[Filling25]

browsing these boards I noted how many americans are quite interested in their ancestral homeland and are fond of their forefathers' history. but at the same time they could not name a single tv show, pop/folk song or modern author from the very same country even if their lives depended on it. it's strange to me to see how they might be well versed in the ancient roman age or in Middle Ages but they seem to lack any interest in contemporary culture outside of their own.
the rest of the world has been strongly exposed to american pop culture and american idiosincracies including crazy sports like Handegg or Baseball through cinema, tv, music etc. The US are strong exporters but rarely import anything. have you ever thought about that?

[rasiasertew]

Many of them think the world is all about them, even some of their minorities.

[Assauraarguck]

It's because of language.

They know all about English musicians, TV programmes and authors.

[bataovady]

You're generalizing quite a bit there, Americans know a lot more than you might think. Compare what the average American knows about the world to what the average person in China or India or even most European countries knows and you might be surprised

[xiaoselangone]

It's because of language.

They know all about English musicians, TV programmes and authors.

pop musicians and occasionally authors but TV programmes besides The Monty Pythons?

[Matajic]

pop musicians and occasionally authors but TV programmes besides The Monty Pythons?

Downton Abbey
Top Gear
Doctor Who
Fawlty Towers
Blackadder

There are 5 I bet most of them know straight off the top of my head.

[viagra_generic]

I am going to get into a trouble for this, but I just have to...


But ofc, there are stupid people representing every nation, but you cannot deny this stereotype about Americans.

[addisonnicogel]

You're generalizing quite a bit there, Americans know a lot more than you might think. Compare what the average American knows about the world to what the average person in China or India or even most European countries knows and you might be surprised

so tell who are your favourites non american/non british contemporary musicians?

[Rememavotscam]

I am going to get into a trouble for this, but I just have to...

You can find stupid people in every country.
They just edited out all the correct answers.

[Itrtuawh]

That's a false perception. Many European and Latin American musicians have been successful in the US. So many of them that I shouldn't need to bother naming them. Contemporary British TV shows and movies have also been popular. I grew up watching Monty Python and Benny Hill for example. Japanese cultural products are also disproportionately popular here. We have BBC programming on our public TV channels. Many nations of the world have native language programming available via cable or satellite. Shakespeare, Dickens, and Orwell were required reading in my middle school. We import a lot of cultural products.

[MpNelQTU]

You can find stupid people in every country.
They just edited out all the correct answers.

ofc, that's exactly what I wrote, but there is this stereotype about them... and it's pretty much alive.

p.s. I have worked with Americans and they were actually really smart and intelligent.

[SoftrermaBioniaSat]

I am going to get into a trouble for this, but I just have to...

So very typical and ignorant of you.

so tell who are your favourites non american/non british contemporary musicians?

um, is that going to be the standard you're setting? I don't think that's a fair one.

I haven't really been exposed to classical music but I know about Johan Pachelbel, Beethoven and the like. Yes, Americans do learn about these figures in school.

Edit: I thought you wrote non-contemporary.

Ask a Chinese girl who her favorite American musician is and there's a good chance she'll say Britney Spears...

[Janarealiti]

"Where is Puerto Rico?"

"Some place in South America?"

:giggle:

[Trebbinsa]

You're generalizing quite a bit there, Americans know a lot more than you might think. Compare what the average American knows about the world to what the average person in China or India or even most European countries knows and you might be surprised

That's a good point.


I have met many anti american mexicans who always try to belittle the americans saying things like: "USA might be the ruling economy but their people is ignorant, they are just like organized cattle".

I always have arguments with this kind of "progres": "OK",-I tell them- "there are a lot of ignorant americans but what could we say? the average american is better informed and reads more books a year than the average mexican. The average american also is more concious about the rules of ettiquete to coexist in their society than us..if they are organized cattle then we are disorganized donkeys". lol!.

[reawnvam]

I am going to get into a trouble for this, but I just have to...


But ofc, there are stupid people representing every nation, but you cannot deny this stereotype about Americans.

HAHAHA. Epic.

Black guy: ''Which one is throwing the rocks?''

[Glipseagrilia]

Can any of you name many of the cultural things such as TV shows or musicians that aren't from a country where you understand the language?
I bet most of you can't name more than a handful of things from outside English speaking countries or countries where you share a mothertongue.

[Golotop]

Yes I think this is overstated. You can find large numbers of stupid people in the UK or China (or anywhere).

And I agree with Jonny that it has to do with language.

[Civilrecordzz]

You can find large numbers of stupid people in the UK.

I can confirm this.

[in4wikiu]

It's really just the nature of the culture. It's very self-centered. It doesn't lend its way to knowing about other cultures. I've met some people(all races) who didn't know that other countries even made their own music or had their own movies. It's not everyone, of course. But I think most people only know about things if it affects them. Which is kind of natural. We don't really know more about China than we did...We just know we're in debt to them:lol.

Can any of you name many of the cultural things such as TV shows or musicians that aren't from a country where you understand the language?
I bet most of you can't name more than a handful of things from outside English speaking countries or countries where you share a mothertongue. And yes I can lol.

[stadiaKab]

I still keep in touch with one of the American couples that I worked and when we first met they actually asked me - do you Latvians also think that we Americans are stupid?
I just replied that we don't think that much about you, we make jokes about Estonians, Lithuanians and Russians and not Americans.