy, it is not only fast food.  Americans generally consume three meals per day -  rich breakfast, lunch and dinner in the evening at the time of our dinner.

BREAKFAST

The most common - cereals - corny and  farinacerous or pancakes with wheat or corn flour, topped with maple syrup. Eggs with bacon or ham is also very popular dish. Traditional american breakfast should  obligatory include coffee with cream and glass of fruit juice.

LUNCH

It usually takes place in rush - in the town - during a break at work.  The most frequently, it consists of sandwiches such as hamburger or just slices of ham, turkey breast or steak on bread which can be made very fast and in bulk. Pastas, casseroles, enchiladas and soups are also commonly eaten.

DINNER

Dinner is as abundant as the morning meal abd consists of a minimum of three courses. A  main dish - usually meat (steak, chicken breast, pork chops, meat loaf ) , a starch (baked or mashed potato, rice, macaroni and cheese, beans ) and some kind of vegetable, often steamed, or a side salad.

Questions:

1. Check the degree of obesity in America caused by fondness to junk food.
2. Find out whether fast food is cheaper or more expensive than healthy food.

New Year's-Themed Movies

There is  always a lot of pressure on New Year's Eve - decisions what to do, where to go and what to wear may cause a lot of problems.  It is said that the way you spend New Year's Eve is how you will spend the entire year.

While it can be fun and nice to go out with  friends  and hit some great party,  it can also be a horrible experience -  huge amounts of people make us spend hours waiting to get into a club or bar, drunk people make us nervous and after some time we really desire to come back home.

 There is  a great alternative to celebrating New Year's: staying in and watching a New Year's Eve-themed movies !

Some of the greatest American movies to watch during New Year's Eve:

1.  WHEN HARRY MET SALLY - One of the most iconic romantic comedies made in the USA. It is very hilarious and features one of the best New Year's Eve scenes of all time.

2. AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER - Another classic romance. It shows how romantic and tragic, a New Year's Eve kiss can be.

3. NEW YEAR'S EVE - Funny and entertaining stories connected with New Year's Eve confusion. This is a perfect movie to enjoy with group of friends or during girl's pyjama party.

4. BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY - Although the whole action is not strictly connected with New Year's Eve, there is a lot of Christmassy mood , what makes it a perfect choice for this special night.

5. IN SEARCH OF MIDNIGHT KISS - The action takes place on 31st of December. Two lost souls find themselves on the dating site to survive New Year's Eve together

TASK: Find out and write down some traditions connected with celebrating New Year's Eve in United States. 

Back to the Future

If  you're a cinema lover you probably know this movie by heart. And at some point you fell in love with Michael J. Fox.

   Marty McFly, a typical teenager of the eighties, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-travelling DeLorean by his mad friend Dr. Emmett Brown. Marty lands in 1955 and faces the complicated story of his future parents in which he unintentionally takes part in.

  The success of the film led to its continuation. In Back to the Future Part II Marty needs to fix his own future while in Back to the Future Part III he helps his friend Emmett Brown to face the culture of Wild West and conquest the love of his life.

  Despite the fact that I'm not a science-fiction lover I strongly recommend this trilogy simply because it is a story about consequences of previously made decisions. The effect is intensified in the way that it concerns a story of Marty's parents and leads to a conclusion about our own lives.

I hope you will enjoy this cinema's classic.