5,086
edits
Eagle Land: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
Line 43:
* [[Lovecraft Country]]
* [[Motor City]]
* [[Only in Florida]] and its offshot [[Only in Miami]]
* [[Oppressive States of America]]: Left-leaning works with Oppressive may have an Eagleland type 2.
* [[Sweet Home Alabama]]
Line 74:
=== Literature ===
* ''[[Dracula (novel)|Dracula]]'' has a pretty good example of type 1 in Quincey Morris. One of Lucy's three suitors, he's presented as a cowboy-type from Texas, informal but friendly and honorable. Strangely, although repeatedly described by his friends as a man of action, he doesn't engage in all that much of it {{spoiler|until he suffers a mortal wound fighting the gypsies that protect Dracula's coffin at the end and striking one of the fatal blows to kill Dracula.}}
* Subverted by [[Oscar Wilde]] in ''The Canterville Ghost''. "Americans have everything in common with us now-a-days except the Language."
=== Live-Action TV ===
Line 84:
* "American Woman," originally by The Guess Who, painted the U.S. as Flavor 2. Then Lenny Kravitz [[Covered Up|covered it up]] with a funk remix and a music video with American flags, hot girls on choppers and muscle cars, and [[Heather Graham]] dancing on top of a bus. Because of that, it's today regarded as more Flavor 1 in style regardless of its lyrics. Incidentally, The Guess Who claimed ''American Woman'' was never intended to be anti-American in the first place.
** Considering the man who wrote the song later took American citizenship, [[This Troper]] is inclined to believe them.
* The song "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VTcJfL7RE Hollywood]" by Marina and the Diamonds provides a subversion. The visuals and constant reference to the American Dream are in the patriotic, freedom-searching-immigrants, dream-granting ideal of America—but the message is negative, causing a sort of [[Stepford Smiler]] result.
* [[Blur (band)|Blur]]'s song "Magic America", which is about a man who moves to America entirely because of this view of the country.
Line 102:
** Jennifer, in the Japanese version, routinely blurts out incredibly stereotypical American things: "Jesus!", "Oh my gaw!", and "OH!", for starters.
** Turn the [[Greek Chorus]] on in the DS port, and when Gordon tells Carter to have a parade ready for his triumphant return, and the Prinny says "This is a typical American victory speech. And let's not forget the 'smart American' joke, either."
* Subverted in ''[[EVE Online]]:'' the Gallente Federation is clearly modeled on the United States (more type 1). Everyone drinks their soft drinks and watches their entertainment, they bang on about freedom all the time, and their government has a Senate, President, and Supreme Court. The subversion? They're actually ''French''.
* ''[[Street Fighter II]]'' introduced Guile. Guile is a tattooed, buff military man, but he's a decent guy and is considered one of the good guys, even becoming the main character in some Western adaptations.
* ''[[Persona 2]]'' has Mr. Tominaga, a chiropractor who is obsessed with American culture. He has patches such as NASA and FBI on his jacket, wears a red and white striped shirt and a blue with white stars tie, has an American flag in his office, and is convinced that his [[Goldfinger|Goldfingeeeeers]] can cure anything. Interestingly enough, he's Japanese but studied chiropractic in America. Amusingly, wearing a FBI patch, depending on context, could be a full on federal crime in the United States. Pretending to be a law enforcement officer is serious business.
Line 117:
* The Dydo company brings you [http://www.examiner.com/caffeine-in-national/how-japan-sees-american-coffee American Coffee].
{{quote|''That is why this amazingly detailed can of "American Coffee" is so attractive - all the cliche glamor of an All American Can, filled with everything the iconic sleazy american lives for! Bad taste? check. Sexy stripper grls? Check! Cool classic car? Check! There is even the american flag with groovy 60's lettering!''}}
* This [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/04/independence-day-2011-google-logo-4th-of-july_n_889636.html Google.com logo] for the 4th of July, 2011 is filled with all sorts of American patriotic marks, including a bald eagle and a surburban house
Line 138:
* Episodes 10 and 11 of ''[[Genshiken]]'' Season 2. Angela is shown as riding roughshod over all cultural sensitivities in Japan, in an almost painful caricature.
* ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' contains a particularly obnoxious example of type 2 in the infamous episode 10; a major plot point revolves around the "American Empire" sanctioning their forces to commit atrocious war crimes in South America, which might have been marginally forgivable given the series' alternate-future setting (in which [[All There in the Manual|supplemental materials]] reveal that America has undergone a second Civil War), but the depiction of the Japanese-American characters as ugly, condescending, manipulative cowards really has no excuse. Needless to say, some American fans like to [[Fanon Discontinuity|ignore that episode]].
** It is worth noting that the "American Empire" is NOT the United States, but one of two break-away nations from the US, with the other being the far-left ''
* The ''[[You're Under Arrest]]: No Mercy'' special had the two [[Lovely Angels]] of the show-who already have a reputation in their traffic department back in Tokyo for excessive "enthusiasm"-go on an exchange program of sorts to Los Angeles, where they are allowed to hunt down stolen car and gun dealers with shotguns. The other [[Inexplicably Identical Individuals]], and members of the LAPD for that matter, see nothing wrong with threatening to shoot a suspect for being "criminal scum".
* Early '90s show ''[[Mad Bull 34]]'' sends a Japanese policeman on exchange to New York's 34th precinct to be [[Buddy Cop Show|buddies]] with "Sleepy" John Estes, the most violent cop on the force, who cleans up the [[Big Applesauce|Big Apple]]'s crime problem with shotguns, grenades, and a wanton disregard for legal procedure.
Line 187:
* Seen in ''[[In Bruges]]'' with the overweight American tourists, and then lampshaded when Ray picks a fight with one couple over [[The Vietnam War]] and the assassination of [[John Lennon]]. He feels no remorse until [[Mistaken Nationality|he learns]] that they're [[Canada, Eh?|Canadian]].
* In the German film ''Kein Bund F?rs Leben'' the Americans (especially the commander) are mostly type 2 but with a subversion: The German soldiers are worse!
* The American president in ''[[Love Actually]]'' fits neatly into the second category, a combination of Bill Clinton (a sleazy womanizer) and George W. Bush (bullying behavior and accent). When England's prime minister (played by Hugh Grant, of course) tells him off, it is portrayed as his defining moment as a leader. It should be noted that the President here is played by Billy Bob Thornton, of ''Sling Blade'' and Angelina Jolie-marrying fame.
* All of [[Lars
=== Literature ===
Line 197:
* Ditto for Ian Fleming's [[James Bond]] novels involving Americans (''[[The Spy Who Loved Me]]'', ''[[Goldfinger]]'' and ''[[Diamonds Are Forever]]''): No sentence is complete without at least one "buster", "buddy" or "...see?"
* In ''Partners In Crime'' [[Agatha Christie]] depicts an abrasive American who calls Europe "Yurrop" (actually this pretty much is how Americans pronouce it). He's the bad guy.
* Let's just say most of the writers from the Latin-American [[Magic Realism]] movement had a [[Mister Danger|bad image]] of the USA and leave it at that. [[Gabriel García Márquez|García Marquez]]'s ''[[Autumm Of The Patriarch]]'' where americans appear as manipulative diplomats who literally [[Magic Realism|steal the sea]] at a moment of economic trouble in the country of the dictator.
* ''The Ugly American'' is about American foreign aid workers struggling to win hearts and minds for the USA while being sabotaged by a variety of flavor 2s.
=== Live-Action TV ===
* The "special relationship" between the US and UK is not universally approved-of, something which comes through in depictions of the US government (although generally not its people) modern UK shows. Take the penultimate episode of Series 3 of the
** In the same episode there is an example that is closer to the first stereotype. A trio of Buffalo Bills supporting teens watch the President Elect getting zapped live on TV, as they don't speak they are portrayed in Letterman Jackets/a Cheerleader outfit, eating fried chicken ''and'' pizza. The fried chicken tub has a star spangled banner on it, this probably meant to simply show that they are American to UK viewers. What, no cowboy hats nor six-shooters?
** Notably, the episode is presenting the President as a big prat who we want to see shot... while he's ''right'' that PM Saxon is a boob who's mismanaging the situation and not following protocol, and the President puts UNIT, a ''United Nations group'', in charge of the operation. Which is a wee bit of a disconnect.
** The first new series had the first Dalek captured by an American laboratory, populated by rich bastard Van Statten, Simmons, whose job largely consisted of torturing the Dalek, and an idiot security guard who didn't listen to the Doctor's advice. But the American ''women'' in that environment seem particularly strong and non-stereotypical, such as Van Statten's right-hand woman who eventually {{spoiler|has him mind-wiped and put in some city beginning with "S"}} and the brave young female trooper who faces down the Dalek on the stairs long enough to buy Rose and Adam enough time to escape. As depictions of Americans in [[Doctor Who]] goes, it's actually one of the better ones.
** During the first Christmas special of the
*** [[Hypocrite|She then winds up ordering Torchwood to shoot down the retreating enemy ship]].
** It's subverted a bit with the "Children of Earth" special for ''Torchwood''. The American general who shows up makes many (deserving) accusations against the British (in the context of this universe anyways) during his visit. There's even a bit of a nod towards the tendency towards Type 2 Eagle Land when at the end, the Prime Minister intends to save his career by blaming it all on America.
Line 217:
* ''[[A Bit of Fry and Laurie]]'' does this occasionally, notably in "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6riY-103vbc Kicking Ass]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUKOebCbINc From Here To Just Over There]".
* [[Kenny Everett]] had the bombastic [[General Ripper]] character of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJYZrVc1kCY General Cheeseburger] (the post-[[Watershed]] version was called General Bombthebastards), whose solution to every problem involved rounding up those responsible in a field and [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|bombing the bastards]]. Also his shoulderpads served as launch pads for ICBMs.
* In ''[[Spooks]]'' the ''Special Relationship'' between the UK and US leads to facepalm inducing situations that at the very least would be cause for armed conflict if it were occurring in a country which doesn't rollover like a dog on command. The behaviour of almost every American character, barring one, makes it seem that the US has continued the American Revolution into a Cold War.
** This dialog sums up many seasons of ''Spooks'':
{{quote|US Government: 'Sup UK, can we just kidnaps this random citizen in Wales without proof of any terrorist connections?
UK Government: Sure, you can even kill a civilian or two and we'll just pin it on a left-wing lobby group for the Opposition.
Line 268:
* Though you only see him for a minute in ''[[GoldenEye 007 (2010 video game)|Golden Eye Wii]]'', Sky Briggs is an unabashed Flavor 2 Eaglelander—he greets you with a friendly drawl, walks with a swaggering mosey, and confidently boasts that his "boys" are ready to face any threat with their [[There Is No Kill Like Overkill|superior firepower]].
* In ''[[World of Warcraft]] Cataclysm'', the new Goblin race are basically this, in spite of not even coming from America. A group of greedy industrialists with a 'money makes right' attitude, they exhibit shocking ignorance about the rest of the world, a mercantile ruthlessness that would be shocking if it weren't [[Played for Laughs]], the kind of taste in clothes that you'd expect from Paris Hilton, and an absolute belief that if you weren't born a goblin, you're not as good as they are. They're basically every negative stereotype of America, from trailer trash to Hollywood excess to robber barons, all rolled into one.
* ''[[Ben There, Dan That!]]'' features an alternate reality where the UK has been annexed as the 51st American state. Pretty much everything here is some form or other of gentle (or not-so-gentle) [[Take That]] to America. There's the portly guy sitting around in a miniscule castle calling himself the king, there's the shut-down fish and chip shop, and just listen to what they think of our beer when they visit the "authentic English pub" (the soulless American pisswater is the only thing the barman will serve. He's such a collossal pussy that he'll demand more ID than any rational person would carry before he'll serve the robust, flavorful, and actually-counts-as-alcoholic British lager).
** Wow, who knew "robust" was a synonym for "algae"?
Line 288:
{{quote|(original) '''Darla''': Mister Pussycat, listen to me; you don't have to be good, but you had better be...Big and Loud!...
(German) '''Darla''': Let me tell you my philosophy: you don't have to be good, just better than them! }}
* The Americans in the original series of ''[[Captain Scarlet]]'' have a tendency to be of the former variety- strapping men, near-glowing skin etc. They're also more likely to get the cliche lines (something that also held true in the newer series).
* ''[[Flushed Away]]'' features a stereotypical American tourist (a [[Everything Is Big in Texas|Texan]], to be exact) who teases the Royal Guards and complains how "these Brits don't know the first thing about football" while watching [[The World Cup]].
* A ''[[Pucca]]'' episode has an obnoxious rich American couple visiting Sooga to open a fast food restaurant. The food is addictive and highly fattening, causing everyone who eats it to become really fat and out of shape. The wife is also a materialistic shopaholic who goes on a rampage of branding things she wants to buy with a freaking branding iron! Including flammable things!
Line 295:
=== Other ===
* On the opposite end of [[Moe Anthropomorphism]] depictions from Japan, there's Meriken from ''[[Afganisu-tan]]'' web series. Unlike Alfred (America) from APH, Meriken is [[Anvilicious|very much Eagleland #2]]. She's first shown on the White House lawn, [[It's All About Me|singing that the whole world was made just for her]]. The 9/11 attacks, where over 3,000 people were killed, are shown as a stray cat (representing Osama bin-Laden) biting Meriken. She goes marauding and rampaging over a helpless, terrified Afganis-tan in response, destroying her home while trying to catch the mischevious cat. Then gives Afghanis-tan a stern warning to take more responsibility for her house so this doesn't happen again.
* John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman's podcast ''The Bugle'' has "the American" (played by Rory Albanese, whom Oliver works with on ''[[The Daily Show]]''), whose entire character is Flavor 2 of this trope. For instance, when told that the American dollar is neither the strongest currency in the world nor accepted in other countries: "I don't believe you."
* Type 2 is parodied in an article of ''The Onion'' [http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-china-to-overtake-us-as-worlds-biggest-assh,17277/ "China To Overtake US As World's Biggest Asshole by 2020"] suggesting that China's growing economic and military strength will make it the future equivalent to Type 2 America.
Line 302:
* There is a hilarious chapter in David Sedaris's book ''Me Talk Pretty One Day'' where Sedaris describes something that happened to him on the subway in Paris. He was standing near an American couple who played Flavor 2 straight as an arrow. They mistook Sedaris, an American, as a Frenchman and, not realizing that he is fluent in English, kept on referring to him as a "frog" who would likely try to pickpocket them if he had the chance. They were not aware of metro etiquette and were taking up way too much space, guarding the support bar they were using (intended for use by many people at once) as if it was their personal property. Sedaris described their dress as something like denim shorts tee-shirts and remarked (paraphrasing from memory), "That's great -- show up in a foreign country dressed like you're ready to mow their lawn."
* Latin America, or at least some parts of it, is actually the place where the USA is disliked—if not hated—the most, due mainly to its alleged involvement (which is by now [[Popcultural Osmosis]] whether it's true or not and [[Rule of Cautious Editing Judgment|let's not argue about that]]) during the Cold War in political movements against leftist popular governments. Specially the Cuban Revolution and the Presidential Crisis with Salvador Allende in Chile, which a lot of intelectuals blame the CIA for manipulating everything. Most books based on this events will portray Americans as hypocrites claiming words of peace while murdering hundreds and stealing the country's resources, and it's important to remember Fidel Castro and El Che are admired or idolized on a lot of parts of the continent, so the USA fear of communism and specially the Monroe Doctrine are not seen as good things. This is far from universal, tough, but it still is staggering for several Americans how hated they are in countries such as Chile and Guatemala and certain parts of others like Brazil or Mexico.
** Ironically,
* On May 5, 1986, ''The New Republic'' called the phrase "Worthwhile Canadian Initiative" [https://newrepublic.com/article/127231/worthwhile-canadian-initiative "possibly the most boring headline ever written"]. Way to recognize the benefits of your largest trading partner of the time, guys.
Line 365:
* As shows ''An American'', [[Rudyard Kipling]] saw it as mixed, presenting flavours as best and worst sides of the same trait, which can be defined as "childishness". Specific American characters in his books may or may not exhibit it (e.g. Laughton O. Zigler in ''The Captive'' sees he had it coming and is quite calm about his misfortune).
** On the other hand, Kipling married an American woman and lived in the United States for a while. He probably saw both good and bad while he lived here.
* ''Empires of Trust'' describes and compares and likens early to late Republican and Imperial Roman to American psychology of Empire building through historic examples.
* The Bronze Age characters in S.M. Stirling's [[Island in The Sea of Time|Nantucket]] series refer to the time-displaced Americans as "The Eagle People." Type 1 is represented by the Republic, Type 2 by Walker's slave-based empire.
* [[Ephraim Kishon]] wrote on America, among other things, that Americans believe:
| |||