商务英语专业毕业论文浅析美国人的个人主义从美国人喜欢的华人明星想起

AMERICA INDIVIDUALSIM- ANALYZING THE CHINESE STARS AMERICANS LIKE浅析美国人的个人主义从美国人喜欢的华人明星想起姓名：学号：院系：会计学院专业：国际商务英语(双专业) 导师： 定稿日期：2008年4月AMERICA INDIVIDUALSIM - ANALYZING THE CHINESE STARS AMERICANS LIKEByLe XuannanA ThesisSubmitted to the Department of Foreign Languagesin Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements forthe Degree of Bachelor of ArtsUnder the Supervision of Instructor Xi JingyinShanghai University of Finance & EconomicsApril 2008AcknowledgementsUpon the smooth completion of the thesis, I would like to express my sincere thanks to many people. First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my mentor Ms XI who has given me a lot of help. Her knowledge of American culture, her careful, constructive comments and suggestions have been extremely valuable in helping me revise this thesis. Without her help, the completion of the present paper would not have been possibleI would also like to express my deep appreciation to my classmates who have given a lot of important ideas for the topic.Finally, I want to thank my father and mother for their spiritual and practical support that backed me up all the way through.AbstractThis paper aims to talk about an important characteristic of American culture - individualism, through analyzing the Chinese star Americans like.Due to the differences of culture, exotic star did not seem so easy to be accepted. But this law was broken Yao and Zhang Ziyi, who are not only smoothly integration into the United States of sports and entertainment circles, but also became the focus of the Americans. Yaos popularity to a certain extent, even goes beyond the local star of the United States. Why would the Americans selected Yao Ming and Zhang Ziyi as their idol from a number of Chinese star? What is the nature they owned which made the American people love them so much? Analysis of the Americans opinion on Yao and Zhang Ziyi, as well as the main reason for their love, we can easily find the two main reasons which make Yao Ming and Zhang Ziyi acceptable by the United States,. The fighting spirit of Yao and the Yao style humor, Zhang Ziyis independent tenacity are the characters which make most Americans appreciate.American culture has always been respected in individualism。 Individualism is to emphasize personality, stress on personal independence, respect for the dignity of the individual, which is the most basic value of the United States. American individualism makes Americans have very strong sense of self-expression, and like to prove themselves through various methods. Therefore, they very appreciate the confidence person such as Zhang Ziyi. At the same time, the American people also appreciate a person with humor sense, because it is also a characteristic of self-expression. Of course, apart from Yao-style humor, the fighting spirit of him also matches with the heroism of American individualism. We can see that the characteristics owned by Yao and Zhang Ziyi are exactly match with the Americans self-pursuit.Based on the inspection and information has been inferred, I think, it is because that the characteristics of the two are very consistent with individualism, which Americans pursuit of, that makes Yao Ming and Zhang Ziyi so popular in America. Key words: Individualism, Ziyi Zhang, Yao Ming, American culture，Heroism内容摘要本文旨在通过分析美国人喜欢的华人明星，来进一步透视美国文化的重要特征个人主义。由于各国观念上的差别和本能上的排他性，异国的明星似乎并不那么容易被接纳。而这一规律却被姚明和章子怡打破了，他们不但顺利融入了美国的体坛和娱乐圈，甚至成为了美国人眼中的焦点人物。姚明的受欢迎程度甚至于在一定程度上超越了美国的本土明星.为什么美国人会从众多华人明星中选择了姚明和章子怡呢？又是什么特质让美国大众如此喜爱他们呢？通过分析美国人眼中的姚明和章子怡，以及喜爱他们的主要理由，我们不难发现两者被美国人接受的主要原因。姚明的拼搏精神和“姚氏幽默”和章子怡所演绎的“独立坚韧”正是美国人最欣赏两人的地方。美国文化中素来推崇个人主义，所谓个人主义就是强调个性，强调个人的独立存在，尊重个人的尊严，这也是美国最基本的价值观。美国人的个人主义使得美国人的自我表现意识很强，喜欢通过各种方式来证明自己，因此也很欣赏像章子怡这样自信的人。同时，美国人也十分欣赏富有幽默感的人，因为幽默感也是美国人自我表现的一个特点。当然，除了姚式幽默以外，姚明的拼搏精神也与美国个人主义中的英雄主义相符。由此可见，姚明和章子怡所拥有的特质恰好符合了美国人对个性及自我的追求。通过对已有资料的考察和推断，笔者认为，正是由于两人身上的特性与美国人一直以来追求的个人主义十分相符，所以他们会在美国走红。关键词：个人主义，章子怡，姚明，美国文化，英雄主义Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsiAbstract in English.ii Abstract in Chinese. iii Table of Contents ivChapter1 Introduction1Chapter2 The Evaluation of Americans22.1 Zhang Ziyi, An Unique Chinese Girl22.2Yaoming, An East Way Hero3Chapter 3 Individualism, An Important Feature of the American Culture43.1The General Idea of Individualism43.2 Individualism in America53.3 Individualism Impact on the American Attitude toward Life6Chapter4 Yao, Zhang and Individualism84.1Zhang, Appreciated by Her Confidence84.2Yao,Appreciated by His Humor and Fighting Spirit94.3 Yao and Zhang has the characteristics of individualism10Chapter5 Conclusion11References 12Chapter1 IntroductionIn the first round voting star balloting of this year, Yao won 881,223 votes, the largest number of votes once again better than ONeal (854,930). Yao Ming is not only the highest in the votes of center, but also the highest in the league. Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and other superstars are 3040 votes lower than Yao. Yao It is interesting that the Americans are in the frantic love Yao Ming, and even more persistent than we are. Chinese Consulate General in Houston cultural counselor Zhao Haisheng said that Yao not only enhance the Chinese peoples pride, but also the pride of Asia. I met a lot of Koreans and Japanese, they also feel pride that Yao Ming and they have the same colour , also from Asia, from the same geography and culture. Zhang Ziyi is similar to Yao. Four years ago, in Ang Lees Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Zhang Ziyi suddenly become an international movie star. One year later, she and Jackie Chan cooperated in the United States action movies Rush Hour 2 . New York Post said her as” Angels face, superior acting, Ziyi Zhang is expected to become Chinas chief actress. Zhang Ziyis career in the United States is more and more successful. In addition to a lot of new plays, even the ordinary American people become to like her. During an authority of an entertainment media in the United States Arts, which named the most impact of the Masters, Zhang Ziyi won the first prize, even to the front of Angelina Jolie .Are Americans really like Yao Ming and Zhang ziyi? What makes Yao Ming and Zhang Ziyi so popular in the United States? Personality? Strength? Character? Which one helps them get the worship of Americans? This paper mainly analyzes an important feature of American culture individualism through American attitude to the two Chinese stars. Through Americans evaluation of Yao Ming and Zhang Ziyi, as well as the individualism in the American culture, to analyze the cultural reason why Americans like them Chapter2 The Evaluation of Americans2.1 Zhang Ziyi, An Unique Chinese GirlZiyi Zhang , Who repeatedly boarded the cover of Western magazines is indeed the most popular Asian star at present in the United States, who also represents the First Oriental Beauty in Westerns view.Western mainstream media focus far more attention on Zhang Ziyi than Chinas domestic media. When year 2007 Zhang Ziyi come to Washington, a number of major media make a report of her participation in the White House welcoming ceremony. Washington Post published a long article in a prominent position which named Wohu conquered her audience, and report Zhang Ziyis activities in Washington carefully. At the end of the article, Washington Post reporter sighed that I was watching her in the crowd, and could not help but think: God , how cute the girl is!Let us take a look at the evaluation made by Americans to Yao Zhang Ziyi. The magazine Variety said that Zhang Ziyi, in the eyes of the general public, is not only a typical Chinese beautiful girl, but also can play Kung Fu well. What is more important is her diligence. Her independent personality and perseverance also appreciate by the Americans.Her unique temperament makes the Americans think of the screen princess- Audrey Hepburn. The joint producer of Memoirs of a Geisha, Lucy Fischer said: She reminds me of the Audrey Hepburn, she will become the next superstar. (何钟迎，2005，章子怡让美国人想起奥黛丽赫本，华商晨报8月12日)We could see it is the unique personality that helps Zhang Ziyi to be popular in America.2.2Yaoming, An East Way HeroIn the United States, Yaos name is very famous in the Houston Rockets and many people there are proud of him. The 2.26 m NCAA is not only the idol of the Chinese people, but also the idol of American. However, Yao is so well-known in the United States, not just because of his height, or his game, but because he is unique, there is only one Yao.Some super fans in Houston take Yao as the center of life. Jane is a female member of Yao club, she and her husband moved their house from Houston to Indianapolis just for Yao Ming. There is a room in her house devoted to Yao Ming, there are a lot of Yao Mings posters and logo inside. Jane is just one of the fans who is so crazy with Yao. (邹德浩，2006，东方式的英雄! 姚明：美国人眼里的中国名片, 人民日报海外版8月1日)On one occasion, the Chinese Consulate General in Houston consular Wang take a lecture in a Houston high school to introduce Chinese culture. On the lecture, he asked the children where is the capital of China. Someone Beijing, and some else said Hong Kong, even Shanghai. But when asked what is their understanding of China, they all in one voice replied: Yao.Since Yao came to the United States after the first year, at the store, you can see that Yao Ming has been on many magazine covers and television programs. The media here reported a lot on him, the USA Today and even the New York Times often published huge photo of Yao and reports. So Yao can be said to be the first sports stars from China to conquer the United States .Yao is appreciated by the Westerners not only because of his quick but also his fighting spirit on the court. Some New York people said, in their view, Yao is not only smart but also kind, have team spirit, he is a hero who is always for the sake of others. Yao has also been regarded by the Americans as one of the most amiable players, and his good image has affected many Americans to educate their children to strive to become a man like Yao.From the Americans evaluation, we can found that the features of Zhang and Yao are just match with the American characteristics - individualism.Chapter 3 Individualism, An Important Feature of the American Culture3.1The General Idea of IndividualismIndividualism is the core of American culture, and its main motivation is autonomous, independent choice to achieve self-realization through self-reliance. It reflects a variety of forms including egoism, personal heroism, and liberalism, in some extreme cases, even embodied in anarchism. (李建红，2004，论美国文化中的个人主义表现 J，湖南工程学院学报(社会科学版) 02期; 38-40)Whether its myth or reality - and it is certainly a bit of both - individualism has long been considered a defining criterion of American culture. After all, this is a country where the most popular kind of music, at least among the suburban middle class, bears the name Alternative. Of course, if everybody listens to Alternative, it ceases to be so (maybe its Garth Brooks) - and this irony provides at least a suggestion that much of the individualism in which contemporary Americans take such pride is not so much a deep habit of the heart as a superficial construction of image. If you buy a Stetson, you can be a cowboy too.( Dietrich, W. (1995). Northwest Passage: The Great Columbia River，NY: Simon and Schuster)Individualism supplied the nation with a rationalization of its characteristic attitudes, behavior patterns and aspirations, It endowed the past, the present and the future with the perspective of unity and progress. It explained the peculiar social and political organization of the nation-unity in spite of hetero geneity and it pointed toward an ideal social organization in harmony with American experience. Individualism expressed sathe universalism and idealism most characteristic of the national consciousness. This concept evolved in contradistinction to socialism, the universal and messianic character of which it shared.(Yehoshua Arieli, Individualism and Nationalism in American ldeoIogy 1964)3.2 Individualism in AmericaIndividualism is perhaps the primary concept that, transcending such categories as race, gender, class, age and region, unites Americans across time and space to give coherence to the national experience. From the earliest beginnings of the republic to the post-modernist present, the rights of the individual citizen and his or her place in the scheme of things has been of primary importance to American philosophers, artists, political theorists, theologians and others concerned with articulating national values and principles. Communitarian ideas rise from time to time to challenge individualism, but none have yet been successful in seriously weakening its hold on American culture. Incorporated into American common-sense thinking, the philosophy of individualism becomes in the popular mind the very essence of what being an American means.Although the mediator is the main value, one believe that every person has value, attach great importance to personal self-control and self-development. In short, individualism based on personal philosophy of life. This is exactly the individualism what the Americans insist on.American individualism as the core of national values, Americans respect for the dignity of the individual, the right to freedom, which is the most basic value of the United States, it enables American society always full of vitality .America, however, is a nation of individuals and individualism. This is the essence of our founding documentsthat each of us could pursue our own happiness and goals, and that we would be free to do so with limited interference. This sense of individualism not only exists in our political thinking, but in our cultural thinking as well. It exists within the Western/Action movie with its solitary hero and in Jazz with its emphasis on individualistic improvisation. It exists in the entrepreneurial technology economy with its dynamic and creative business leaders.( Shawn E. Klein,2001,entary from the Navigator Special: The Assault on Civilization, Published in the November 2001 Navigator)3.3 Individualism Impact on the American Attitude toward LifeIndividualism, as an important part of American culture, has been gradually affecting the American attitude towards life3.3.1 Americans strong sense of controlling their own lives. In the United States, when people make a decision, the main consideration is their own views rather than their elders and friends view. Personal choice is considered the most important. The Perspective of taking control of their own mind also gives America unique attitude to life. Therefore unique in the United States is a fairly substantial praise words.3.3.2 Americans Request the Government of individualism. Since they think that personal life is their own business, of course, it would not need others to meddle in their affairs. It seems that an important task of the United States government is to ensure the peoples freedom and ensure the peoples right. The government should not intervene in the private things.Let us first see the effect on self-government. When the Federal Government undertakes to go into commercial business it must at once set up the organization and administration of that business, and it immediately finds itself in a labyrinth. Commercial business requires a concentration of responsibility. Our government to succeed in business would need to become in effect a despotism. There at once begins the destruction of self-government. It is a false liberalism that interprets itself into the government operation of commercial business. Every step of bureaucratizing of the business of our country poisons the very roots of liberalism that is political equality, free speech, free assembly, free press and equality of opportunity. It is not the road to more liberty, but to less liberty. Liberalism should not be striving to spread bureaucracy but striving to set bounds to it.( HERBERT HOOVER，1928，http:/usinfo.org/PUBS/AmReader_gb/p608.html) 3.3.3Americans Strong Sense of Personal Struggle. In the United States, the personal struggle is thought to be a lofty attitude toward life. These cultural elements have increasingly sophisticated since the colonial began. Young people on the important matters, such as marriage, never ask for money from parents. They feel that they use their hands to create happiness. If you ask Americans what kind of person in their mind is a hero, they will said immediately: The people who start from scratch.Tocqueville says Americans fathers only knew about egoism. Now American have this new thing: individualism. Individualism, and this is one of the places where he comes as close as he ever does to defining it, is a calm and considered feeling which disposes each citizen to isolate himself from the mass of his fellows and withdraw into the circle of family and friends; with this little society formed to his taste, he gladly leaves the greater society to look out after itself.As this tendency grows, he wrote,there are more and more people who though neither rich nor powerful enough to have much hold over others, have gained or kept enough wealth and enough understanding to look after their own needs. Such folk owe no man anything and hardly expect anything from anybody. They form the habit of thinking of themselves in isolation and imagine that their whole destiny is in their hands.( MichaelNovak,(2008),Community and individualism: Two views, Studies in Philosophy and Education) Convinced of their own, convinced of their own destiny, this is just the individualism now the Americans insisted on.Chapter4 Yao, Zhang and IndividualismZhang and Yao are truly the proud of the Chinese people. They help to widely spread Chinese culture to the world. However, it is undeniable that there are many Chinese people do not such like them. 4.1Zhang, Appreciated by Her ConfidenceSome people even feel disgusted about Zhang. Most people do not like her because she is too much show herself. Some users named her as Opinionated Woman. However, the feature, which is rejected by Chinese fans, may just be the reason why Americans appreciate of Zhang.Americans love to show themselves. Some Americans eat number of hot dogs, smoking number of cigarettes, even take a harbor marriage just strive for a world record. Americans do not love with the pandemic. For example, in the class, the Americans like to sit on the front. When teachers questioned, the American students are vying to raise their hands. In the United States remained silent on the classroom of students, it is difficult to get A results.( 李其荣，2004-10-8，美国个人主义价值观透析 Simply said, Americans are keen to prove themselves in various ways, so that to let people recognized them Likewise, they also appreciate those who is self-confidence and courage to show themselves. Zhang is just a unique girl who dared to show her strength and capacity to the world. Just as Dragon Li in , her dedication to hard efforts to let people all over the world recognized her.4.2Yao,Appreciat