Fatimah Barnawi

When someone asked me about something represent my culture, it is put me under pressure because how that person could think about my people depends on me. I choose to speak a bout Janadriyah witch is a National Festival for Heritage and Culture. Janadriyah is a large cultural gathering activated to open the gate of the ancient civilization of the renewal of the covenant. It is located in the heart of Saudi Arabia geographically and nationally next to the beating heart of the nation capital, Riyadh. Festival Dates seeks to find a formula for cohesion between the Saudi folklore and cultural achievements experienced by Saudi Arabia and work to remove the imaginary barriers between literary and artistic creativity and the popular tradition.

It hard to find a good source in English about Janadriyah but I tried my best.

http://www.simbacom.com/riyadh-ksa/outdoors/janadriyah.html

Elizabeth Brugman - American culture represented

 

When I was thinking of a song, movie, symbol, or just anything that represents our culture I went straight to my computer for ideas. Of course I was checking facebook and twitter the whole time. That’s when it hit me that the media has a very strong influence on culture. This is why I uploaded a picture of Hollywood. I am representing this as not only a sight seer but as the entire entertainment industry. It hasn’t always been around but I feel as though today it shapes our culture, singers and song writers, actors and actresses, movies and songs which are constantly changing just as American culture is. While looking back on the Hollywood industry beginning, it started off being very bias. Whites dominated the Hollywood social media attention, creating prejudices against others. Just as how culture has changed by becoming more diverse so has the industry. Now a days all kinds of people are presented in Hollywood creating a melting pot so to speak in the entertainment business just as America is described as the melting pot of the world.  Hollywood represents culture from way back when such as the TV series The Little House in the Prairie to predicting culture in the future such as the movie Star Wars. Hollywood can be an accurate representation with our generation growing up and learning social norms from it. It captures the moment by being able to portray America and everyone in it through showing the gradual change within different groups. 

Aaron J. Svoboda - Post for 4/13

If I was to pick one object or symbol that best represents the culture of my nation, I would share with them the American Flag. The flag is a very simple symbol that is flown all over the country and put on display by many Americans. The design that is on the flag shares the story of where we started, and where we are as a nation. It represents our freedom as Americans, and stands for everything that we believe in. Even though we live in a very large country, which is divided not only by the vast terrain, but by state boundaries and city lines, the American flag is something that ties everyone together and shows our unity as a country. Almost all Americans respect what the flag stands for, and surrender the proper respects to it when it is presented. It is raised at every sporting event across the country, and held high outside of every governmental building. It is something that many men have carried with them into battle, and many have given their lives for as well. – Aaron J. Svoboda

The FIFA World Cup in Germany - Ulli Heinicke

It was hard to choose either regional culture or national culture. German states used to be countries and cultures on their own. We have many dialects and different local food and traditions. So, I thought it might be interesting to see what I think represents my national culture.

The video I chose is from 2006 when we held the FIFA world cup. Our recent history has been turbulent: fascism, communism, splitting the country and the reunification. Holding the world cup was great for Germany and the people to have a more optimistic attitude. Germans had to come to terms with the past for many centuries and this was the opportunity we took to come closer together and be proud of Germany as it is today. 

Our hopes for winning the world cup were very high: we had a team that represents Germany with its talent and multiculturalism. The video was filmed after Germany did not make it to the finale. As you can see we celebrated instead of being sad. Everywhere people watched soccer together outside on big screens, ate Bratwursts or Turkish Döner Kebab (both very much part of German food culture now), drank beer and screamed and cried.

The video shows the final goodbye of our soccer team to the fans in Berlin in front of the “Brandenburger Tor.” (On stage are all members of the team and the band) This video shows: a new optimistic, proud generation that is not afraid to show the German flag anymore; soccer, singing, drinking and eating together and German music, but also coping with our past! It also shows a bit of our multiculturalism. This is very important in current issues and intracultural communication because we have a high need of integrating immigrants better into society and overcoming prejudices. But I think Germany is ready to overcome those problems in the future and the video also shows this.

 - Ulli Heinicke

(The band that sings the song in the video is a popular German Rock band. They wrote this song for the world cup 2006 and changed the lyrics after we did not win. The lyrics also capture some of the points I talked about above (by the way: the first three numbers in the title are the years Germany won the world cup.) Lyrics in English: http://lteacherstoolbox.blogspot.com/2013/02/german-sportfreunde-stiller-54-74-90.html )

Beer Culture - Adela Chlumecka

It is really very difficult to choose one thing what represents the Czech Republic and my culture. Films and music are very important to Czech people and show our culture and history very well. But it is almost impossible to describe it for foreigners in this short blog. So let’s talk about Beer culture in the Czech Republic, because beer is not just alcohol for Czech people - it is style of our life. The first brewery already exist at 933 (not 1993 ;). And nowadays is beer cheaper than water. The Czechs drink about as much beer per capita as any population does. It is common to visit outside pubs after your school or work, hang out with your friends, drink beer and meet new people. It is everyday part of our lives. This video is funny but truly one. Don’t take it too seriously:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSqO16fA9yY

You can find Czech beers in Lincoln as well. Just ask me, if you are interested and if you are 21 ;)

-          Adela Chlumecka

Domestic Duties...A Culture?

As we discussed in class, culture does not just have to be based on your race or national origin, it can also be based on the way you grew up or the values you hold as truths that you practice. For me, I have always enjoyed domestic duties, and at my house, they are a big part of learning how to be a woman. In my family, we all have different roles and we are expected to pitch in in those areas. My mom and I do most of the cleaning and cooking, and my dad does most of the work outside on the farm. I would consider this all to be a part of my family's culture. I enjoy my roles I have at my house, and they are sometimes flexible roles. Dad pitches in around the house sometimes, and sometimes I do farm work with him. I don't really see a problem with our assigned roles, but it seems like a lot of people these days do. I think it just all depends on what talents your family has, and how you can best utilize the members of your family in ways that make each member feel needed. I wouldn't expect my dad to cook a decent meal as much as I wouln't expect my mom to know much about driving a tractor! My family's roles play a big part in our family's culture, and I enjoy my domestic role a lot. In fact, that's where my favorite hobbies come from! I love to cook, clean, wash clothes, iron, sew and crochet...just to name a few! I am thankful to be raised in an environment where I can do what I am best at, and let my talents shine through helping my family in a domestic way.

Probably the best image in American culture of the housewife is "Mrs. Cleaver" from the television show Leave it to Beaver. Her role as a housewife kind of sums up the things I get to do around the house. She has honestly been kind of an idol to me, both in her domestic roles as well as her keen sense of style she sported around the house!


Thanks!
Sarah

Hannah Coatney, Blog Post

As I have often disclosed to the class, films are a very important part of our culture. If I were to choose a film to convey my national culture, it would have to be Saving Private Ryan. For those who have not seen it, it depicts a group Americans soldiers searching for Private Ryan during the worst war the world has seen thus far, World War II. 

In our current time, it is hard to not know a friend or a relative who has not served time during WWII, The Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf in the 80s and 90s, or recently in Iraq or Afghanistan.

While tens of countries have had histories that span millennia, and where they have experienced times of peace, the United States was born from war, and has spent most of its short history in and out of war. My great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents have all served bravely for the United States, and it has influenced their interactions and decisions when raising me.

The reason I chose this film in particular is because it centers on saving one soldier at the risk of eight others. It depicts the values of sacrifice, duty, and can in turn represent the extensive sacrifices given to make America what it is today. It also gives a clearer, more gruesome picture into the effects that war has on the people involved. I believe that this film represents so much of this nation's mindset and its history that influences our daily interactions.