So I've only actually been to the movies a few times since I got here, twice at the smaller local theatre that plays artsier films and one at the big chain theater right next to the train station. The first time I saw a German movie about a crazy piano player in a female prison, the second time I saw Rush Hour 3 in German, and the third time I saw a French movie about the Way of St. James, a recently popular pilgrimage in Europe.
Anyway, the most interesting trip to the movies from a cross-cultural point of view was going to watch Rush Hour 3, an American movie with Jackie Chan and Cris Tucker. It was kind of eye-opening to see how America often comes across in movies.
First of all, nothing translates perfectly. That said, the types of things Chris Tucker says in Rush Hour 3 translate absolutely terribly. His German voiceover had an ever higher-pitched voice than he does, and all of the slang translates terribly.
Jackie Chan's part wasn't all that great either. The combination of the two led to a ridiculous display of two main racial groups in America. But the biggest thing I noticed is just how ridiculously America comes through in movies (in any medium, for that matter--TV, music, and magazines, as well).
But it kind of makes sense. Even within America you can get very false impressions about the way things are. I think even Americans have a false impression of Southern California or New York or the South or whatever area just based on movies. Movies essentially show exaggerated versions of stories, of stereotypes, of people, because the average isn't interesting enough.
But don't even get me started on what people see in MTV. One of my classmates always teases me with ridiculous generalizations about what he saw on MTV because he knows he can get me worked up.
It's just a little disappointing in general that some of my least favorite parts of America (bad music, fast food, and superficial pop culture) are the parts that make it over the Atlantic.
7 comments:
hey bruuda,
don't be dissapointed.when i ask what german things are known outside germany i'm normally not satisfied with the answers as well. but you're right, the image we have of america is not a very positive one. but, you'll do your bit to change that ;)
merde, my english is getting worse...
gruesse aus paris,verena
you'll have to let me know if you see any really good german films (especially if they're coming to the US)
-Brad
After moving here, I was pretty shocked to notice how often Germans are the bad guys in Hollywood movies. That made me a bit ashamed.
Definitely. Not just Germans, but foreign people in general. For some reason, a bad guy can't be a middle-class average Joe. An accent is a plus and a foreign appearance is even better.
Another great observation, and it's definitely one people should keep in mind when considering the power the media and especially Hollywood have on us.
-Kevin
J. here. I agree with your views on Hollywood. It's disgusting knowing that most of our views of the world depends on couple of filmsy films that we watch. And most of them are so foolishly foolish that it stretches the truth beyond recognition. But moving onto the idea of the worst of the worst coming across seas... Well, what can be said about this? The first thing that most people tends to want to learn is the worst of the worst so that they can laugh about it. But I think it's when the worst becomes populerized that it creates a negative view. Just rambling here.
J.
@J. Lee: I think you could generalize the idea to say that a good portion of our view on the world depends on the media, not just movies. You would be surprised at the differences you would find between different textbooks in different schools.
The German nightly news isn't exactly forgiving with America, either.
But keep this in mind as you develop images of other countries. Where did you get the information about a country from? What biases could have influenced the information?
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