Things you learn about America from the movies

[thalberg]

A friend of mine from Norway once came to America and expressed surprise and disappointment that we did not eat at any hot dog stands during her visit here.  She said that in so many American movies the characters eat at hot dog stands.  I realized this is true about movies.  Yet we Americans really do not do that for the most part in real life--even when I was in New York I did not do that.

So I wonder--what other things do people thing about the American lifestyle that they learn from movies but that are not true?

[rc]

The only hotdog stand I've eaten at is one they set up outside the bar.  It's the most delicious thing at that hour and a brilliant business plan!

I've actually seen the 'arrogant american' once.  I assume he was american by the stars & stripes/eagle leather jacket he was wearing...  The douche went walking right in front of traffic, everybody had to slow down while he gives this look of "you wouldn't hit me" and strolls right along.

I remember the first time I saw some kids give me the allmighty pedestrian look as they walked in front of my van.  They moved a little quicker when I got too close without any sign of slowing down   Thank god because that would've been bad if they were more stubborn than me

[shortyshort]

If you go out, there's a 50% chance of getting shot. 

The American government is nearly as corrupt and the British one. 

Everyone in America lives in Houses the size of football pitches. 

[gerryjay]

 everyone that have problems with the police flies to Rio, in Brazil. (what probably explain why that city have so huge problems with crime and violence).

 adults behave as stupid children in public places, specially stadiums. er...sorry, this is true... 
 

[general disarray]

So I wonder--what other things do people thing about the American lifestyle that they learn from movies but that are not true?

Everyone gets a nose-job and a boob-job on their 18th birthday.  Wait.  That IS true.  Sorry.

[Bob]

:-p   I have a hot dog stand.  (Therefore, my area is more American?)


How about everything always ending happily?  The underdog wins.  That sort of thing.


Hmmm..... You know there's a big government conspiracy over here?  They're all around, watching everything you do, without your awareness.   Because you know they're highly interested in my groceries and have nothing better to do.  The truth for some of that, that I wonder about, is that there might actually be no one there.  No one overseeing things.  No one ready to step in if things ever did go bad.

The expectation that everything gets the American dream.  I don't think that's really true.

I do see the hands of business in a lot of things.  There's advertising all over.  You can always buy stuff, whatever you want.  Most of it seems pretty crappy and unhealthy though.  But someone's always out there selling stuff, telling you how great it is and how much it will improve your life.  So artificial that way.


In urban areas, there are superheros who protect everyone.  The police are so stupid in those areas that they can't handle things and let these superheroes do the serious work.  And despite that it's just one person, usually a man, he gets it all done.  The problems are always things that can be beaten into submission, rather than having "Super Accountant Man" come in and sort through years of paperwork and solve the problem with a complicated formula and clicks of the mouse. 

[Petter]

There are no good pianists except black pianist?   
/ducks

[ahinton]

If you go out, there's a 50% chance of getting shot. 

As in certain no-go areas of Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, etc.?...

The American government is nearly as corrupt and the British one. 

Presuming you to mean "as" rather than "and", might this not be because the former is just a little slow on the uptake and hasn't yet fully learnt and put into practice all the lessons in governmental corruption that the old country has been trying to teach it?

Everyone in America lives in Houses the size of football pitches. 

I don't think that they do, actually, but do bear in mind that, with the failing American economy, weakening American dollar and US homespun credit crunch, increasing numbers of people who buy such American homes as you mention are non-American property and currency speculators who are moving in for the kill rather than Americans who can no longer obtain the loans that they still need in order to purchase them.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Everyone gets a nose-job and a boob-job on their 18th birthday.  Wait.  That IS true.  Sorry.

Is it really? All the American males have this at that stage, do they? And are those ops cheaper than for females?...

Best,

Alistair

[retrouvailles]

If you go out, there's a 50% chance of getting shot. 

That is nearly true where I live.

[Bob]

How about Americans are all cowboys who solve things with violence?  Just disregard the war for right now.  :p

Even in a movie about ideas, the main characters will still end up in a physical fight to finally resolve things.

[gerryjay]

How about Americans are all cowboys who solve things with violence?  Just disregard the war for right now.  :p

as far as i know, that's true for eight years...then it's not true for another eight years...then it's true again...

[term]

 mhm...i love hot dogs. But you rarely find hotdog stands here. However, our substitute - Döner - is found everywhere and is even better. 

[Mozartian]

from a book on cultural diversity:

from an essay on american stereotypes from movies and tv by gary althen:

One of the main misconceptions TV and movies convey abroad is that American women are nearly all readily available for sexual activity.

The US is composed of NYC, Chicago, Disneyland, Las Vegas, Hollywood, San Fran, and Texas.

Most American women are beautiful, most American men are handsome (hah). Those who are not beautiful or handsome ae criminals, deceitful people, and members of the lower class.

Violent crime is an ever-present threat in all parts of the country.

Average Americans are rich and usually do not have to work to get money. (yeah right)

Average Americans live in large, modern shiny houses or apartments.

Most things in America are large, modern, and shiny. (haha thats my favorite)

High-speed automobile chases are frequently seen on American streets.

[arensky]

There are no good pianists except black pianist?   
/ducks

That just might be the case... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzj6Q61h3oA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCsGSMze_6Q

[franzliszt2]

The big thing I learnt is never to worry about alien invasion.

Aliens always land in america, and then the Americans kill them all 

[gerryjay]

One of the main misconceptions TV and movies convey abroad is that American women are nearly all readily available for sexual activity.

isn't that the truth? oh well...

The US is composed of NYC, Chicago, Disneyland, Las Vegas, Hollywood, San Fran, and Texas.

i would say that mostly texas, lately...

Violent crime is an ever-present threat in all parts of the country.

and there is always an all-in-one-man army ready to stop it, but he needs a very good reason to do that because he's been very occupied with her daughter's schools presentation, or his farm, or his new job as a flowershop salesman...

Average Americans live in large, modern shiny houses or apartments.
Most things in America are large, modern, and shiny. (haha thats my favorite)

americans themselves look preety large, modern and shiny in the movies btw.

High-speed automobile chases are frequently seen on American streets.

and that's why sometimes you must to wait for hours to cross a street in L.A.

[gerryjay]

The big thing I learnt is never to worry about alien invasion.
Aliens always land in america, and then the Americans kill them all 

from stupid aliens to the complete extinction of the human race, what doesn't happen in america in the movies?
but you're right: they always solve the problem and get all very clean.

[gerry]

Back in the mid-70s I was staying briefly with a family in Glasgow. Their 6-year-old son was convinced that because I was an American, I must be a cowboy. He was telling all his friends that a cowboy was staying with them. Before I left, I had been promoted to Sheriff in his fantasy! People also asked if all police were like Starsky & Hutch.

[goldentone]

On a serious note, this demonstrates the true power of images, the media, and the fundamental law that the more a person sees something, the more they tend to believe it.   

On this influence I want to make a personal inventory.  I believe unlike any other time in history we are in a most vulnerable position to be misinformed and deceived. 


(Great thread btw, Thalberg) 

[arensky]

On a serious note, this demonstrates the true power of images, the media, and the fundamental law that the more a person sees something, the more they tend to believe it.   

On this influence I want to make a personal inventory.  I believe unlike any other time in history we are in a most vulnerable position to be misinformed and deceived. 


(Great thread btw, Thalberg) 

I agree with you about the potential for deception by the media but there is also more information at our fingertips (literally) than at anytime in history. If knowledge is power than we are very, very powerful. At least, if we choose to be. It's up to us...

[franzliszt2]

I used to say that americans looked like people from Family guy for a joke once. Then this year an American joined the conservatoire.....he is shortish, fat, eats junk food everyday, wears a riddiculous baseball cap, sits on his backside all day, watches american tv all day, stinks of sweat, always says "god dammit" calls everyone "duuuude" talks like the Dad from family guy, always comes out with lines from Family guy and the simpsons, sings annoying american songs...in short HE IS THE ULTIMATE AMERICAN STEREOTYPE!!

I am not saying all americans are like that! I think he is the ULTIMATE american based on what I have seen on American comedy shows. 

[gerry]

I think it speaks volumes for us that there seems to be a seamless transition in this country from being a TV/movie actor to becoming a politician.

[rc]

Or having such a celebrity culture that a creature can be famous for being famous.

I agree with you about the potential for deception by the media but there is also more information at our fingertips (literally) than at anytime in history. If knowledge is power than we are very, very powerful. At least, if we choose to be. It's up to us...

The problem is too much information, it's easy to become bamboozled.  We could find compelling arguements to any side of an issue and there are also unhealthy mindsets that can be bought into.  The true art is in filtering what info is useful and what isn't.

Personally, I still prefer to get my info through books.  The internet is convenient but I hate staring at a screen for too long.  Ink and paper is nicer

[gerryjay]

 i just saw that video, and excuse me for posting the link in two different threads, but i thought it was very important to our serious discussion up here.

 furthermore, i didn´t know the us were planning an attack here in brazil.

[communist]

i live in America and it really sucks here we abuse resources we complain about everything thats a global issue we try to be the good guys even tho we get imports from slaves who work for almost nothing from these terrible slave driver dictators ( yes we have many hot dog stands and there are millions of cowboys  in the south )