Westerns versus 19th-century American reality

Contrary to the popular belief, the Old West was much more peaceful than American cities are today. The real culture of violence on the frontier during the latter half of the nineteenth century sprang from the U.S. government’s policies toward the Indians. In spite of the violence, what were the biggest myths perpetuated in Westerns? What productions were the truest to form? What common elements were historically accurate?

The Western is a genre of various arts which tell stories set primarily in the later half of the 19th century in the American Old West, often centering on the life of a nomadic cowboy or gunfighter armed with a revolver and a rifle who rides a horse. Westerns often stress the harshness of the wilderness and frequently set the action in an arid, desolate landscape of deserts and mountains. Often, the vast landscape plays an important role, presenting a "...mythic vision of the plains and deserts of the American West". Specific settings include ranches, small frontier towns, saloons, railways and isolated military forts of the Wild West. Most are set in the American colonial era.

                                               

Who do we not see in westerns, although they were there in the real West? Until 1960's, black people were almost completely absent from westerns, although in history they were about one seventh of all cowboys. Hispanics another one seventh of the cowboys, were almost as invisible; the 1978 miniseries Centennial in 1978 was one of the first to give them a role as cowpunchers. We often hear complaints about how native Americans are shown in westerns, but at least they are there, and not always as villains.

But the racial blind spots have largely been corrected today. What we still do not see are events and issues of the utmost importance to the actual people of the West. Labor unions in the gold mines of Virginia City, Nevada and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; the fight over free silver, the Grange and the Populists. Republican and Democratic party politics and presidential elections are never shown; sometimes an election on statehood is shown, but with the party politics left out. Farm co-ops and their struggle with the railroads are hardly ever seen.

An example: in the early 1900s, Glacier National Park, home of the Blackfeet people, was advertised to Eastern tourists as one of the last places you could see the American Indians, who most whites thought would all be gone soon. Thousands of tourists came and saw scenes like this:

White people who had never seen a Native American before saw these folks, and made movies with "Indians" who looked like this.  And so every Native American in every western, from the Yaqui to the Apache to the Kiowa to the Oglala, ended up looking like the Blackfeet of Glacier National Park.  You rarely saw natives who looked or dressed like this:

The movie image is based on reality, yes, but we should definitely remember how loosely connected with the facts it actually is.

Conclusions? This barely scratches the surface of the similarities and differences between the historical Wild West and the kaleidoscopic range of movie versions of it. Hundreds of books have been written about the Wests of film and reality.  Overall, the trend has been toward a more realistic depiction of the West in movies, with the reality of racial diversity better portrayed, historical sources better consulted, and less tendency to draw superhuman characters. 

I've focused mostly on a racial aspect but there are a lot of different problems being constantly distorted if it comes to the culture and the history of the U.S.A. TASK: Make a brainstorm about the Westerns (19th c.) or any other period of the American history of your choice, think of some different aspects that are not completely faithfully reflected in, for instance, cinematography. Discuss your conclusions in groups. 

Winter Getaways

 

The most romantic places for a winter break

 

 

 Yellowstone National Park 

Majority of visitors arrive here during summer months, so during the winter, couples have a great opportunity for peace and privacy among this beautiful scenery. Brilliantly colored mineral pools, frozen waterfalls and crystal snowflakes add incredible charm and make us want to stay there forever. 

 

 

 Bear Valley, California

 Bear Valley is definitely one of the most perfect places to go for a secluded winter escape. Surrounded by trees covered with white powder, mountain cabins are beautifully decorated with icicles and make terrific impression.

 

  Sedona, Arizona

This desert oasis is especially picturesque when the fiery-red mountain tops are often dusted with white powder. You are not likely to find a deep snow here. Days are mild, skies frequently bright blue and crowds are few, which means couples seeking  can enjoy it practically to themselves.

 

 

 

Kennebunkport, Maine

If you want to walk deserted beaches along misty shores you should definitely pick Kennebunkport, Maine. You can alsp enjoy plenty of activities during christmas time including a seashore trolley holiday ride, wine tasting and lobster bakes.

TASK: Find another place which is especially charming during winter and write something about it.

 

Wall Street

Wall Street - a street in New York City, in the southern part of Manhattan - Lower Manhattan. It stretches from the South Broadway Street at the East River, through the historical center of the Financial District. Wall Street was the first place where the  New York Stock Exchange permanently settled.

 This street brings together the major US financial institutions, among them the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, AMEX - American Stock Exchange, NYMEX - Commerce and the New York Stock Exchange NYBOT - the New York Trade Commission. Many New York financial firms no longer has its headquarters on Wall Street, but Midtown Manhattan, Long Island, New Jersey and Fairfield County.

THE HISTORY OF THE NAME:

There were many attempts to explain the origin of the name. Probably, it  was derived from a wall on the northern boundary of the New Amsterdam settlement, perhaps to protect against Native Americans. A conflicting explanation is that Wall Street was named after Walloons— the Dutch name for a Walloon is Waal. Among the first settlers that embarked on the ship "Nieu Nederlandt" in 1624 were 30 Walloon families. The Dutch word "wal" can be translated as "rampart." However, even some English maps show the name as Waal Straat, and not as Wal Straat.

The phrase "Wall Street" is also used to refer to the entire US financial market. 

Today, when we say that a joint stock company is a company on Wall Street, it does not mean that it is physically there. It means, rather, that the company is listed on the NYSE. Such companies may have their offices around the globe. Today, a large part of the workforce Wall Street consists of specialists working in the field of law, finance, employed by medium or large corporations. Many of the nearby businesses are local companies and chain stores to meet the needs of employees of Wall Street. Most of the people employed in the financial district commute to work from Long Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and the lower Hudson Valley.

WALL STREET'S CULTURE

Wall Street's culture is often criticized for rigidity. Looking back on a few decades stereotype stems from condescension to their own interests, which guided the founders of Wall Street. The  recent criticism focused on structural problems and lack of willingness to change old habits. New York also has a reputation as a very bureaucratic city, which even prevents entrepreneurs from the middle class  come  onto the market.

Over the years, certain elite persons associated with Wall Street became a celebrity, and even legendary. Although the fame of these persons is limited to community brokers and bankers, some achieved international fame. Some won it, using its financial capacity, reporting, creating investment strategies, others were remembered for their greed.

 TASK: 

Create a list of the main advantges and benefits as well as threats and drawbacks, which the Wall Street and financial market may offer for the bankers, lawyers, brokers and other people connected with it. 

Johnny Depp

John Christopher Depp II ( June 9, 1963 in Owensboro) is an  American actor, director and musician,  three times nominated for an Oscar. He is considered to be  one of the most versatile actors of his day and age in Hollywood.

 Depp's  family is of German and Irish origin.  Johnny Depp also admits to Indian roots, saying in an interview that his great-grandmother came from Cherokee.

In 1973, Johnny's  family moved from Kentucky to Miramar (FL) near Miami. In 1978, Depp's parents divorced. The following year, Johnny eventually dropped out of school.

Playing a major role in the TV series 21 Jump Street, helped him to gain popularity among teenagers.

   

Johnny Depp  is also known for his regular collaboration with director Tim Burton. Burton and Depp worked so far on eight films: Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood (film), Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Alice in Wonderland and Dark Shadows.

Many times he played a duet with Helena Bonham Carter, among others, in films: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Alice in Wonderland, Alice Through the Looking Glass and The Lone Ranger.

Johnny Depp made his debut as the director and screenwriter in the film Brave, where he also played a major role.

Depp has generally chosen roles which he found interesting, rather than those he thought would succeed at the box office. However, In 2003, Depp starred in the Walt Disney Pictures adventure film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which was a major box office success. He earned widespread acclaim for his comic performance as pirate Captain Jack Sparrow  and received a nomination for the Academy Award for the Best Actor.

His most significant roles: 

Edward Scissorhands

Captain Jack Sparrow

Barnabas Collins

Ed Wood

James Barrie

TASK:

Choose one film with Johnny Depp (whichever you like) watch it and write a  review about it. Do not forget to justify why you have chosen this particular film.The review should not be shorter than 200 words and not longer than 300.

Grammy Awards- The Music Oscars

A Grammy Award, also known as the Gramophonic Award or simply Grammy is an honor awarded by  The Recording Academy to recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry. 

 Award ceremony is enhanced by performances by acclaimed artists, and Grammy itself is considered to be the equivalent of an Oscar in the film. 

The first Grammy Awards were handed out in 1959, and a year later the ceremony was partly broadcast on television in the NBC Sunday Showcase. Since 1971 the  galas have been held in both Los Angeles and New York, so that artists could decide where they will present. Rights to broadcast the ceremony bought Pierre Cossette, who organized the first comprehensive broadcast live on TV. In 1973, these rights acquired CBS, and the gale began to take place in Nashville. In response to this, the competitive  ABC launched the American Music Awards.

 The Trophy 

The current trophy, which is gold-plated phonograph, is produced exclusively in Johnstown, Ohio. All awards are made by hand and are identical. In 1990 the original design of Grammy was changed, it became more delicate and the traditional structure of the material was replaced by stronger metal alloys, to avoid damage. At the same time the trophy became larger and heavier. Each statuette is made part by part, and finally gilded.

Catergories

The four major categories:

1.   Album of the Year - rewards the artist  and the production team of the album. 
2.   Record of the Year - rewards the artist and the production team of a recording.
3.   Song of the Year  - rewards authors / composers of songs.
4.   Best New Artist  - rewards the artist who issued within a certain time his first work, which  earned him recognition

Other prizes are awarded to artists and production teams in the listed genres

Special Grammy Awards are awarded for long-standing contribution to the music industry.

 

Michael Jackson

Adele

Questions:

1. Who is your favourite Grammy Award winner?

2. Who in your opinion deserves the Grammy Award?

3. According to the text, which TV station acquired the rights to broadcast the Grammy Awards Ceremony? 

4. To which huge event may the Grammy Awards be compared?

5. How has the design of the trophy changed through the years? 

Obesity in the U.S.A.

During that festive time of the year there are some of us who definitely need a little reminder to actually refrain from the third helping of Christmas dishes and go on a walk with family instead of sitting in front of TV or reading that post. Undoubtedly, we - people of the 21st century - should spend more time on physical activity and take care of a balanced, healthy diet, without exaggeration of course, but in the era of a junk food, air pollution and stressfull lifestyles we are more and more prone to civilization diseases and every one of us should be aware that obesity is one of them.

I link the problem of obesity with the topic of culture for several reasons. First of all our health is for me the most primary determinant of our happiness and every kind of activity. There can be also some culturals factors as the reasons and consequences of this fatal disease that we should be aware of. Even though it is slowly changing for better, obesity is still very current problem for the Americans, especially the young ones. It may be said that the excessive attention paid to this lead to another extremes - promoting the slim figure in the mass media, intolerance on that substrate or even bullying, we should remember though that it is our health and life that matters and that prevention is always better than cure! To make myself clear, I'll repeat that one more time, it's not about being slightly overweight, I would like to present some less obvious reasons why Americans are often claimed to be the most obese nation, and it goes far beyond the harmful stereotypes of eating only in McDonald's restaurants, as you can see it is not only "suger, fat and lack of activity".

THREE REASONS WHY IT IS NOT THAT EASY TO LOSE WEIGHT IN THE U.S.A.

Between the 1960s and the 2000s, Americans grew, on the average, an inch taller and 24 pounds heavier. The average American man today weights 194 pounds and the average woman 165 pounds. The growing girth has led to the creation of special-sized ambulances, operating tables and coffins as well as bigger seats on planes and trains. Almost a third of American children and teens are overweight, but 84 percent of parents believe their children are at a healthy weight in one study. Why? From whom should children get the proper knowledge about nutrition if not from their parents?

Still there are scientific reasons why Americans are blimping up and they aren’t limited to eating too much and exercising too little. Here are a few areas on which I'd like to shed a light.

1. Antibiotics in food and as medicine. A recent article in the New York Times confirms suspicions that the antibiotics routinely given to livestock to make them fat do the same thing to people. Antibiotics are thought to fatten by changing gut bacteria to make absorption of nutrients more efficient.

Most researchers blame over-prescription of antibiotics for excessive human exposure. Studies also show there are antibiotic residues in US food too, especially in meat and milk, and the government tests for them. That means even if you avoid unnecessary antibiotics from the doctor, you could be getting them from the grocery store.

2. Sugar substitutes. Artificial sweeteners have always been billed as a way to cut calories and lose weight. But recent research shows they may do just the opposite. When researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center studied 474 people who drank two or more artificially sweetened soft drinks a day they found the people gained five times as much as those not drinking diet drinks. Thanks for nothing!

There are three reasons artificial sweeteners may do more harm than good. One is that some of the sweeteners - which tend to be chemicals like acesulfame potassium and aspartame - may slow metabolism, speculate researchers. Secondly, artificial sweeteners separate “food seeking behavior” from the “reward” of real nutrients and can set up sweets addictions because the reward is never received. They literally “train” people to crave sweets. Finally the presence of artificial sweeteners in a product doesn’t automatically mean natural sweeteners aren’t present too. Some food manufacturers use both. Read the label. Marion Nestle, a professor in nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University and leading food expert, told me she isn’t aware of any convincing evidence that proves artificial sweeteners help people to lose weight.

3. Industry marketing. Most people are aware of aggressive junk food marketing, especially to children.. In a recent pediatrics study, children who tasted identical graham crackers and gummy fruit snacks, some with and some without cartoon characters, “significantly preferred the taste of foods that had popular cartoon characters on the packaging.” Who says advertising doesn’t work?

Researchers who studied 500,000 California middle- and high-school students found those who attended schools located near fast-food outlets—surprise!—weighed more. Still, it is not just the food industry that is responsible for our growing national girth.

TASK

1. List the possible consequences of being obese (you can use your own knowledge or the internet sources) and form 3 to 5 advices about healthy diet for your American friend.

America and Poland

We may think that The United States of America and Poland are two totally different countries and in deed, they are. There are 7 189 km between Washington and Warsaw, there are 6 hours difference between those two cities and so many things in between. 

Are you interested how American feels in Poland?

Watch this short movie and decide how would you feel in a country that is not much alike yours.

Looking through some forums dedicated to differences between Americans and Poles I found few things that may be interesting. Americans may seem a little bit lazier, they use cars much more often and when they go shopping they buy products for a whole week or more, whereas Poles prefer to go shopping more often buying less things. Shops themselves are a little bit different. In the U.S.A there are huge shops with everything and in Poland there are many separated shops e.g. with cosmetics, electronics etc.
People are different too. Americans are more open, they can say to a stranger "Hello, how are you?" whereas in Poland people are not so out-going to accost strangers. But of course it does not mean that Poles are unfriendly, they just need more time.

Try to imagine yourself being in America, how would you feel and what could shock you the most.