Viewing American’s Characteristics from Toy Story

肖夢

Abstract：Toy Story is a typical work of American cartoon film series and has been holding prestige since its release. The film series have been the perfect embodiment of American characteristics. This thesis will focus on the analysis of the unique characteristics showed by characters in the film series，and it is hoped that the readers will think about how to accept western culture dialectically.

Key words：American culture； characteristics； Toy Story

1. Introduction

English-speaking countries are almost developed countries. They are developed both economically and culturally. Advanced culture has magic power which can attract and absorb other cultures. However， culture invasion has becoming a hot topic and being paid increasingly attention nowadays. How to protect our own culture when facing the invasion of strong western culture？ We need to understand its culture thoroughly.

Toy Story is a typical work of American cartoon film series and has been holding prestige since its release in 1995. The film series tell some interesting and impressive stories of toys belonging to a boy named Andy. It is no doubt that toys are the lead roles. The toys in the movie are imaginary and have vivid personality. In the great variety of characters played by them， all are great examples of typical Americans.

This thesis will focus on the analysis of characteristics showed by two important toys in the film series： Buzz Lightyear and Woody. Buzz is a high-level toy who is self-glorification because of he thought himself was the savior of universe. Woody is a cowboy cloth doll and leader of other toys who just want to be Andys favorite toy. In this thesis， I will associate their characters with Americans in real life.

2. Analysis of Americans characteristics in Toy Story

2.1 Americans values

Values means ideas about the worth or importance of certain things， especially those generally accepted by a particular group. In this thesis values means that people's basic beliefs about the difference between right and wrong， good and bad. Generally speaking， American values can be summed up as follows： personal independence， individual rights， freedom and equality.

2.1.1 Self-value actualization

Self value， generally speaking， is defined as that someone gives valuation to himself. But it is difficult to avoid the subjectivity caused by self-appraisal. So here is the social value which is related with self value. On this point， Americans care more about self value， but Chinese pay more attention to the social value. In other words， Chinese focus on their images in others eyes， while Americans pay much attention to how to play their own role. In brief， self value means the targets and positions during each period of ones life.

In Toy Story， Buzz believes that he is a universal soldier instead of a toy， during this period he is full of self-confidence and determination. But unfortunately， he knows himself actually just a toy through an advertisement in TV by accident， and he becomes confused and dejected. He seems to lose his sense of direction， just as an American may be in real life.

Woody is Andys favorite toy， and his goal is just to be Andys forever friend. But Buzz takes his place and becomes the best friend of Andy. Woody tries almost every means to damage Buzzs confidence and his faith. And the most useful way is to let Buzz know that he is not the universal soldier but a member of toys. Compared with Buzz， Woody doesnt lose his direction and always tries to use his faith and patience to influence Buzz. 33 million Americans choose to live alone. This figure can suggest that most of them enjoy living in their own world where nobody can interfere and govern what they should do.

In contrast with the attitude of Americans， Chinese want to gain social acceptance in the society rather than pursue man's self-fulfillment. Americans wont care views of others but chase after their dreams. In China， we should encourage individuals to realize their self-value. Only in this way can make everybody fully display his talents.

2.1.2 The request for freedom

Americans request for freedom started from the first settlers. In 1620， the Pilgrims sailed to America on the Mayflower， seeking for a place where they could have freedom of worship.The freedom we are talking about is not an absolute one， for there is no absolute freedom in the world. Americans pursue the individual freedom， but at the same time they are very law-abiding.

Woody is trapped in a house where he meets Tracy and Old Miner in Toy Story II. Tracy and Old miner wants to persuade him to give up getting away from the house with bribes and threats. We all know that Woodys vanity is strong， but he refuses to be admired by kids in the museum of toys but to pursuit his freedom. His freedom is that to go back to Andy. He asks for the individual freedom to be the toy of Andy， in other words he wants to be what he himself is. Being free to Americans is the pursuit for spiritual independence. Only be oneself can one be truly free. But nowadays， some Chinese people are keen to seek for fame and power， and would rather loose their freedom. Ancient Chinese philosophers had put forward the idea of “freedom” as more than 2000 years ago. Ironically， Chinese admire others pursuit of freedom but are ignorant of their own culture of freedom.

2.1.3 Democratic idea

Since United State was founded， Americans have been on their way to democracy. The general election is the best stage for showing its democracy. “Governments are instituted among men， deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” （The Declaration of Independence， 1776） .

In Toy Story， toys always have meeting before making a decision. All the members express their points of view at liberty， which may make the audience laugh， because those toys take it too seriously. According to incomplete statistics there are at least 8 meetings in Toy Story. It seems that toys need a meeting before making any decision. Americans chose their representatives who are instructed by their wisdom and experience and are supported by their virtues have matured， in the excellent wisdom of their counsels， a new plan of government， which possesses every security for their liberties and equal rights and privileges to all in the pursuit of happiness. The attitude of them guarantees the democracy.

The democratic centralism of Chinese government is supposed to secure the rights of people. But when it is practiced， this system makes some people unable to express their opinion， while some people think little of their rights. Fortunately， democratic elections and media supervision has attracted more and more attention nowadays， it is an important progress of Chinas democracy.

2.1.4 Faith

Faith is confidence or trust in a person or entity. The United States is an industrialized democratic state with a strong religious atmosphere. To American， a man without belief seems to be a walking corpse. For Americans， the faith is the American Dream which is a belief that one will be able to achieve the ideal of a better life after a hard struggle， which means people have to work through their own hard work and determination to move towards prosperity， rather than rely on specific social classes and other assistance.

Buzzs belief is expressed by his catchphrase “to infinity and beyond”. Every time he speaks it out， it seems that he is just the universal soldier who will save the earth. Buzz will speak his catchphrase when he starts his mission.

Americans have their religions or at least they have their American Dream， so they do not lose themselves easily， and they know their goals. In fact， the central idea of the American Dream has already been widely accepted by Chinese. Lots of Chinese nowadays make efforts to achieve their goals.

2.2 American nature

Nature means the qualities that make someone different from others. Americans have their unique characters， which are their natures.

2.2.1 Adventurous personality

Many Americans love adventures， and it perhaps has some relations with the Gold Rush. In the early 19 century， America began the west expansion. The fertile and wide land is the best place for the brave people. Their ancestors took the enormous risk， voyaging to America.

The whole Toy Story movie is full of continuing adventures， in which toys in each one have adventure experience together. In Toy Story I， toys have to adventure in the toy store for they have to save Buzz and Woody； in the last one， they come to a kindergarten and meet the evil Bear and his partners. All the stories are about adventure. Toys have to save their friends by exploring the new environment and trying to adjust to the surroundings.

In America， adventure expedition appeals to many people. Americans also like the adventure films which express heroism complex， such as Raiders of the Lost Ark movies， which well convey the typical spirit of adventure. While most of Chinese deem that it is full of unseen danger for a man who ventures in a unfamiliar place. It is interesting that Chinese have a habit of deposit， while Americans are keen to invest. With the spirit of adventure， they have the courage to face the risks. The courage for challenges is worth to learn.

2.2.2 Humor

Americans are famous for their sense of humor. Here is an anecdote about Abraham Lincoln that shows how humorous an American can be. Mark Twain once said： “The secret source of humor is not joy but sorrow； there is no humor in Heaven.” Perhaps this can explain why Americans are always humorous. People can easily escape from sorrows and troubles through humor. Sometimes we are easily anxious about the situation， we can learn from Americans humor， learn to “play it cool”.

The plot of Toy Story is interesting and humorous. Take the Mr. Potato Head as an example. Some parts of him fall down from his body accidentally. When he cobbles them back on his face， he says to others that he is Picasso （a famous Spanish artist）. Instead of being worried about his broken body， Potato Head admired his work. It is typical American humor， through which they accept the helplessness easily but still with confidence to settle the trouble. This characteristic is worthwhile to learn. In real life， Americans are good at being humorous. It feels like they are born humorous. Actually， their sense of humor comes from their attitude to the lives. They think all the things they have are the gifts from god， so to accept gift of life with full equanimity without complaint.

3. Conclusions

3.1 Characteristics of Americans

It cant be denied that the culture of any nationality is multifaceted and complex. It is particularly true when it comes to American culture. No matter whether they are native Americans or immigrants， they have the same dream which is known as American Dream， that is to make their lifetime dream come true through their own efforts. All the characteristics they share are their power to follow their dreams. Their outstanding characteristics can be summarized as follows：

First， Americans are independent. Americans believe that liberty and the pursuit of happiness are rights that belong to each of them as individuals. They pursue for being independent in personality， and they refuse to submit to the authority and they express their own opinions without caring about others views.

Second， Americans are optimistic. Americans dont complain much and have good sense of humor， so they always seem to be relaxed and cheerful. Because they have the firm belief in their life， they can carry on smiling when facing the adversity. And the faith guides them to approach to the goals.

Third， Americans are courageous. Americans are adventures. They always risk everything for the dream of freedom and independence. The opportunities stimulate to them move from one place to anther. It seems that they are opportunists who can not endure the hard conditions， but on the contrary， they have the courage to meet the new challenges in a new environment. These outstanding characteristics of Americans are worth to learn and be drawn lessons from.

3.2 The significance of this thesis

Through analysis and comparison of American culture and Chinese culture， it is hoped that the readers know how to understand real American culture. And they will think about how to accept western culture dialectically. In fact， there is not any native civilization on earth that does not bear traces of external influences. We can not reject the cultural communications. Cultures are all different， and the different cultures should draw upon benefit from each other to achieve common development. Then people share different cultures will also benefit from the cultural communication.

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