Cultural Values - Assignment Example

Cultural Values Before going to analyze a movie, which reflects some of the key cultural values of the United s, let us get a better understanding of what cultural values actually are. “Culture is about survival of the human species” (Aldridge, n.d.). There can be no society without a culture or a set of cultures and no culture can survive without presence of a social group abiding by the norms and values of that culture. If we talk about American culture, we can say that America has a very rich and strong culture, which has a number of key values.

Some of the key American cultural values include ethnicity, family, bravery, love, freedom, success, moral orientation, personal control, and equality. Many American movies truly reflect the values of the American culture. Terminator II is one of such movies, which integrates some of the main American cultural values, such as, love for humanity, ethnicity, family, positive change, and personal control. Let us discuss how Terminator II embeds these cultural values in its story and filmmaking. Love for humanity is a true cultural aspect of America.

In Terminator II, John acts against the TY-800’s efforts to kill humanity. John’s belief regarding killing of humanity truly reflects the mindset of American people. No matter whether a person is a close relative or a stranger, there is no reason to kill because it is considered a very immoral act in America.Change is considered positive in the American society. In Terminator II, Sarah and T-800 have been shown as the forces against humanity. However, in the end of the movie, both characters come to understand that it is immoral to kill even a single person.

Another main character, Dyson, also comes to know that his technology is not in favor of humanity. These positive changes truly reflect the overall American culture.Nuclear family is another major aspect of the movie, which reflects the current norms of the American culture. With the increase in the rate of divorce, single parenting has become common in America. Although this image of the movie does not reflect a traditional family system but it depicts a current social issue of inconstant relationships, which is a major cause of single parenting system.

In the movie, John’s search for a reliable father figure and juvenile delinquency reflect the mindset of the children raised up in improper family structures. The element of ethnicity is one of the most influencing aspects of the American culture. The character of Miles Dyson, a black physicist, plays the role of an intelligent, wealthy, and passionate workaholic, which is a very positive aspect of the movie. Although Dyson creates a destructive machine in the movie but his intelligence and passion negate the common racial concepts against African Americans.

Personal control is another key cultural value of the American society. Americans want to take initiative to achieve something instead of depending on fate. “Americans do not believe in the power of fate” (Kohls, n.d.). All characters shown in Terminator II use a direct approach to achieve their missions. They are not depicted as lazy individuals who just sit back and depend on fate to do something good for them.These were some of the key aspects of Terminator II, which not only reflect the American culture but also depict the mindset of the American people.

ReferencesAldridge, G. (n.d.). What is the Basis of American Culture?. Retrieved from http://www.immi.se/intercultural/nr5/aldridge.htmKohls, R. (n.d.). Why Do Americans act Like That?. Retrieved from http://www.uku.fi/~paganuzz/xcult/values/Amer_values.htm