Culture of the US 1

Culture of the United States 1

The culture1 of the United States is a Western culture, and has been developing since long before
the United States became a country. Its chief early influence was British culture, due to colonial
ties with the British that spread the English language, legal system and other cultural
inheritances. Other important influences came from other parts of Europe, especially countries
from which large numbers immigrated such as Ireland, Germany, Poland, and Italy; the Native
American peoples; Africa, especially the western part, from which came the ancestors of most
African Americans; and young groups of immigrants. American culture also has shared influence
on the cultures of its neighbors in the New World.

The United States has traditionally been known as a melting pot,2 but recent academic opinion is
tending towards cultural diversity, pluralism3 and the image of a salad bowl rather than a melting
pot.4 Due to the extent of American culture there are many integrated but unique subcultures
within the United States. The strongest influences on American culture came from northern
European cultures, most prominently from Germany, Ireland and England.

ATTITUDES

It is important to bear in mind that the United States of America is highly diverse.5 It is difficult to
identify a single "American" attitude, or "American" style for the simple reason that the country is
so complex.

The Declaration of Independence

1
culture = [văn hoá] the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and
transmitted from one generation to another; the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a
particular social, ethnic, or age group
2
melting pot = [nơi tụ cư] a country, locality, or situation in which a blending of races,
peoples, or cultures takes place.
3
pluralism = [tính ña nguyên] a condition in which minority groups participate fully in the
dominant society, yet maintain their cultural differences.
4
melting pot = [nồi ñúc; nồi nấu kim loại] a container in which metals or other substances are
heated until they fuse.
5
diverse = [gồm nhiều loại khác nhau; ña dạng] of various kinds or forms; multiform.
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 Culture of the US 1
The formative years of the United States were the late 18th century when the country was
founded, and a great deal of American culture is couched in the ideals of the Enlightenment.6
The Declaration of Independence's7 mission statement about securing life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness; the French Revolution's8 ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity; and the national
motto,9 E pluribus unum ("From many, one"), reflect the country's values and social
development. Another primary influence on American culture is the constant stream of new
immigrants, many of whom have fled persecution or oppression in their home countries, and are
seeking freedom (including religious freedom) and economic opportunity, leading them to reject
totalitarian10 practices.

By and large, Americans value the ideals of individual liberty,11 individualism,12 self-sufficiency,13
altruism,14 equality, Judeo-Christian15 morals, free markets,16 a republican17 form of government,
democracy,18 populism,19 pluralism, feminism,20 and patriotism.21

6
the Enlightenment = [thời ñại khai sang/ánh sáng] a European philosophical movement of
the l7th and 18th centuries, characterized by belief in the power of reason and by innovations in
political, religious, and educational doctrine.
7
the Declaration of Independence = [Bản Tuyên ngôn ðộc lập] the public act by which the
Second Continental Congress, on July 4, 1776, declared the Colonies to be free and independent
of England.
8
the French Revolution = [Cách mạng Pháp] the revolution in France that began in 1789,
overthrew the Bourbon monarchy, and ended with Napoleon's seizure of power in 1799.
9
motto = [khẩu hiệu; phương châm] a sentence, phrase, or word expressing the spirit or
purpose of an organization or other group, often inscribed on a badge, banner, etc.
10
totalitarian = [cực quyền; chuyên chế] noting or pertaining to a centralized government that
does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many
aspects of life; exercising control over the freedom, will, or thought of others; authoritarian;
autocratic.
11
liberty = [quyền tự do/tự chủ] freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control;
freedom from external or foreign rule; independence; freedom from control, interference,
obligation, restriction, etc.; power or right of acting according to choice; freedom from captivity,
confinement, or physical restraint.
12
individualism = [chủ nghĩa cá nhân; lý thuyết ủng hộ sự tự do hành ñộng của cá nhân] a
social theory advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual.
13
self-sufficient = [tự túc] able to supply one's or its own needs without external assistance.
14
altruism = [chủ nghĩa/lòng vị tha] the principle or practice of unselfish concern for the
welfare of others
cf. egoism = [chủ nghĩa/long vị kỷ] the habit of valuing everything only in reference to one's
personal interest
15
Judeo-Christian = [của ñạo Do thái và ñạo Cơ ñốc] of or pertaining to the religious writings,
beliefs, values, or traditions held in common by Judaism and Christianity.
Judaism = [ñạo Do thái] the monotheistic religion of the Jews, based on the precepts of the Old
Testament and the teachings and commentaries of the rabbis as found chiefly in the Talmud.
Christianity = [ñạo Cơ ñốc] the Christian religion, including the Catholic [ñạo Thiên chúa],
Protestant [ñạo Tin lành], and Eastern Orthodox churches [giáo hội chính thống ở ðông Âu và Hy
Lạp].
16
free market = [thị trường tự do] an economic market regulated by the forces of supply and
demand.
17
republic = [nước/nền cộng hoà] a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of
citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them;
a state in which the head of government is not a monarch and is usu. an elected or nominated
president; the form of government of such a state.
18
democracy = [nền/chế ñộ/quốc gia hay xã hội theo chế ñộ dân chủ] government by the
people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised
directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system; a state having such a
form of government; a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges.
19
Populism = [chủ nghĩa dân tuý] the political philosophy of the Populist or People's Party; (l.c.)
an egalitarian political philosophy or movement that promotes the interests of the common
people.
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 Culture of the US 1
SOCIETY AND ECONOMIC ATTITUDES

There is a close relationship between America's political and economic traditions. It is widely
believed that the individual pursuit of self-interest leads to the best result both for the individual
and for society as a whole. It has been a successful formula for both economic success and
optimal political function for many. The precise amount of individual economic freedom that
Americans should have is often debated, with the (usually relatively slight) differences in opinion
marking the major differences between political parties. The end result, however, is that the U.S.
economy has become the largest on earth, with most of its citizens enjoying comparatively high
living standards.

The fact that the United States is the largest English-speaking marketplace allows firms to
compete across the country and to enjoy economies of scale (cost reductions that arise from the
huge scale of manufacturing) that reduce prices and benefit consumers. The relatively uniform
commercial culture, with many large stores or "chains" operating nationwide, produces a
commercial atmosphere that is relatively homogeneous throughout the country. The population
of the United States tends to be centered in large cities, in marked contrast to the
demographics22 of a century ago, when the country was quite agrarian.23

The United States is generally skeptical or hostile toward socialist24 and communist25 ideologies,26
but some of the related movements, such as the labor movement, became a defining part of
America's heritage after the New Deal.27 The American process of Judicial Review28 caused the
United States to be less affected by socialist ideas and policies in the 20th century than was
Europe, because the Supreme Court29 overturned much labor legislation which in the European
countries remained law. The McCarthy30 Era and the Cold War31 as a whole demonstrated a

20
feminism = [thuyết/phong trào nữ quyền] a doctrine advocating social, political, and
economic rights for women equal to those of men.
21
patriotism = [chủ nghĩa/lòng yêu nước] devoted love, support, and defense of one's country;
national loyalty.
22
demographics = [nhân khẩu học] the statistical data of a population, esp. those showing
average age, income, education, etc.
23
agrarian = [nông nghiệp] agricultural.
24
socialism = [chủ nghĩa xã hội; giai ñoạn xã hội chủ nghĩa] a theory or system of social
organization in which the means of production and distribution of goods are owned and
controlled collectively or by the government; (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in
the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of
collectivist principles.
25
communism = [chủ nghĩa cộng sản] a theory or system of social organization based on the
holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole
or to the state; (often cap.) a political doctrine or movement based on Marxism and developed by
Lenin and others, seeking a violent overthrow of capitalism and the creation of a classless
society.
cf. capitalism = [chủ nghĩa tư bản] an economic system in which investment in and ownership
of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly
by private individuals or corporations.
26
ideology = [hệ tư tưởng; ý thức hệ] the body of doctrine or thought that guides an individual,
social movement, institution, or group; such a body of doctrine or thought forming a political or
social program, along with the devices for putting it into operation.
27
New Deal = [Chính sách Kinh tế Xã hội Mới] the economic and social policies and programs
introduced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his administration; the Roosevelt
administration, esp. the period from 1933 to 1941.
28
judicial review= [quyền huỷ bỏ bản án; sự xem lại bản án] the power of a court to
adjudicate the constitutionality of legislative or executive acts; a judicial reexamination, as by a
higher court, of the decision or proceedings in a case.
29
the Supreme Court = [Toá án Tối cao] the highest court of the U.S.; (l.c.) the highest court
of a state or, in some states, a court of general jurisdiction subordinate to an appeals court.
30
Joseph Raymond McCarthy, 1909-57, U.S. politician.
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 Culture of the US 1
deeply felt hostility to communism, which, especially at that time, was perceived as anti-
individualist, undemocratic, and essentially anti-American. They are also evidenced in aspects of
social policy (for example, the absence of a national health care system and the constant
controversy about the size and role of the government, especially the federal government, in
individuals' lives and in states' laws).

The American tradition of free-market capitalism has led the populace (and their leaders) to
generally accept the vicissitudes32 of the free market and the continuous alterations to society
that a changing economy implies, although social and economic displacement are common. The
result is a flexible, profit-oriented socioeconomic system.

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER COUNTRIES/CULTURES

Perhaps as a result of being such a large single market / culture, some believe that Americans
are relatively insulated and uninterested in the culture or political developments of other
countries. America is one of few nations that has resisted changing to the metric system.
Comparatively few books from non-English European countries or Asia are translated for sale in
the United States. Imported films are generally less successful than domestic. Though there are
exceptions, including Japanese anime33 and the British comedy phenomenon Monty Python,34
imported television shows are generally rarely successful outside of PBS35 and Discovery Channel.
Remakes of foreign shows are increasingly common, as emphasized by the popularity of the
American versions of The Office36 and Queer as Folk;37 in these cases, the show is often rewritten
and localized with American actors cast in the place of their British counterparts. Relatively few
foreign films and television programs produced abroad are broadcast on non-ethnic stations with
dubbing or subtitling. The show Survivor was originally a Swedish show called "Robinson" (taking
its name from Robinson Crusoe)38.

Americans also tend to travel to other countries less than citizens of European countries, partly
because intercontinental travel from the United States typically entails much further distances
than for Europeans resulting in much higher costs. The average American worker has fewer
vacation days than the average European (10-15 rather than the European average of around

31
cold war = [chiến tranh lạnh] intense political, military, and ideological rivalry between
nations just short of armed conflict; (caps.) such rivalry after World War II between the Soviet
Union and the U.S., and their respective allies.
32
vicissitudes = [thăng trầm] successive or changing phases or conditions, as of life or fortune;
ups and downs.
33
Japanese anime = [phim hoạt hoạ] a style of animation developed in Japan, characterized by
stylized colorful art and often adult themes.
34
Monty Python = Fusing the topical satire of David Frost with the surreal outlandishness of
The Goon Show, the Monty Python's Flying Circus troupe formed in England in 1969. Comprised
of British performers John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Graham Chapman,
along with American animator Terry Gilliam, the group emerged as an international cult
phenomenon, honing their singular blend of broad slapstick [trò tếu], edgy black comedy [hài
kịch châm biếm thói hư tật xấu] and social commentary in a string of successful television
programs, films and albums.
35
PBS = Public Broadcasting System/Service.
36
The Office (US TV series) = The Office is an Emmy Award-winning American television
comedy that debuted on NBC as a midseason replacement on March 24, 2005. The show is about
the day-to-day lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictitious
Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company. Although fictional and scripted, the show takes the form of a
documentary, with the presence of the camera often acknowledged.
37
Queer [ñồng tính] as Folk (US TV series)= The series follows the lives of five gay men living
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Brian, Justin, Michael, Emmett, Ted; a lesbian couple, Lindsay and
Melanie; and Michael's mother Debbie. Another main character, Ben, was added in the second
season. Due to tax incentives, the series was filmed in Canada, with frequent location filming in
Toronto's Church and Wellesley gay village.
38
Robinson Crusoe = the hero of Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe (1719), a mariner who
is shipwrecked and lives adventurously for years on a small island.
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 Culture of the US 1
20). America's vast size also enables its citizens to go great distances, and see a variety of
places, without leaving the country. For example, one can travel within the continental United
States from a near-tropical climate (e.g. Southern Florida) to a mid-continental climate
(Minnesota). California offers a large coastline, snow-capped mountains, prairies, and deserts
within a single state. Lifestyles, food, and culture also tend to differ within the different regions.

BODY CONTACT AND EXPRESSION

In most regions of the U.S., public display of affection, as well as significant expression of
emotion, was historically disapproved of and discouraged, prior to the mid-20th century. Such
attitudes have seen considerable change, however, with the cultural revolutions of the 1960s and
1970s. There is considerable variation with respect to attitudes, mostly generational in nature,
and while Americans are not generally as demonstrative39 as, say, Latin Americans40 or Southern
Europeans, they are considerably more so than, for instance, the Northern Europeans or the
Japanese, have been historically. Noticeable regional differences in norms of social expression
also exist. For example, it is generally acceptable in the socially liberal41 Northeast (especially
among younger Americans) for a female to candidly discuss sexuality and certain aspects of
sexual behavior in conversation among friends, while such expression is usually recognized as
socially taboo42 in the more genteel43 South. Likewise, in the South it is acceptable to smoke
and/or chew tobacco, but these activities are confined to private spaces such as the home.
Smoking and chewing tobacco is considered unhealthy and distasteful in the more health-
conscious Northeast and West Coast, where smoking is prohibited in virtually all public places,
but smoking along sidewalks seems even more prevalent than in the South, where it is
considered rude to do so.

In terms of attitudes toward nudity and the body, Americans are considerably more reserved
than Europeans or the Japanese. Certain topics related to bodily functions might be regarded as
mildly inappropriate in Europe, however they will often be strongly taboo in the United States.
Nudity in the context of bathing among strangers of the same sex, for example, is regarded with
much more suspicion in the United States than it is in, for example, Japan or most parts of
Europe. Americans put a high value on privacy of their bodies. Nudity among family members,
even in daily contexts of dressing or bathing, is discouraged much more in the United States than
most other cultures.

NAMES

The citizens and many other residents of the United States refer to themselves and each other as
Americans, and to their country as the United States or as America. Non-Hispanic Americans44
understand, and may say, "the Americas"45 with the meaning of the two major continents of the
Western hemisphere, but generally will resist using "America" in that sense, despite that
designation's familiarity to Spanish speakers. While to many foreigners "Yankees"46 is

39
demonstrative = [hay giải bày tâm sự; hay thổ lộ tâm tình] characterized by or given to
open exhibition or expression of one's emotions, attitudes, etc., esp. of love or affection.
40
Latin America = [Châu Mỹ La tinh] the part of the American continents south of the United
States in which Spanish, Portuguese, or French is officially spoken.
41
liberal = [rộng rãi hào phóng; tự do] having views or policies advocating individual freedom
of action and expression.
42
taboo = [ñiều cấm kỵ/kiêng kỵ] a prohibition or interdiction of something; exclusion from use
or practice.
43
genteel= [phong lưu; quý phái] well-bred or refined; polite; elegant.
44
Hispanic-American = [người Mỹ gốc Tây Ban Nha hay Châu Mỹ La tinh] a U.S. citizen or
resident of Spanish or Latin-American descent.
45
the Americas = [Châu Bắc và Nam Mỹ] North and South America, considered together.
46
Yankee = [người Mỹ; binh sĩ lien bang thời nội chiến ở Mỹ] a native or inhabitant of the
United States; a native or inhabitant of New England; a native or inhabitant of a Northern state;
a Federal soldier in the Civil War; adj. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a Yankee or Yankees:
Yankee ingenuity.
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 Culture of the US 1
synonymous with the American people, Americans almost always use the term for the sports
team, for New Englanders,47 New Yorkers, or with reference to those living in the northeastern
U.S. in contrast to Southerners. The major exception to that is Americans' occasional ironic usage
of "Yankee" (or especially "Yank", construed by Americans as a British usage), in attempting to
convey either striving to transcend American parochialism,48 or resignation to the failure of any
such striving. "The States" is a term generally used when referring to the country from an
overseas or Canadian vantage49 point. In the same context, something or someone that is "back
in the States" may be referred to as being "Stateside." "The US" or "The U.S." is a casual, short-
hand term.

When discussing the American Civil War,50 Americans use the phrase "the Union"51 to refer to the
states that remained under the control of the federal government in Washington and did not
secede52 to join the Confederate States of America.53 The phrase is also occasionally used in
contemporary discussions of American federalism54 and states' rights. Immediately after the
American Civil War and for a generation afterward, the entire country was then referred to as
"the Republic". This nineteenth century usage has since declined, except when invoking issues of
civics55 and governance,56 such as in the Pledge of Allegiance57 uttered by school children and in
town meetings.

[1750-60, Amer.; perh. back formation from D Jan Kees John Cheese (taken as pl.), nickname
applied by the Dutch of colonial New York to English settlers in Connecticut]
47
New England = an area in the NE United States, including the states of Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
48
parochialism = [chủ nghĩa ñịa phương; tính chất ñịa phương hẹp hòi] a parochial attitude or
outlook; narrowness or provincialism.
parochial = [thiển cận] very limited or narrow in scope or outlook; provincial.
provincialism = [chủ nghĩa ñịa phươg; tác phong tỉnh lẻ] narrowness of views or interests; lack
of sophistication; devotion to one's own province before the nation as a whole.
49
vantage = [ưu thế; thuận lợi] a position affording some strategic advantage or a commanding
view; an advantage or superiority.
50
civil war = [nội chiến] a war between political factions or regions within the same country;
(caps.) the war in the U.S. between the North and the South, 1861-65.
51
the Union = [Liên bang] the United States, esp. during the Civil War.
52
secede = [ly khai] to withdraw formally from an alliance, federation, or association.
53
the Confederate States of America = [các bang ly khai với Hoa kỳ ñể gây ra cuộc nội
chiến] the group of 11 Southern states that seceded from the U.S. in 1860-61.
54
federalism = [chế ñộ liên bang] the federal principle of government; (cap) the principles of
the Federalist Party.
the Federalist Party = a political party in early U.S. history advocating a strong central
government.
55
civics = [khoa nghiên cứu quyền lợi và bổn phận công dân] the study or science of the
privileges and obligations of citizens.
56
governance = [sự cai trị/cai quản] government; exercise of authority; control; a method or
system of government or management.
57
allegiance = [lòng trung thành] the loyalty of citizens to their government or of subjects to
their sovereign.
The Pledge of Allegiance = [Lời thề Tận trung Báo quốc] The Pledge of Allegiance developed
as part of a promotional campaign in the 1890s by the editors of The Youth's Companion, a
popular weekly magazine published in Boston. Its purpose was to encourage patriotic education
by placing the flag in the public schools and standardizing a flag salute. The original version,
called "The Youth's Companion Flag Pledge," was published on 8 September 1892 and read "I
pledge allegiance to my Flag and ["to" added here the following month] the Republic for which it
stands: one Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all." … The widespread popularity of
the Pledge began with its central place in the nationwide school ceremonies associated with the
first Columbus Day celebration, held in conjunction with the dedication on 19 October 1892 of
the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, marking the four-hundredth anniversary of
Columbus's landing. National Flag Conferences in 1923 and 1924 agreed that the words "my flag"
should be specified as "the flag of the United States" (and soon after "of America"). Congress
eventually adopted the Pledge as part of an official flag code in 1942. … The Pledge has long
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 Culture of the US 1

Fairly formal terms, still short-hand, evoking patriotic observances (possibly with irony) are
"U.S.A." or "U.S." (with or without the periods, and usually with "the"); a more marked version is
"the U. S. of A." The official name of the nation, the "United States of America," is very formal
and is most often used in formal government documents, pledges, or ceremonies, but not in
colloquial conversations. It is more common to hear the shortened phrase "United States" or
simply "America."

INTRA-NATIONAL ALLEGIANCES

San Francisco's Chinatown

Because of the size and large population of the country, America is often described as a nation of
joiners who tend to self-associate58 with non-familial59 groups. Individuals tend to perceive
themselves as "free agents" rather than bound by family or clan60 ties.

Group allegiances are sometimes regional, but can also be related to a professional or fraternal
organization. For example, residents of North Carolina are proud to be "Tar Heels,"61 Indiana
residents are "Hoosiers"62 and Texans are notorious for an especially prominent state pride often
compared to nationalism. There also still exists some enmity between states on different sides of
the civil war, with each region having a stereotype63 associated with it.

Many cities have a strong sense of civic64 identity,65 often reinforced by an innocuous but deeply
felt rivalry with another local city. An example of such a rivalry exists between the Twin Cities of
Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, another one with two similar sized Texas cities of Dallas,
Texas and Houston, Texas. In the Northeastern United States, many cities, particularly
Philadelphia and Boston, have strong rivalries with New York, based on the latter's size and
influence.

been widely memorized by school children and plays a prominent role in naturalization
ceremonies. Its thirty-one words read: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it stands—one nation, under God, indivisible—with liberty
and justice for all."
58
associate = [gia nhập; kết giao; liên ñới] to join together as partners or colleagues; to enter
into union; unite.
59
familial = [thuộc gia ñình] of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a family: familial ties.
60
clan = [thị tộc; bè ñảng] a clique, party, or other group united by some common interest.
61
Tar Heel = a native or inhabitant of North Carolina (used as a nickname).
62
Hoosier = a native or inhabitant of Indiana (used as a nickname).
63
stereotype = [mẫu rập khuôn] a simplified and standardized conception or image of a
person, group, etc., held in common by members of a group. He doesn’t conform to the usual
stereotype of the city businessman with a dark suit and rolled umbrella.
64
civic = [thuộc công dân; thuộc ñô thị/thành phố] of or pertaining to a city; municipal; of or
pertaining to citizenship; civil; of citizens: civic pride.
65
identity = [tính ñồng nhất] the sense of self, providing sameness and continuity in personality
over time.
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Recent immigrants tend to congregate with other immigrants from their country of origin, often
establishing neighborhoods (sometimes called ethnic enclaves)66 in cities with popular names like
"Chinatown", "Poletown", or "Little Italy." [and recently, Little Saigon] Second- and third-
generation descendants of immigrants tend to have looser affiliations with their ethnic groups.

America has tens of thousands of clubs and organizations, and if a group has a charitable or
service orientation, Americans may volunteer their time through those groups. Examples of these
groups include the Rotary Club,67 the Boy Scouts68 of America, Little League,69 etc.

FOOD

A hamburger is a famous food in the United States.

The types of food served at home vary greatly and depend upon the region of the country and
the family's own cultural heritage.70 Recent immigrants tend to eat food similar to that of their
country of origin, and Americanized versions of these cultural foods, such as American Chinese
cuisine71 or Italian-American cuisine often eventually appear. German cuisine also had a profound
impact on American cuisine, especially the mid-western cuisine, with potatoes and meat being
the most iconic72 ingredients in both cuisines. Dishes such as the hamburger,73 pot roast,74 baked
ham75 and hot dogs76 are examples of American dishes derived from German cuisine.

Families that have lived for a few generations in the U.S. tend to eat some combination of that
and the food common to the region they live in or grew up in, such as New England cuisine,
Midwestern cuisine, Southern cuisine, Tex-Mex cuisine, and Californian cuisine.

Around the world the United States is perhaps best known for its numerous and successful fast
food77 franchises.78 Such chains,79 including McDonald's, Burger King, and Kentucky Fried Chicken

66
enclave = [vùng ñất riêng; vùng ñất bị bao quanh bởi nhiều vùng khác] a country or a
portion of a country surrounded by foreign territory; any small, distinct area or group enclosed or
isolated within a larger one.
67
the Rotary Club = [Phù Luân Hội] a local club of business and professional people belonging
to a worldwide organization of similar clubs (Rotary International) devoted to serving the
community and promoting world peace.
68
boy scout = [hướng ñạo sinh] (sometimes caps.) a member of an organization of boys (Boy'
Scouts ), having as its goals the development of self-reliance and usefulness to others.
69
Little League = [Liên ñoàn Bóng chày Thiếu niên] a baseball league for players ages 8 to 12,
usu. sponsored by a business or other organization.
70
heritage = [di sản; truyền thống] tradition; inheritance.
71
cuisine = [cách nấu nướng] a style or manner of cooking.
72
icon = [hình tượng] a picture, image, or other representation; symbol.
iconic = [tiêu biểu] representative
73
hamburger = [thịt băm; bánh thịt băm] a patty of ground beef; a sandwich consisting of
such a patty fried or broiled and served on a bun or roll; ground beef.
[1885-90; short for Hamburger steak]
74
pot roast = [thịt bò om] a cut of beef stewed in one piece in a covered pot and served in its
own gravy.
75
ham = [giăm bông] a cut of meat from a hog's hind quarter, between hip and hock; thigh.
76
hot dog = [xúc xích nóng kẹp bánh mì] a frankfurter; a sandwich of a frankfurter in a split
roll.
77
fast food = [thức ăn nhanh] standardized foods, as hamburgers or pizza, prepared and
served rapidly.
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 Culture of the US 1
are known for selling simple, pre-prepared meals of foods such as hamburgers, French fries,80
soft drinks,81 fried chicken, and ice cream. Though undeniably popular, such food, with its
emphasis on deep-frying,82 has been criticized by dietitians83 in recent decades for being
unhealthy and a cause of obesity.84 It has thus become somewhat of a stereotype to associate
American cuisine with obesity and junk food,85 for in reality, fast food represents only a tiny
fraction of available American cuisine.

POPULAR CULTURE

The American state of California (especially the Hollywood86 region) is home to a thriving motion
picture industry, with prominent film studios such as Warner Brothers,87 Paramount,88 and MGM89
creating dozens of multi-million dollar films every year that are enjoyed around the world.
American actors are often among the world's most popular and easily identified celebrities. It's

78
franchise = [nhượng quyền] the right or license granted by a company to an individual or
group to market its products or services in a specific territory.
79
chain = [chuỗi] a number of establishments under one ownership or management.
80
French fries = [khoai tây chiên] strips of potato that have been deep-fried. Also called
French-fried potatoes.
81
soft drink = [thức uống không có cồn] a beverage that is not alcoholic or intoxicating and is
usu. carbonated, as root beer or ginger ale.
82
deep-fry = [chiên nhúng] to fry in a quantity of hot oil or fat sufficient to cover the food
being cooked.
83
dietitian / dietician = [chuyên gia dinh dưỡng] a person who is an expert in nutrition or
dietetics (the science concerned with nutrition and food preparation).
84
obese (adj.) = [béo phì] very fat or overweight; corpulent.
85
junk food = [thức ăn vặt] food, as potato chips or candy, that is high in calories but of little
nutritional value.
86
Hollywood = the NW part of Los Angeles, Calif.: center of the American motion-picture
industry.
87
Warner Bros = The corporate name honors the four founding Warner brothers, Jewish
brothers who emigrated from Poland to London, Ontario, Canada, Harry Warner (1881–1958),
Albert Warner (1883–1967), Sam Warner (1887–1927) and Jack L. Warner (1892–1978).
88
Paramount = Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and
distribution company, based in Hollywood, California. It has become the longest-lived American
movie studio ever, in existence for 95 years. Paramount is owned by media conglomerate
Viacom.
89
MGM = U.S. corporation and film studio. It was formed when the film distributor Marcus
Loew, who bought Metro Pictures in 1920, merged it with the Goldwyn production company in
1924 and with Louis B. Mayer Pictures in 1925. Louis B. Mayer was executive head of the studio
for 25 years, assisted by production manager Irving Thalberg. It reached its peak in the 1930s
and '40s, when it had most of Hollywood's famous stars under contract. It produced such hits as
Grand Hotel (1932), The Philadelphia Story (1940), Gaslight (1944), Ben-Hur (1959), Doctor
Zhivago (1965), and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). It was especially celebrated for its lavish
musicals, including The Wizard of Oz (1939), On the Town (1949), An American in Paris (1951),
Singin' in the Rain (1952), and Gigi (1958). MGM began to decline in the 1950s and sold off many
of its assets in the 1970s. It diversified into hotels and casinos and later merged with United
Artists Corp. as MGM/UA Entertainment. In 1986 it was bought by Ted Turner, who resold the
production and distribution units. Various transfers of ownership led to its purchase in 1992 by
Crédit Lyonnais, which restored the name MGM Inc. It was subsequently bought by Tracinda
Corp.
Nguyễn Minh Tâm * Page 9 of 10
 Culture of the US 1
worth noting that Hollywood also tends to attract many immigrant actors and directors from
around the world, many of whom, such as actor Russell Crowe or director Ang Lee90 become just
as famous and successful as American-born stars.

The United States was a leading pioneer of television as an entertainment medium, and the
tradition remains strong to this day. Many American television sitcoms,91 dramas, game shows
and reality shows92 remain very popular both in the US and abroad. Animation93 is a popular US
entertainment medium as well, both on the large and small screen. The characters created by
Walt Disney94 and Warner Brothers animation studios remain very popular. In music, the United
States has pioneered many distinct genres,95 such as country96 and western,97 jazz,98 rock
music,99 hip hop,100 and gospel.101 African-American cultural influences play a particularly
prominent role in many of these traditions.

90
Ang Lee (born October 23, 1954) is an Academy Award-winning film director from Taiwan.
Lee won the 2006 Best Director Oscar for Brokeback Mountain (2005).
91
sitcom = Informal. situation comedy = [hài kịch tình thế] a television or radio series made
up of independent episodes depicting the comic adventures of a fixed group of characters.
92
[chương trình người thật việc thật]
93
animation = animated cartoon = [phim hoạt hình] a motion picture consisting of a
sequence of drawings, each slightly different so that when filmed and run through a projector the
figures seem to move; a motion picture similar to an animated cartoon but using photographs of
dolls, robots, etc., instead of drawings.
94
Walt Disney, Animator / Business Personality Born: 5 December 1901 Birthplace: Chicago,
Illinois Died: 15 December 1966 (lung cancer) Best Known As: The creator of Mickey Mouse
and Disneyland; Walt Disney founded the animation and entertainment empire which still bears
his name. He began as a cartoonist in the 1920s, creating Mickey Mouse and eventually moving
from short films into much-acclaimed animated features like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(1937) and Bambi (1942). Later Disney expanded into live-action features like Treasure Island
(1951) and then into television -- the family-friendly variety program The Wonderful World of
Disney was a prime-time staple from 1954-83. During Disney's life his studios won 48 Academy
Awards. In 1955 Disney opened a theme park, Disneyland, in Anaheim, California; it was an
immediate hit and became the public flagship of the Disney empire. Other Disney theme parks
have since opened in Florida, Tokyo, France and Hong Kong. The Disney empire also grew to
include Disney Radio and TV's The Disney Channel.
95
genre = [thể loại] a class or category of artistic endeavor having a particular form, content,
technique, or the like.
96
country music = [nhạc ñồng quê] music with roots in the folk music of the Southeast and
the cowboy music of the West.
97
western = [phim, truyện, kịch về miền Viễn Tây] a story, movie, or radio or television play
about the U.S. West of the 19th century.
98
jazz = [nhạc jazz] music originating in New Orleans around the beginning of the 20th century
and subsequently developing through various increasingly complex styles, generally marked by
intricate, propulsive rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, improvisatory, virtuosic solos,
melodic freedom, and a harmonic idiom ranging from simple diatonicism through chromaticism to
atonality.
99
rock = [thể loại nhạc rock] a musical style derived in part from blues and folk music and
marked by an accented beat and repetitive phrase structure.
100
hip hop = rap music = [nhạc hip hop/rap] a popular music idiom marked by the rhythmical
intoning of rhymed couplets to an insistent beat.
101
gospel (music) = [nhạc ñạo] impassioned rhythmic spiritual music influential in the
development of soul music and rhythm and blues.
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