Kassandra Beach
Defining American Culture through Film
American culture is a combination of many different races and cultures. To provide a
clear definition would almost be impossible. American culture starts with the early rebellion.
The English parted from England and fought for our country and our rights. The next phase for
the United States is getting government and forces in order. We our still in the transition period
and our culture is vast, strong, and very diverse. The American culture includes various
identifiers such as: the old west, hamburgers, football, and holidays etc. The American Culture
also includes many things that the American publics are not so proud of and are still frustrated
about. However, no matter how bad our economy is or how corrupt our government affairs may
be; we always remain fighters. Americans have the right to voice their opinion and also have the
ability to make changes in order to get our young country back on track. I have chosen five
movies that I believe best represent American culture.
The first movie I have chosen is the Help. The Help was released in August of 2011. The
Help represents a time in a American culture that we are proud of and not so proud of. The
African American race had barely any rights and they were employed by wealthy white families.
The women in this movie are courageous, funny, and cruel. The film The Help was originally a
book, written by a young author fresh out of college who chooses to write a book in the 1960’s
from the point of view of the “help” (African American house keepers and nannies) (IMDB).
The maids are asked to tell what it is like to work for white families and raise their children.
Aibeleen is the first maid to agree to be interviewed by Skeeter. Aibeleen works for Skeeter’s
longtime friend Elizabeth.
Skeeter is surrounded by women who are cruel to the women that raise their children and
to the African American community. She is fed up and chooses to write about it. She and
Aibeleeen are able to get several maids to share their stories, good and bad. The events take
place in Jackson, Mississippi during the civil rights movement and tensions are high. This movie
will leave you laughing and crying. The Help gives us a glimpse back and also displays how far
we have come with social inequalities and the treatment of African Americans as our property
(Emma Stone).
The second movie I have chosen is the Sandlot. The Sandlot was released in 1993
(IMDB). I chose this film because I believe it honors the American childhood and the American
dream. The film is about a boy named Scotty smalls who moves to a new town and has to try to
fit in with the neighborhood boys. The boys take Scotty in and he has to prove himself on the
baseball diamond at the local park. They play baseball in the blistering heat and are able to teach
him the ropes. The boys enjoy the usual American summertime traditions, such as fireworks,
block parties, the fair, and the neighborhood pool (Tom Guiry). The movie really demonstrates
the freedom that we enjoy in the United States. Our freedom allows us to enjoy carefree
summers and the freedom of playing outside in the sun.
The third movie on my list is The Social Network. The film was released in 2010
(IMDB). I chose the Social Network in order to represent the nothing to something clime that
many Americans strive for. American culture strives to be the biggest and the best and is even a
little cut throat at times to reach that goal. In the Social Network the main character Mark
Zuckerberg becomes a millionaire almost overnight and is now the CEO of the wildly popular
social networking site Facebook. The film starts with the idea and how it evolved. The film also
shows the shortcuts and the cutthroat side of business that eventually ends up in a nasty court
battle. The Social Network is a glamourized movie based on a true story about how Facebook
was started. Much like American business nothing stands in Mark’s way when it comes to
creating the social networking giant (Jesse Eisenberg).
The fourth movie I have selected is Saving Private Ryan. Saving Private Ryan was
released in 1998. The film is directed by popular director Steven Spielberg. Tom Hanks plays the
leading role; he plays the part of Capt. John H. Miller. The movie takes place during the Allied
invasion in Normandy during the war on June 6, 1944 (IMDB). Four brothers are fighting the
same war and when the army realizes that 3 of the four brothers have been killed and the mother
will have to bear the loss of 3 boys, Capt. John H. Miller and 8 of his men are sent to find the last
live brother. The name of the surviving brother is Private James Ryan, and when they finally
reach Private Ryan he is reluctant to leave his men behind, regardless of the circumstances. The
movie reflects the integrity and strength of our military. Saving Private Ryan also demonstrates
the sacrifices we have made for our country and then men we have lost (Tom Hanks).
The final movie I have chosen is Blast from the Past. The film was released in 1999 and
stars Brendan Frasier and Alicia Silverstone (IMDB). Blast from the Past takes place in 1960 in
Pasadena, CA. After a bomb threat that appeared on the new a family of two, about to become
three head underground for 35 years to allow time for the radiation to subside on the surface. As
it turns out a plane had crashed into their home and they were underground for 35 years while
life above continued and evolved. I think this film shows the basics of the American family in
our culture; maybe not for all American families but the majority of households in the 1960’s.
The man rules the house, the wife runs the household, and the boys idolize their father and the
girls idolize their mothers. Blast from the Past is a love story; the boy who has never had any
social interaction outside of his parents is thrown into the unknown and falls in love.
There are so many more aspects to American culture than I have represented with my
five movie choices. However, I feel that I have represented the parts that I feel I appreciate and
love about American culture. I really value our military dedication, The American dream,
summer fun, freedom, our technological advances, and our evolving family dynamics.
Works Cited
Blast from the Past. Dir. Hugh Wilson. Perf. Brendan Fraser, and Christopher Walken Alicia Silverstone.
1999.
IMDB. 1990-2012. 17 July 2012 <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454029/>.
IMDB. 1990-2012. 17 July 2012 <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108037/>.
IMDB. 1990-2012. 17 July 2012 <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/>.
IMDB. 1990-2012. 17 July 2012 <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/>.
IMDB. 1990-2012. 17 July 2012 <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124298/>.
Saving Private Ryan. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Matt Damon Tom Hanks. 1998.
The Help. Dir. Tate Taylor. Perf. Viola Davis, and Octavia Spencer Emma Stone. 2011.
The Sandlot. Dir. Davis M. Evans. Perf. Mike Vitar, and Patrick Renna Tom Guiry. 1993.
The Social Network. Dir. David Fincher. Perf. Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake Jesse Eisenberg.
2010.