AMERICAN STEREOTYPES AND SPANISH STEREOTYPES THROUGH THE EYES OF AMERICANS

Alexis Roberts

February 2011

WHAT IS A STEREOTYPE? A stereotype is a

popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of “stereotype” and “prejudice” are often confused with many other different meanings. Stereotypes are standardized and simplified conceptions of groups based on some prior assumptions.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY… LET’S START WITH THE BAD AND UGLY.

Violent Everyone has a gun Love war Bloodthirsty

Religious Jesus loving Christian Conservatives

Fat Obese Lazy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vbI-P6mFbg

Only eat fast food Dumb

Don’t know anything outside of the USA

Don’t learn foreign languages

Ignorant of other countries and cultures

Secret Drunks and Addicts Over medicated Pill popping Binge drinking

Selfish Greedy Money/Profit oriented

• Disrespectful Racist Segregated Snobbish Informal

USA is #1 Think we are the best

and everyone should imitate us

Privileged Spoiled Arrogant We speak “American”

Other Loud and Obnoxious Have no History Wasteful and

Extravagant Promiscuous Fame Hungry

REGIONAL STEREOTYPES

WEST COAST Surfers and

beach bums The OC Plastic Surgery Superficial

people Lowrider, want

a ride? Valley Girls, like,

OMG!http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A38s19ZEkpQ&feature=related

EAST COAST Preppy and formal, pop that

collar We’re rude and proud of it! Class-Conscious, I’m better than

you. Fast walkers, fast talkers Gossip Girl, xoxo.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hrA9-6o4tI

THE SOUTH Very Religious, I’ll pray for

you… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbhY-KAHeX0

Talk slowly, move slowly Grills, no they’re not

braces, it’s fashion. Texas

Guns, Guns Everywhere!

THE MID-WEST Chicago aaaaand…..the

rest…. Nothing but Plaines, corn,

and Indians (Native Americans)

Cold weather, cold people Hipsters http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1YpKiVOgbQ http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g9BJ33KJRI&feature=related

AND THE GOOD Hospitable

Southern Comfort isn’t just a drink.

We throw a good party You’ve seen American Pie.

Ingenious Facebook!

Inventors The Car, the airplane,

ketchup Entrepreneurial

Microsoft, Mc Donald’s. (Don’t hate the player, hate the game.)

Improvisational (Jazz) Duke Ellington/ Ella

Fitzgerald

Fashionable Levi’s, Nike’s, Tommy

Hilfiger Great Teeth Hollywood

What were the last 3 movies you saw?

The Music Industry House Music, Rap, Hip-Hop,

Country, Michael Jackson, Gaga, the list goes on.

Creative Tap dancing, Break dancing,

Andy Warhol , The Simpsons, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3YWWfnWBJM&feature=related

SIDE NOTE Remember that American films and television exaggerate in order to generate excitement, and as a result present a rather distorted picture of what life in the United States is really like. Likewise, tourists are not always on their best behavior.

Ex. Modern Family

NEGATIVE SPANISH STEREOTYPES THROUGH AMERICAN EYES

Mexico or Barcelona

SPANISH PEOPLE TIME

Always late Lazy Don’t work Impractical

CAN I HAVE SOME KETCHUP? ALSO, CAN I SUPER-SIZE THIS?

Tasteless food Tapas are not food, they are a snack No sense of customer service Can’t tolerate spice

DID YOU SEE THAT?!

Mullets Rat Tails Greasy Smokers

PERSONAL BUBBLE!

Touchy feely Blunt Not PC (Politically Correct) A bit racist

OLE!!!

Cruel (Bullfighting) Machista Conquistadores Loud

I SPEAK ENGLISH GOOD.

Spaniards Can’t speak English well. Let’s change this!!!!

Versus

Please remember these are STEREOTYPES. They are ASSUMPTIONS based on little knowledge or truth used as a means to categorize people and cultures.

Now, let’s move on to the positive stereotypes of Spaniards through American eyes.

FIESTA, SIESTA, REPEAT.

Any Questions?

ONE LOVE

Family oriented Tradition bound Great history Proud

BULLS, TOMATOES AND SOCCER BALLS

Like being chased by bulls Love food fights, especially involving tomatoes Too good at soccer (futbol) for their own good

FASHION OVER FUNCTION Well-dressed Excellent fashion sense

FLAMENCO

Beautiful dance, music and art form all in one that literally tears the soul out of you.

PAELLA AND WINE

I THINK I LOVE YOU.

Romantic Lovers Sensual Sexual Will break your heart*

HA HA, JA JA, SAME DIFFERENCE

Fun to be around Funny people Great sense of humor

TALL, OLIVE-SKINNED AND SEXY

Any questions?

AMERICAN PIE (THE SONG) BY: DON MCLEAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qEEtkuBkEI&feature=related