AMERICAN CULTURE II LEISURE TIME IN AMERICA

American Culture Course: American Culture II Student’s name: PhanThi Thu Thuy (23/08/1982) Class: English K13-CQQT Write a 1000-word essay about: Topic: Leisure time in America How is the value of competition reflected in sport and other leisure activities in the United States? What is the impact of media on America society? The popularity of sport in the United States today is undeniable Athletics have become intertwined in the structure of family, friendship and business connections in this country, it can be argued that sport plays a role in shaping the minds and lives of individuals of all ages So, in a social environment characterized by the executives of companies that make up financial records, employee fraud staff Not surprisingly, many athletes, coaches and sports administrators choose to cheat in sports - whether in the classroom, in games, while recruiting, or in gaining an advantage economical and competitive Today, many coaches, athletes, sports administrators and owners even think that "if you are not cheating, then you are not trying hard enough to win” People from different racial, ethnic backgrounds can compete at same level People from different races and ethnic groups can compete at the same level Sports like football, basketball, soccer However, sport also has been praised for teaching values Parents, coaches, school and university administrators, and many fans argue that young people can learn respect, responsibility, discipline, sportsmanship and teamwork through participating in sports However, when winning becomes the main or only goal of coaches, athletes and parents, the ability to develop characters will disappear and be replaced by the "winning-at-all-costs" mentality Some people feel that the desire to “win” at all cost may weaken American values In extremes, can lead to disorder and violence Many are critical of the attitudes of coaches: Encourage fighting and Hate losing (losers) However, there is still a tradition of “honorable defeat” – losing to an opponent who played well Pressure to succeed can lead to violence in American sports – injuries are common American Culture Most Americans would say competition strengthens national character Lack of competition would lead to laziness and vice Pressure to succeed can lead to violence in American sports – injuries are common Americans spent more than $100 billion - over the past year on sporting events, athletic equipment and gym memberships, a new CreditCards.com survey found The pressure to win can also lead to drug use (against American laws and values) People here work hard and play hard so physically is very important to them They often participate in exercise, swimming, tennis, aerobics and marathons Americans often have trouble relaxing online in their spare time so physical activity can be relaxing Online entertainment games in American society like Tennis, Jogging, Skiing They participate in sports according to hobbies, handicrafts, bird watching, etc Some people love adventure travel like mountain biking, climbing, skydiving, etc There are also soft adventures for the elderly The general population has gotten heavier, but their “ideals” have gotten slimmer In addition to Americans facing insecurity or eating disorders due to the growing population, many parents' anxiety about children's exposure to the internet is also increasing Today, media has been changing drastically since its inception While print was the main form of media for the longest time, when radio and television became major forms of media they brought something with them that words could not There are many television programs that make children spend too much time watching TV, causing them to be obese and have poor academic performance In addition, children who not fully understand the online rules will increase their risk Because of new technologies and in the information explosion, everyone has access to the network via mobile phones That makes children lose attention (surfing the channel) and easily exposed to inappropriate media Historical channels, Discovery, Science channels are proposed to be replaced, but most children love to watch MTV, HBO Government wants more regulation of content Others say responsibility is the parents, but many work full time Mass Media, what is the first thing most Americans when they wake up in the morning, when they get out of their car, or when they are done with work? They check their cell phones Currently communication and media have a strong hold over our everyday lives, they search for answers in the media, looking to form opinions and learn about what in the world is affecting them personally Through the media they decide what places they are going to go, their American Culture political parties, what is in style, and many other things that seem to be crucial factors Mass media has developed drastically over the last century, and each change has influenced American culture As technology expanded and matured, the electronic age began Since that time mass media has multiplied exponentially, information can be accessed faster and faster, more and more information could be circulated and accessed As well as information circulating, marketing and ads were now able to reach more people, and target audiences based on individuals’ internet use The internet influences the growth and spread of media, and eventually gave the power of media transfer to the people, now publishers and stations are no longer in control of the media and its information Though the information may be started by a journalist, government official, or news associate, people can access the information, add his or her input, and spread his or her view on the topic to others The individuals who rely on the media, are creating it themselves through websites, blogs, social media sites like facebook and twitter, through cell and smart phones, and endless other forms of content sharing (“Effects of mass,” 2013) Obviously as the ways of accessing media have evolved, so has the way it affects the individuals who have access to it When radio and television news first became popular, most used that and the newspaper as their primary sources of information, and did not question where that information came from, or if it was valid or not As people have begun to receive more and more information from different sources, and see that there are more points of view and opinions on the same information, this is shown in both traditional and emerging media This new source of information is a huge effect on not only American culture, but the entire world Media can influence the opinions of people in severe ways, both good and bad, for example government influence on media can sway the opinions of the people exposed to that specific media Media’s drastic growth has lead society to become more aware of what is going on socially, economically, etc However, as more and more information is presented to us we are more susceptible to biased information that is underhandedly attempting to sway opinions to parallel that of the biased (Wendt & Spohn) American Culture The awareness of this and ability to filter information from the media is called “media literacy” Being media literate allows a person to create his or her own opinion by taking information from media sources, filtering that information, and producing his own idea, based upon what he has learned and applied (“A few words,” 2012) Mass media is a very important factor in the growth of society, and for the most part, it is good for individuals to indulge themselves in the information that is circulating If we as individuals use caution, critical thinking, and expose ourselves to many types of media, becoming media literate, we can use mass media as a tool to enhance our lives and culture every day American Culture REFERENCES: “A few words” about “media literacy” (2012) Curtis, A R (2012) Mass media influence on society (Master’s thesis, University of North Carolina at Pembroke) Deliso, M (2006, October 02) Traditional media more trustworthy than emerging Effects of mass media on American culture http://doctordialogue.hubpages.com/hub/Effects-of-Mass-Media-on-American-Culture Wendt , T., & Spohn , A (n.d.) The role of mass media in modern american culture https://sites.google.com/site/americanpoliticalparanoia/the-role-of-mass-media-inamerican-political-culture - ... marathons Americans often have trouble relaxing online in their spare time so physical activity can be relaxing Online entertainment games in American society like Tennis, Jogging, Skiing They... gotten slimmer In addition to Americans facing insecurity or eating disorders due to the growing population, many parents' anxiety about children's exposure to the internet is also increasing Today,.. .American Culture Most Americans would say competition strengthens national character Lack of competition would lead to laziness and vice Pressure to succeed can lead to violence in American