American Manners and Values - Group 2B

Summary

The presentation explores American culture, covering its evolution from the 1770s to modern times. The speakers discuss the impact of patriotism, the Romantic literary movement, and how America became a global entertainment hub. They also address American manners, emphasizing politeness, informality, respect for privacy, and expressing appreciation. The values shaping American society, such as equality, individualism, and freedom, are explained, highlighting their roots in historical events like Independence Day and their influence on American behavior, work ethic, and social interactions.

Takeaways

• 👋 Introduction: The speaker, Adik from group 2B, introduces the group, including friends Dias and FEA Fallen, and presents the topic of American manners and culture.
• 🇺🇸 American Patriotism: The speaker mentions how American culture started around 1770 with a strong sense of patriotism, which influenced poetry and literature.
• 📜 American Independence: The significance of American Independence Day (1776) is highlighted, showing how Americans express pride and patriotism.
• 📖 American Renaissance: By 1850, American literature entered a Romantic phase, emphasizing personal and national relationships, affecting society and entertainment.
• 🎬 Global Influence: In the 20th century, America became a global hub of entertainment, with Hollywood, literature, sports, and fashion gaining worldwide recognition.
• 🙋‍♂️ American Manners: Americans value politeness, personal space, and respect. Common practices include saying 'please' and 'thank you,' respecting privacy, and handling interruptions respectfully.
• 💼 Informality: American society is more informal compared to others, with first-name basis communication even in professional settings.
• 📏 Privacy: Respecting personal space and privacy is important, with Americans being careful not to ask intrusive questions unless the other person is willing to share.
• 🙏 Expressing Gratitude: Americans show appreciation through thank you notes, small gifts, or compliments to express gratitude for kindness or help.
• 🛠️ American Values: Core values like achievement, success, work ethic, equality, and freedom stem from historical influences and continue to shape American culture.

Q & A

Who are the presenters in this presentation?

The presenters are Adik, Dias, and FEA Fallen from Group 2B.

What is the main topic of the presentation?

The main topic is American culture, covering American manners, values, and historical development.

When did American culture begin to develop according to the presentation?

According to the presentation, American culture began to develop around the 1770s with the rise of patriotism and nationalistic literature.

What significant cultural change occurred in America during the 1850s?

In the 1850s, American culture shifted towards the Romantic period, also called the American Renaissance, where literature became more focused on emotional and personal expression.

How did American culture become internationally influential in the 1900s?

In the early 1900s, American culture, especially Hollywood movies, fashion, literature, and sports, became widely known and consumed across the world, making the U.S. a center of global entertainment.

What are some key aspects of American manners discussed in the presentation?

Key aspects include politeness (saying 'please' and 'thank you'), informality (using first names even in professional settings), privacy (not intruding into personal lives), expressing appreciation, and handling interruptions respectfully.

How do Americans typically express politeness?

Americans express politeness by using courtesy phrases like 'please' and 'thank you' in everyday interactions and by showing respect for others.

What is unique about American informality compared to other cultures?

American informality is notable in that people often address each other by their first names, even in professional settings, which is less common in many other cultures.

What are the core American values identified by Robin Williams in 1970?

Robin Williams identified core American values such as equality of opportunity, achievement and success, material comfort, activity and work, practicality and efficiency, progress, science, democracy, and freedom.

How do American values of 'efficiency and practicality' manifest in society?

American values of efficiency and practicality are reflected in mass production, industrialism, and the emphasis on productive work. However, this can sometimes lead to challenges, such as unsafe products or reduced craftsmanship.