1、美国主流文化介绍美国主流文化介绍一、形成根源二、美国主流文化模式内容三、中美主流文化模式比较美国主流文化群体美国主流文化群体lWASP：White Anglo-Saxon Protestant 白人盎格鲁白人盎格鲁-撒克逊新教徒，撒克逊新教徒，本义是指美国当权的精英精英群体及其文化、习俗和道德行为标准，现在可以泛指信奉新教新教的欧裔美国人。此群体拥有庞大的经济经济、政治势力，构成美国上流社会和中上阶层的绝大部分。尽管美国社会日益多元化，但他们的文化、道德观和价值取向仍在很大程度上影响着美国的发展。这个用法其实陈腐且不严谨，因为美国新教徒拥有错综复杂的血统，分散在很多教派中。新教徒的祖先可以来自
2、英格兰英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士、康沃尔康沃尔、爱尔兰爱尔兰、德国德国、荷兰荷兰、丹麦丹麦、斯堪的纳维亚半岛或法国的雨格诺派雨格诺派；可以属于美国圣公会美国圣公会、长老会长老会、信义宗（路德宗）、卫理公会卫理公会、公理会、荷兰改革派荷兰改革派、贵格会、浸信会浸信会、福音派甚至摩门教等等。不光是精英阶层，各个社会阶层都有他们的身影，即使被讽刺为“白色垃圾”的下层贫困白人也可能是WASP。美国地图美国地图美国美国50州州lAlabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Ha
3、waii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan lMinnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico lNew York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania lRhode Island South Carolina South Dako
4、ta Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont lVirginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming 形成根源形成根源历史影响历史影响l最初的四种殖民模式：1.The settlement in Virginia：the London Company伦敦贸易公司；in 1619,two events took place in Virginia,which would influence the shaping of American culture a great deal:1)on July 30,1619,in the
5、Jamestown church,the delegates elected from various communities in Virginia met as the House of Burgesses（城镇自治议会）to discuss,along with the governor and his council members who were appointed,the enactment of laws for the colony;this was the first example for the United States,the first meeting of an
6、 elected legislature,a representative assembly,in North America.It was thought to be the brilliant example of self-government of Americans although white servants did not have their representatives.2)A month later,A Dutch ship brought in over 20 Negros,who were bought to be held as servants for a te
7、rm of years.Thus a start had been made toward the enslavement of Africans within what was to be the American Republic.The two events combined constituted a unique American phenomenon.On the one hand,these very white people who were seeking and fighting for their own freedom deprived black Africans o
8、f their freedom.George Washington was a great fighter for American freedom,and Thomas Jefferson was chief author of the Declaration of Independence,and yet both of them were slave owners,each with over 200 black slaves.形成根源形成根源历史影响历史影响2.Puritan New England（Massachusetts,Connecticut,New Hampshire,Ver
9、mont,Maine,and Rhode Island；The Pilgrim Fathers（清教移民先驱）；The Mayflower Compact（五月花公约）：这是有关北美移民团体的第一个自治性公约，也是有关北美移民的最早历史文献。这些移民先驱们起草了生死与共的公约，民主选举了总监，为尔后成立自治政府打下了基础。影响最大）3.Catholic Maryland（Lord Baltimores Feudal Plan eventually failed）4.Quaker Pennsylvania（William Penn；Quakers were said to be so faith
10、ful to God when they spoke of God,they trembled;(The expression:“Oh,My God!”)they believed that people could communicate directly with God because everyone had an inner light and God was in everyones soul and in mans heart.Since everyone had a divine light in his heart,all were born equal,and all we
11、re brothers and sisters.总之，美利坚合众国和美利坚民族的形成时期也正好是资本主义在西方主要国家的确立时期；因此，其主流文化明显体现资本主义上升时期的价值观特色（如自由竞争、物质至上等）。当然，美国国内和世界历史上的一些重大事件也对其主流文化的形成产生深刻的影响独立战争、南北战争、两次世界大战到民权运动等。一个民族主流文化的形成离不开历史的影响。可以说，文化推动着历史的发展，而同时，历史的发展也不断地塑造着文化。形成根源形成根源宗教影响宗教影响 l清教徒传统（Puritan Tradition;the Pilgrim Fathers;the Mayflower compa
12、ct1620)清教徒是追随卡尔文教旨的基督教新教教徒，其基本信念包括：1.上帝不可知论；2.人命天定（Pre-destiny）；3.上帝的宠选民（Gods Elect）；4.上帝的召唤（Gods Calling）：一个人工作上的成功和事业上的兴旺是上帝选民的标 志；所以，清教徒要努力工作，千方百计挣钱，多积累；5.勤奋工作，品行端正：这也是上帝选民的标志之一；6.圣经原文是最权威的教义：人人必须都要亲自读圣经，从中探索上帝的意志，建立自己与上帝的联系。这是清教徒与上帝直接联系地方方法，他们不通过教会或教士。他们强调个人，因此，美国的个人主义在很大程度上就是从清教传统而来；7.重视教育：为了人人
13、都能读懂圣经，必须让所有人都接受教育；8.建立一个理想社会（a city upon hill）的梦想：清教徒希望把他们的殖民地建成一座“山巅之城”，成为一个理想的社会；这种传统对后来的美国人产生很大的影响；至今，美国仍有一些人总是把自己的政治制度说成是世界上最好的，并企图强加于人；9.使命感（sense of mission）；个人主义、勤奋工作、尊重教育 形成根源形成根源政治影响政治影响lAmerican DemocracylChecks&BalancelSeparation of PowerlHave Ones Voice Heard l总统选举中，每州选票“Winner Takes Al
14、l”（强烈的、近乎赌博式的竞争意识；宝洁公司Protector&Gamble（William Protector the candle-maker and James Gamble the soap-maker)l美国式的民主政治制度和氛围对美国主流文化的影响是不言而喻的John Locke(1632-1704):The Philosopher of FreedomlHis arguments concerning liberty and the social contract later influenced the written works of Alexander Hamilton,J
15、ames Madison,Thomas Jefferson,and other Founding Fathers of the United States.lLockes political theory was founded on social contract theory(Thomas Hobbes,1588-1679).lLocke believed that human nature allowed men to be selfish.Locke defines the self as that conscious thinking thing,(whatever substanc
16、e,made up of whether spiritual,or material,simple,or compounded,it matters not)which is sensible,or conscious of pleasure and pain,capable of happiness or misery,and so is concerned for itself,as far as that consciousness extends.He does not,however,ignore substance,writing that the body too goes to
17、 the making the man.lIn a natural state all people were equal and independent,and everyone had a natural right to defend his“life,health,liberty,or possessions.”Locke assumed that the sole right to defend in the state of nature was not enough,so people established a civil society to resolve conflict
18、s in a civil way with help from government in a state of society.lLocke also advocated governmental separation of powers and believed that revolution is not only a right but an obligation in some circumstances.These ideas would come to have profound influence on the Constitution of the United States
19、 and its Declaration of Independence.l体现平等观念、个人主义观念等Declaration of Independence lThe second sentence,a sweeping statement of human rights,“We hold these truths to be self-evident,that all men are created equal,that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,that among these ar
20、e Life,Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”lThis sentence has been called one of the best-known sentences in the English language”and the most potent and consequential words in American history.The passage has often been used to promote the rights of marginalized groups,and came to represent for m
21、any people a moral standard for which the United States should strive.This view was greatly influenced by Abraham Lincoln(a government of the people,by the people and for the people),who considered the Declaration to be the foundation of his political philosophy,and promoted the idea that the Declar
22、ation is a statement of principles through which the United States Constitution should be interpreted.The Constitution lThe Preamble states,“We the People of the United States,in Order to form a more perfect Union,establish Justice,ensure domestic Tranquility,provide for the common defense,promote t
23、he general Welfare,and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”l“We the people”is the most quoted section of the constitution.American Political Life lRugged Individualism（粗鲁而朴实的个人主义；Herbert C.Hoover，1
24、928)：推行“美国体制”（American System；只有保障有秩序的自由和个人机会平等，个人的创造性和才能才会得到最大限度的发挥，并使社会进步。）“And what have been the results of our American system?Our country has become the land of opportunity to those born without inheritance,not merely because of the wealth of its resources and industry,but this freedom of init
25、iative and enterprise.Russia has natural resources equal to ours.Her people are equally industrious,but she has not had the blessings of one hundred fifty years of our form of government and of our social system.”l“The American people stand firm in the faith which has inspired this nation from the b
26、eginning.We believe that all men have a right to equal justice under law and equal opportunity to share in the common good.We believe that all men have the right to freedom of thought and expression.We believe that all men are created equal because they are created in the image of God.”(Harry S.Trum
27、ans Inaugural Address)l“,government is not the solution to our problem.From time to time,we have been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule,that government by an elite group is superior to government for,by,and of the people.But if no one among us has the
28、capable of governing himself,then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else?”-First Inaugural Address,Ronald Reagan,1981)American Political Lifel“The right to criticize.The right to hold unpopular beliefs.The right to protest.The right of independent thought.The exercise of these rights s
29、hould not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood nor should be in danger of losing his reputation or livelihood merely because he happens to know someone who holds unpopular beliefs.Who of us does not?Otherwise none of us could call our souls our own.Otherwise t
30、hought control would have set in.”-Declaration of Conscience,1950,Margaret Chase Smith1897-1995;新闻周刊曾把她列为最有价值的参议员。1989年,获总统自由勋章。)l“History is not kind to idlers.The time is long past when Americans destiny was assured simply by an abundance of natural resources and inexhaustible human enthusiasm,and
31、 by our relative isolation from the malignant problems of older civilizations.The world is indeed one global village.We live among determined,well-educated,and strongly motivated competitors.We complete with them for international standing and markets,not only with producers but also with the ideas
32、of our laboratories and neighborhood workshops.Americas position in the world may once have been reasonably secure with only a few exceptionally well-trained men and women.It is no longer.”(A Nation at Risk,1983,特雷尔.贝尔,Secretary of Education)American Political Lifel“Tonight,we proved once more that
33、the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth,but from the enduring power of our ideals:democracy,liberty,opportunity and unyielding hope.For that is the true genius of America that America can change.Our union can be perfected.And what we have alrea
34、dy achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.This is our chance to answer that call.This is our moment.This is our time to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids;to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace;to reclaim the American Dream
35、and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many,we are one;that while we breathe,we hope,and where we are met with cynicism,and doubt,and those who tell us that we cant,we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:Yes,we can.”(Obama获胜演说,2008年11月7日)形成根源形成根源社会经济影响社
36、会经济影响lThe birth of the United States and the publication of Adam Smiths book(The Wealth of the Nation)came at a time when yet another kind of revolution was taking place,the Industrial Revolution.lMost Americans think that the rise of their nation as a leading producer of manufactured goods,food and
37、 services could not have occurred without the economic freedom of capitalismwhich many prefer to call free enterprise.（很多人称之为“自由经济”，相当于后来的Laissez-faireThe first known English-language use of“laissez faire”was in 1774,by George Whatley,in the book Principles of Trade,which was co-authored with Benjam
38、in Franklin.，指政府不干预经济，自由放任。）lThe roots of affluence:No single factor is responsible for the successes of American business and industry.Bountiful resources,the geographical size of the country and population trends have all contributed to these successes.Religious,social and political traditions;the
39、 institutional structures of government and business;and the courage,hard work and determination of countless entrepreneurs and workers have also played a part.l“Somehow I cant believe there are any heights that cant be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true.This special sec
40、ret,it seems to me,can be summarized in four Cs.they are Curiosity,Confidence,Courage,and Constancy and the greatest of these is Confidence.When you believe a thing,believe it all the way,implicitly and unquestionably.”Walt Disney l美国梦American Dream（1）lHistorian and writer James Truslow Adams coined
41、 the phrase American Dream in his 1931 book Epic of America:l“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone,with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret
42、 adequately,and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it.It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely,but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable,and be recognized by ot
43、hers for what they are,regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”You identify yourself by what you are doing.Doing culture.lHe also wrote:l“The American Dream,that has lured tens of millions of all nations to our shores in the past century has not been a dream of material plen
44、ty,though that has doubtlessly counted heavily.It has been a dream of being able to grow to fullest development as a man and woman,unhampered by the barriers which had slowly been erected in the older civilizations,unrepressed by social orders which had developed for the benefit of classes rather th
45、an for the simple human being of any and every class.”American Dream（2）lThe American Dream(The Dream)is a phrase referring to the freedom that allows all citizens and all residents of the United States to pursue their goals in life through hard work and free choice(see Immigration to the United Stat
46、es).The phrases meaning has evolved over the course of American history.The Founding Fathers used the phrase,life,liberty,and the pursuit of happiness.The American Dream often refers to the opportunity for immigrants to achieve greater material prosperity than was possible in their countries of orig
47、in.America has been viewed as a land in which ones prospects in life are defined by ones talents and energy rather than by ones family wealth or political connections.This hope includes the opportunity for ones children to grow up and receive an education and its consequent career opportunities.It i
48、s the opportunity to make individual choices without the restrictions of class,caste,religion,race,or ethnic group.In recent years,the concept of the American Dream as a national ideal has been studied by various organizations.The conclusions of these studies indicate that during the 1990s to the 20
49、00s,a period of remarkable wealth for the U.S.,an increasing number of people confess having lost faith in the American Dream.lJohn Steinbeck,“Grapes of Wrath”l人类社会的怪圈：新生社会制度和环境往往倡导公平和机会均等，但随着社会机制的老化，既定的社会关系和权力关系又成为新的BarrierJames Adams当初如果能认识到这点，也许对所谓的“美国梦”就不会那么激情澎湃了当然，这也不排除政治宣传的需要历史是人写的，从来就不是客观的。美国
50、主流文化模式内容体现美国主流文化模式内容体现l个人主义、平等观念、物质至上、科技思想、变化中求发展、使劲工作拼命玩、竞争无处不在Benjamin Franklins VirtueslTEMPERANCE.Eat not to dullness;drink not to elevation.lSILENCE.Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself;avoid trifling conversation.lORDER.Let all your things have their places;let each part of your b
