1、美国价值观在电影当幸福来敲门摘 要跟其他民族相比较，美利坚合众国有它自己独特的文化。好莱坞电影是这个国家的文化和价值的载体，它的运作模式体现了美国的文化特征。好莱坞电影之所以为大众所欢迎的原因，除了其生动的故事情节和大制作，还有其在电影中的特性体现了美国的文化价值观。个人主义、英雄主义和宗教情景以及对自由的向往等美国精神都在这些电影中得以生动的体现。电影是流动于胶片里的社会文化，而电影里的不同信息都体现和反过来强化了它们的价值观。因此我们可以通过好莱坞电影理解美国主流文化的价值观。好莱坞电影当幸福来敲门是一部典型的励志电影，它改编自美国著名投资经济人克里斯加纳的自传当幸福来敲门。作为一个单身父
2、亲，克里斯加纳无家可归流浪在旧金山的大街上，但他还是努力抚养他的儿子。加纳曾经在海军服役，并且高中后没有接受更高教育，但是最后还是靠自己双手成为了一名拥有百万资产的投资经纪人。这部电影感动了海内外许许多多的观众，并且在他们中有很好的口碑。该电影还获得了2006年的奥斯卡最佳男演员奖提名。自始至终，该论文旨在研究美国文化价值观在电影当幸福来敲门中的体现，以此探究当代美国文化价值观，并以此解释这个国家的特性以及文化性格。相应地，该论文将有助于我们对美国人的生活以及他们的价值观有更进一步的了解，消除文化障碍，以及减少因文化差异带来的交际困难。关键词：当幸福来敲门；价值观；体现Table of Con
3、tentsAbstract i摘要 ii1. Introduction 12. Values 22.1 Concept of value 22.2 Contemporary American Values 23. The Manifestation of American Values in the Movie 33.1 Individualism 33.1.1 The background of individualism in America 33.1.2 Individualism in the movie 33.2 Self-reliance 43.2.1 The background
4、 of self-reliance in America 43.2.2 Self-reliance in the movie 43.3 Equality of Oppotunity 53.3.1 The background of equality of opportunity in America 53.3.2 Equality of opportunity in the movie 53.4 Competition 73.4.1 The background of competition in America 73.4.2 Competition in the movie 73.5 Mat
5、erial Wealth 83.5.1 The background of material wealth in America 83.5.2 Material wealth in the movie 83.6 Hard Work 93.6.1 The background of hard work in America 93.6.2 Hard work in the movie 104. Conclusion 115. References 126. Acknowledgements 131. IntroductionHollywood is a place called DreamWork
6、s that manufactures dreams; the United States, because of its unique social environment, is also known as the place where dreams can be realized. It created a great dream space to movie. Besides pursuing dreams, most of the Hollywood films convey their contemporary American mainstream core values.Ho
7、llywood movie The Pursuit of Happiness is a typical American inspirational movie searching American dreams. Though it had not won an Oscar, the movie won the highest box office. The movie adapted from the autobiography in the same name by Chris Gardner, a famous black American, an expert in investme
8、nt. In the story, he tells his hard times from the salesman to a successful manager, including his wifes betrayal, bankruptcy, homelessness and other sufferings. All difficulties have not defeated him. He always maintains optimism with his son and struggles continually for his own goal; at last, he
9、wins the success and gains the happiness.The movie The Pursuit of Happiness is such a moving inspirational classic story which tells that Chris Gardner, from the slums to Wall Street, as a single father, has never betrayed after sufferings; especially, Chris acted by movie star Will Smith and his so
10、n Christopher, they are exactly the father and son in real life that strengthen the affection between the father and son in the movie. Chriss struggling to be happy is the main line of the film, and the affection between the father and son is the vice line. It tells an inspirational story about the
11、pursuit of American dream and the deep affection between father and son. So through a brief analysis of the film The Pursuit of Happiness, we can perceive the core values of American.2. Contemporary American Values2.1 Concept of ValueCulture is a social phenomenon, is a historical phenomenon, is a s
12、ediment of the social history. It Includes beliefs, values, customs, knowledge, etc. Culture is the guide of peoples behavior, and value is the core of culture, people can distinguish different cultural values according to different values. According to Michael Prosser, Value is such a mode created
13、by individuals or groups through cultural communication. They are the deepest level of culture (Prosser. M., 1978). Therefore It can be seen that, Value is the reflection of peoples social existence and it is criterion that used by members of society to evaluate the behavior, things, and choose thei
14、r own desired goals from variety potential targets. Value, reflected through peoples behavior orientation and evaluation of things and attitudes, is the core of the world view, the inner force of driving peoples behavior. It controls and regulates all the social behaviors, involving all areas of soc
15、ial life. Cultural value guides peoples perceptions and behaviors, and determines what kind of beliefs and attitudes people have.2.2 Contemporary American ValuesAfter the first European settlers landed in North America in New England, the different ethnic groups followed. Cultural diversity of diffe
16、rent nationalities in the United States brought together cross and influenced each other, forming a mixed American cultural system containing unique values. The values which the paper intends to deal with, is a variety of values which influenced by the European traditional culture and the natural en
17、vironment of the America, formed in the development of the history of the united states gradually, and still play a leading role in the ideas of the contemporary social class middle class. It includes individual freedom and self-reliance, equality of opportunity and competition, material wealth and
18、hard work.Through the U.S. mass media, we know the American values. Movie, as a mass media, inevitably has its own values in its delivery, so through the analysis of the values the movie conveys, it can reflect certain social realities, and it also can reflect the films social significance. American
19、 Hollywood movie, also as a mass media, of course, conveys its own countrys modern values. The Pursuit of Happiness, this inspirational large Hollywood classic film is without exception.3. The Manifestation of American Values in the Movie3.1 Individualism3.1.1 The background of Individualism in Amer
20、ica According to what Deng Yanchang, “The earliest settlers came to the North American continent to establish colonies that were free from the controls that existed in European societies. They wanted to escape the controls placed on their lives by kings and governments, priests and churches, nobleme
21、n and aristocrats. To a great extent, they succeed. The historic decisions made by those first settlers have had a profound effect on the shaping of the American character. By limiting the power of the government and the churches and eliminating a formal aristocracy, they created a climate of freedo
22、m where the emphasis was on the individual. The United States associated in their minds with the concept of individual freedom. This is probably the most basic of all the American values. Scholars and observers often call this value individualism, but many Americans used the word freedom. Perhaps th
23、e word freedom is one of the most respected and popular words in the United States today.By freedom, Americans mean the desire and the ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class, the church or any other organized aut
24、hority. The desire to be free of controls was a basic value of the new nation in 1776, and it has continued to attracted immigrants to this country”(Deng Yanchang, 2001:32).3.1.2 Individualism in the movieAmericans treat individualism as a Near-perfect character, which presents the spirit of indepen
25、dence. This is especially manifested in childhood. As Luo Yuehong said, The independence of the children is encouraged by the whole society, they destine to be independent since they are born(骆越虹，2007：87). Children should sleep alone, and they not only have their own bed, but also have their own roo
26、m. At the beginning of the movie, it was shown in the movie. Even Christopher was at such a young age, at which the age in China most children still slept with their parents, he had to sleep on his own bed in a room separate from his parents. Even the financial status of the Chris was not that good
27、enough, they still had to have the little Christopher had his own room. According to Luo（2007：87）, in United States, while communicating with adults, children are also usually seen as an equal individual. While communicating with adults, they would use words such as “No” “I think” and so on to expre
28、ss their own will and opinion. Not exception it was presented in the movie many times.When children grow up, the concept of independence would root in their heart deeply, even influence the destiny of his career. Take working for example, the boss in the company usually would select such person who
29、with independence or unique characteristics as his staff because he believe his capacity can lead his company to succeed, regardless of other factors such as economy status, etc. It was also well represented in the movie. When Chris attended the interview after he was just set free from the prison l
30、ess than an hour ago because of relaying to pay the tax, though he dressed messed with the paint in his clothes which was left yesterday while he was painting the wall, the broad accepted him to attend the internship which was a precious opportunity for Chris even for others. 3.2 Self-reliance 3.2.1
31、 The background of self-reliance in America As to what Deng Yanchang said (2001:33), “There is, however, a price to be paid for the individual freedom: self-reliance. Americans believe that individuals must learn to rely on themselves or risk losing freedom. This means that Americans believe they sh
32、ould take care of themselves, solve their own problems and stand on their own two feet. Tocqueville, a famous French historian and sociologist, observed the Americans belief in self-reliance in the 1830s:They owe nothing to any man, they expected nothing from any man; they acquire the habit of always considering themselves as standing alone, and they are apt to imagine that their whole destiny is in their own hands.This strong belief in self-reliance continues today as a basic American value. It is perhaps one of the most difficult
