On American cultural values from film and television works

Film and television works are like a mirror of history and culture. Through film and television works, we can understand people's life concepts and attitudes under different cultural backgrounds. An important factor why American film and television works can capture the eyes of people all over the world is the ingenious infiltration of American cultural values. This paper analyzes and summarizes the cultural values in American film and television works from three aspects: defending dreams, pursuing democracy and freedom, and human brilliance, so that we can understand American culture through film and television works, and at the same time reposition and think about our outlook on life and values.

Most American film and television works take affection, friendship, love, justice and science fiction as clues. The gorgeous scenes of large-scale production, coupled with its political, economic and cultural advantages, make individualism, heroism, freedom and democracy in American culture fully displayed in front of the audience with the help of movies, which triggered people's thinking and exploration. The values of moral care and humanitarianism, material progress and growth, and the pursuit of freedom and equality conveyed by American film and television works are worth learning from the audience. This is not only the pillar of American economic and cultural development, but also the perfect values that most countries in the world are willing to flaunt.

First, the American cultural value system.

The construction of American cultural system mostly comes from its immigrant culture, so American culture is called A? Furnace? . Most traditional American cultures were brought by Anglo-Saxons from their original places of residence. Although it is integrated into the cultures of many immigrant countries, it is mainly the traditional culture of Britain. The Statue of Liberty, Barbie, American Goth, Bison Nickel and Uncle Sam are regarded as the five symbols of American traditional culture, and the democracy, freedom principle, individualism and heroism derived from them have become the traditional and mainstream cultural values of the United States. As the United States is a new capitalist country, the traditional culture has been preserved for a relatively short time. Modern American culture is also gradually transformed from traditional culture, which is mainly manifested in American dream, freedom and equality, moralism and humanitarianism. No matter Americans, Asians or Latin Americans, they all regard the United States as the cradle to realize their dreams and want to gain something from this land through their own efforts. At the same time, as a country based on freedom, freedom and equality also occupy the most important position in the American cultural system, because most of the early American colonies came from the middle and lower classes of colonial countries, and they were strictly opposed? The old world? There are many inequalities, and I hope to realize real freedom, that is, to manage my own life. Most Americans have devout religious beliefs, so moralism and humanism are also regarded as an important part of American cultural values. On the whole? Modern American culture is moving from estrangement to unification? . Of course, this is inseparable from the reform of the American social system.

Second, the perspective of American cultural values from film and television works

(1) Defend your dreams

1. Different people's different dreams

Although film is an audio-visual art, in today's materialistic world, most films are just playthings for people to entertain in their leisure time. But truly inspiring and rewarding movies will still get the enthusiasm and praise of the audience. Most American film and television works are dreaming, and they are not limited to a few. The dream of realizing racial equality; Have a dream of longing for a rich life; I hope to be on the stage of attention and become a star; And the dream of saving all mankind and exploring the unknown world. All these, without exception, show the American values of individualism and heroism from another angle. No matter what kind of dream it is, people generally call it a dream in the modern sense. American dream? . Although different people have different understandings of this word, its axis will never change. This land in the United States provides a platform for people to realize their dreams, namely? Everyone has the hope of success and the possibility of creating miracles? .

2. A brief analysis of Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump never gives up.

Many American movies are right? American dream? There is a perfect interpretation. The movies Forrest Gump and Chasing Happyness are typical representatives of the American dream. Forrest Gump runs through it from beginning to end? Stupid is stupid? This idea. Although he is a mentally retarded child, with the belief that he never gives up on life, he successfully completed his college studies, joined the army and eventually became a war hero in people's minds. Everyone's fate is unknown, and we never know what the next stop will be. When God closes a door for you, he will also remember to open a window for you, through which the sun can still shine in. Forrest Gump's story tells people that anything is possible as long as you dare to think and do it.

3. How does Chris defend his dream by pursuing Happyness?

The other part will be in the modern sense? American dream? The perfect movie is The Pursuit of Happiness, and the American movie The Pursuit of Happyness is based on a true story. The hero of the story is Chris Grande, a famous investment expert today. This movie belongs to inspirational movies, but it is completely different from inspirational movies that simply describe personal struggles and dreams. It successfully depicts the image of a poor salesman who is on the verge of bankruptcy, his wife has abandoned her family and can only rely on her son. Finally, the story of how to become a well-known financial investor by our own efforts. This process is very difficult for ordinary people without strong will and spiritual support, and his son is the driving force for his constant struggle. Chris said in the film:? This part of my life is called taking a bus; This part of my life is called being stupid; This part of my life is now called fatigue, and this part of my life is called happiness. ? This film does not emphasize personal struggle, down-to-earth or relying on intelligence to succeed. Happiness here is not a goal, not a direction, but a responsibility and a right. Chasing dreams is not just a walk, but occasionally you need to stop and think about what your goal is in life. If you have a dream, you should defend it.

(2) Pursuing democracy and freedom

1. Freedom and Democracy in American Cultural Value System

Equality and freedom have always been universally recognized by Americans. Although Americans do not have a unified thought, they have a universally recognized concept, that is, a value system centered on equality and freedom. The American Declaration of Independence put equality and freedom in the first place, and he clearly pointed out? We hold the following truth to be self-evident: all men are created equal, and the creator has endowed them with many inalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. ? American freedom and democracy seem to be the aura given to them by God. At the beginning of many American movies, there are such scenes. In a golden light, the statue of the goddess symbolizing the American people's struggle for freedom, yearning for and pursuit of a better life stands high on Liberty Island in new york Harbor. Therefore, democracy and freedom are repeatedly interspersed in film and television works.

2. Andy and Red's pursuit of freedom in "The Shawshank Redemption", when they talk about the pursuit of freedom in American culture, will also bring most viewers back to "The Shawshank Redemption" staged in 1994. ? There is a kind of bird that can never be caged, because every wing of it is covered with the glory of freedom. ? The film depicts the story of Shawshank prison in a third-person narrative way, and depicts Andy's actions and the people saved in Shawshank prison because of him from Rhett's perspective. What attracts the audience most in this film is Andy Gong's powerful inner strength and persistence in free life. He said that life can be simply divided into two choices: get busy living or get busy dying. Throughout the film, we can see that the protagonist's persistent desire for freedom has never stopped. It took 19 years to cut a hole with a stone hammer. What motivates him is the ignition of inner hope. ? Fear can imprison you, and hope can set you free. ? This is what the work itself wants to tell people.

(C) the brilliance of human nature

1. The brilliance of human nature is the secret of enduring American movies.

From the beginning, American movies are trying to create all kinds of heroic myths, a unique film culture and various visual effects. For example, truth is supreme, war horse, Titanic, 20 12, adventure in stormy waves, speed in danger, etc. However, whether it is a film with legal theme or some giant disaster films or science fiction films, an important secret why he can attract the audience's attention is that he skillfully interspersed the brilliance of human nature in the whole film.

2. The brilliance of human nature in Black Death Row John and the warden in green mile.

The Miracle of the Green Lane shot by 1999 is the same as The Shawshank Redemption shot by 1994. Prison is the darkest and scariest place, full of fear and horror. Although in such a place, there is no lack of brilliance of human nature. In the Greenway Miracle, John on death row? Coffey looks terrible and has a huge body, but he has warm love and magical power. He and warden Paul? Edgecombe, together with him, sincerely helped death row inmates to walk the last journey of their lives calmly and peacefully, and interpreted a touching story. In China, although there are many touching stories in prison, few people touch them because of the influence of dogmatism.

3. The truth, goodness and beauty of human nature in Titanic

The movie Titanic is a simple movie. Since the release of 1997, it has been talked about by people. This movie is shocking not only because of great love, but also because of human nature. ? Let the women and children go first instead of? The leader goes first? . This is the moment when the ship sank, and the dramatic conflict that Hollick used money to buy the first mate to get on the lifeboat first was strongly manifested. Faced with life and death, men immerse themselves in water and let women and children get into lifeboats first. They overcame the selfishness of human nature. They are all heroes. Are you online? Titanic? At the moment of sinking, the old couple who died hugging each other on the ship, the mother who told a story and buried her two children at the bottom of the sea, and the priest who did not forget to give spiritual comfort at the last minute all showed unparalleled greatness and fearlessness of human beings. They are like thinking reeds, showing earth-shattering power in the destruction of nature. A disaster witnessed the fragility of human beings, but also witnessed the truth, goodness and beauty contained in human nature itself. The theme of human nature, whether it is movies, TV series or cartoons, will always make people think and gain something after reading it, and it will also become a beautiful story that people will always praise.

4. See the brilliance of human nature from the smoke of Saving Private Ryan.

In the eyes of most viewers, "Saving Private Ryan" is nothing more than an elaborate American patriotic propaganda film. But if you watch it carefully, you will understand the deep meaning of this film. A mother had four sons who went to war and three died at the same time, so the American chief of staff ordered that the fourth son trapped in the front line should be safely withdrawn anyway. As one of the cradles of modern democracy, the founding spirit of the United States is to emphasize personal values. Although? War has no pity, killing has no conscience, but smoke still shines with the brilliance of human nature? [4]。 Eight to save a person, in order not to let an elderly and frail mother experience the bad news that all her sons were killed in battle. I believe that most men who have seen this movie will also find their own shadow in this movie. [5]

Third, the conclusion

American film and television works have set a global benchmark by virtue of their unique cultural characteristics. The values embodied in American film and television works, such as pursuing dreams, pursuing freedom and respecting the value of individual life, have become the standards for judging global cultural values. Appreciating film and television works can not only help us improve our in-depth understanding of American culture, but also master the application ability of the language itself. Cultural differences and conflicts between China and the United States are described and discussed in most film and television works. Understanding the differences between different cultural backgrounds, historical backgrounds and geographical regions can effectively promote the smooth progress of cross-cultural communication. Take its essence and discard its dross, so as to better inherit and carry forward the traditional culture of China.