American Culture Research Articles

Whiteness construction in South Korean digital spaces: Oliver-ssaem’s strategic identity-distancing for visibility on YouTube

Oliver-ssaem, a White American and former English teacher in South Korea, has risen to prominence as a YouTube content creator exploring both Korean and American cultures. His intentional role as a cultural intermediary between Korea and the U.S. highlights how he strategically employs his Whiteness to enhance visibility. When targeting Korean viewers, Oliver-ssaem not only praises and endorses the excellence of Korean culture and products but also highlights negative aspects of U.S. culture. The perceived value of his endorsement and mediation of U.S. culture is rooted in Oliver-ssaem’s embodiment of a desirable, objective, and progressive Whiteness, inadvertently perpetuating global White hegemony. By examining his visibility strategy through the lens of the historical and cultural relationship between the U.S. and Korea, we argue for a localized and contextualized analysis of the commodification of Whiteness, particularly in Asian digital spaces.

Weekend (Keyboard) Warriors: Differences in Social Media Consumption and Production Between NFL and College Football Fans

Sports fans are often some of the most passionate groups of fans and the use of social media can intensify those feelings, both in expressing their feelings and consumption of content. Football fans are a unique group in American sports culture, but how much difference is there within that group in terms of these behaviors? Using a social identity approach, this manuscript analyzed the degree to which team identification and fan identification played a role in the social media consumption and production in college football and National Football League (NFL) fans. A total of 586 fans responded to a survey that examined respondent’s team and fan identification, as well as social media consumption, creation, and sharing behaviors. Results indicated that college football fans generally identified with fellow fans of their favorite football team and consumed, created, and shared social media more frequently and with greater intensity than their NFL counterparts. Key differences between college football and NFL fans included fan identification predicted social media consumption and creation, while team identification predicted social media sharing among both college and NFL fans.

Intersubjectivity, Ethics in Times of Crisis and Objective Idealism as a Philosophical System: An Interview with Vittorio Hösle

Vittorio Hösle is internationally highly regarded for his attempt to revive objective idealism – the philosophical line along which he situates the positions of Plato, Aristotle, most medieval philosophers, Spinoza, Leibniz, Schelling, Hegel, but also Peirce and Whitehead – as a philosophical system capable of holding together the transcendental dimension of synthetic a priori judgments with the intelligibility and objectivity of being. In this interview, he discusses his work over the past decades, starting from the “Philosophische Lehrjahre” (“years of philosophical apprenticeship”) between Regensburg, Tübingen, Bochum and Freiburg and from the meetings with masters and significant interlocutors (such as Tóth, Thieme, Wandschneider, Beierwaldes, Lohr, Böckenförde, without forgetting Apel and Jonas). Multiple themes dot the path of thought retraced in this dialogue: from the rethematization of Hegel’s (and Vico’s) objective idealism through transcendental pragmatics to the delineation of the relationship between ethics and politics via a theory of the social and the intent of a normative foundation; from the need for a thought that faces the ecological crisis to the reinterpretation of sociobiology; and finally, from the project of an intersubjectively valid understanding to the importance of a theory of comedy. What emerges is the philosophical self-portrait of a cosmopolitan intellectual who was able to grasp the best from inherited and acquired cultural traditions: German culture, inherited from his father; Italian culture, inherited from his mother; and American culture, acquired by moving to the USA. The interview was realised on 17 April 2024 at the University of Trento, as part of the second series of lectures “Voices from Contemporary Philosophy”.

The Female Body and the Environment: A Transnational Study of Mo Yan’s Feng ru Fei tun, Murakami Haruki’s Nejimaki-dori Kuronikuru, and Gabriel García Márquez’s El amor en los tiempos del cólera

The female body is often depicted in parallel with the environment in many literary works. This article examines how the female body can prompt a rethinking of the environment by analyzing three literary works, Mo Yan’s Feng ru Fei tun, published in 1996 Murakami Haruki’s Nejimaki-dori Kuronikuru, published in 1994-1995, and Gabriel García Márquez’s El amor en los tiempos del cólera, published in 1985, which root in Chinese, Japanese, and Latin American cultures, respectively. This paper argues that, on the one hand, the female body parallels the environment by displaying non-human characteristics and relating to natural elements in these three works; on the other hand, it deconstructs the boundary between the environment and humans by playing a crucial role in constructing human identity. This paper draws on theories of posthumanism, material feminism, and ecofeminism to explore the depiction of the female body and its role in rethinking the environment. The cultural hybridity of local and non-local worldviews—a key reason for situating this study within a transnational comparative framework—serves as a crucial element in demonstrating how the female body bridges the environment and human identity across all three works. This analysis aims to deconstruct the anthropocentric perspective on the environment, thereby rethinking the role of the female body in this context.

Immigrants and their children assimilate into US society and the US economy, both in the past and today.

We contribute to the public debate on immigration policy in the United States by providing a long-term, empirical perspective. We develop a novel method of linking individuals across historical Census waves to trace the lives of millions of immigrants in the past and compare their outcomes with immigrants today. We document that upward mobility is just as possible for immigrants today as it was in the early 20th century, and that children of immigrant parents catch up to and frequently exceed the economic outcomes of the children of US-born parents. By our measures, immigrants as a group are no more likely to be incarcerated than those born in the United States, and they assimilate into American culture today at rates comparable to historical standards. Attitudes toward immigrants today are more positive than a century ago, albeit more polarized by political party.

Abstract PR012: Social and Structural Influences of Preventive Cancer Screenings for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Adults in Hawaiʻi

Abstract Background: Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) are hindered by sociocultural, geographic, and environmental factors that contribute to cancer health disparities, often masked by aggregated data with Asian Americans. An average of 7,393 Hawai‘i residents are diagnosed with invasive cancer yearly, and rates are disproportionate ethnically; . Native Hawaiians and Micronesians suffer higher mortality rates for breast cancer (24.9 and 21.6 per 100,000) than White women (17.0). This study aims to investigate social drivers of health behaviors among NHPI in Hawaiʻi by examining social factors that influence cancer screenings through mixed methods. Methods: This mixed methods study is a follow-up to a cross-sectional survey administered in 2018 to 3 Pacific Islander ethnic subgroups: Native Hawaiians, Chuukese, and Marshallese in Hawaiʻi using Respondent Driven Sampling within public housing (N=1,010 NHPI). Disparate cancer screening practices were uncovered within these groups when compared to Hawaiʻi state data. Logistic regression was used to analyze predictors of colon, breast, and cervical cancer screenings. The Gelberg Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations and socio-ecological model served as the theoretical models. To triangulate the findings, 16 semi-structured interviews with adults living within the communities first surveyed were conducted in 2023 to uncover any additional drivers of health behaviors that the regression missed. Results: Quantitative findings include cultural/linguistic misunderstandings between NHPI and healthcare providers. Participants who indicated difficulty understanding a provider’s instructions because of language were 51% less likely to be screened for cervical cancer (p = .04). Individuals who hold neutral acculturation to both their ethnic and American culture are less likely to be screened for cancer. Those whose responses fell in a neutral category were 40% less likely than those with a high ethnic identity to have had a colon cancer screening (p = .02). Qualitative findings demonstrate differing views among Pacific Islander groups including competition for resources between groups within public housing. All of the interviewees highlight the role of God and faith in decision making. Informational exchanges take place mainly within the family and cohabitants. From triangulating the findings, there is a lack of strong social ties/networks that could facilitate health-based resources and knowledge. Families are not discussing self-care or family histories of disease, which are instrumental in the early detection of cancers and missed within the regression. Conclusion: This study provides insight into the social drivers of cancer screenings for NHPI communities in Hawaiʻi. Novel insights for the fields of medical sociology and public health are highlighted by influential social processes to NHPI cancer screening behaviors. Recommendations include further research and programs that focus on and foster social dynamics of these communities in relation to cancer screenings. Citation Format: Mark L. Willingham Jr., Kevin Cassel, Wei Zhang, Tressa P. Diaz, Angela Sy, Ian Pagano, Munirih R. Ta'afaki, Angelina G. Mummert. Social and Structural Influences of Preventive Cancer Screenings for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Adults in Hawaiʻi [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PR012.

Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture (IMLS)

Museum Grants for American Latino History and Culture (IMLS)

Philadelphia Chinatown’s cultural image construction since the 1960s

Philadelphia Chinatown, an immigration hub with diverse cultures, is a vibrant ethnic enclave in Pennsylvania. It has a long history of being secluded due to national sentiments as well as persecution and fighting against urban construction projects. Through the analysis of Philadelphia Chinatown’s social structure and iconic features, this paper analyzes the Chinatown society’s cultural image construction since the 1960s, and further discusses its changing cultural patterns in the American society. It is argued in this paper that: Philadelphia Chinatown, mainly comprised of poor peasants and wealthy merchants in an early stage, is based on commerce; its cultural image was constructed by Orientalism, stemming from both the internal organizations of the community and external society, and took roots on its commercial basis; the Chinese traditions in the Chinatown society are comparatively static, while, on the other hand, the community’s culture is infiltrated by American cultures, making connections with indigenous societies.

The Spiritual Journey of Chinese Americans Viewed from the Cultural Connotation of The Joy Luck Club

Chinese-American writers who live in both Chinese and American cultures are the most sensitive to cultural conflict and integration. Amy Tan is one of those writers who probe deeply into the relationship between the Chinese and American cultures. The Joy Luck Club, a novel that tells stories of four Chinese mothers and their American-born daughters, has caused a great sensation inside and outside the United States and made Tan a famous writer. From the perspective of intercultural communication, Cultural conflicts between four couples of mother and daughter, between husbands and wives arising from the difference in cultural background are looked into from the angles of Chinese obedience to parents and American independence and democracy, Chinese women’s submissiveness and American women’s independence, Chinese family’s honor and American individual achievement, Chinese high-context culture and American low- context culture, Chinese superstition and American science. The causes of the conflicts are also discussed in the aspects of Chinese culture and American culture. Chinese mothers are deeply influenced by the concept of "Three Obedience and Four Virtues", "Resign oneself to Adversity", Etc. However, American daughters are born in the culture that emphasizes "Individualism, Equality, Independence and Freedom." In this thesis, it is also put forward that despite the conflicts, mutual compatibility of two cultures is unavoidable and an inescapable tendency, which reflects the development from the clash to the coexistence of the two cultures in the context of globalization.

Necro-branding: Elvis Presley as a necro-celebrity

ABSTRACT A myriad of investigations has examined the life and works of Elvis Presley from music, entertainment, and cultural perspectives. There is little doubt about his remarkable longevity and marketability. Yet, surprisingly, there has been little scholarly work attempting to explain the entertainer’s impact on a global scale, specifically from a branding perspective. Drawing from the emerging stream of research on necro-marketing, we introduce the novel concept of ‘necro-branding’ and associated, ‘necro-celebrity’, into the literature. We develop insights into consumer comments of 13,000 Elvis Presley YouTube videos via sentiment and lexical analyses. Key themes emerging from that investigation provide insights into that new concept of necro-branding. In particular, religion, musical talent, American culture, ceremonial and ritualistic elements, affect capturing, and mystical aura ‘the eternal’ resulted from our analysis. While these themes relate specifically to Elvis Presley, we argue, they would also be directly applicable to other famous dead celebrities, or as we now coin the term, necro-celebrities. Finally, theory stemming from our analysis presents a framework to explain a fan and other stakeholders (Elvis Presley Enterprises EPE, family, impersonators, festival organisers, Graceland) co-created Elvis brand that may have equal applicability to other necro-celebrities, just with different context.

Frames of Glass: Goldfish and Gender in Paint, Performance, and Print, 1870–1914

Abstract: This article draws upon examples from fiction, popular journalism, travel writing, theatre, and fine art from 1870 to 1914 to trace the evolving representation of goldfish in relation to shifting attitudes toward women in British and American culture. Beautiful and domesticated, yet quiet, unobtrusive, and often confined to its own miniature domestic "sphere," the goldfish seemed initially to parallel the domestic wife and had been used to naturalize domestic ideology. In the 1870s and 1880s, however, the importation of fancy goldfish with different and exaggerated morphological traits unsettled what the Victorians had taken to be self-evident and natural about this species and, by extension, their own. I argue that, at a time when the gender debate was inflected by biologically deterministic arguments about women's "natural" societal roles, the figure of the goldfish became a remarkably flexible discursive tool to grapple with (or endorse) the changing economic and social trajectories of Anglo-American women. A hitherto unexamined alternative to the quintessential Victorian image of the "bird in the cage," this study of the goldfish and its bowl provides insight into how the Victorians' confrontation with other species encouraged them to look more critically at themselves.

The Influence of American Popular Culture on Chinese English Majors: A Structural Equation Modelling Study

Over the past 40 years, China has become progressively more open and integrated into globalization, including foreign-made movies and TV shows. The influence of American popular culture extends to English majors, who are among the most likely to be shaped by Hollywood’s ‘soft power.’ This research examines how their attitudes and behaviors are influenced by these depictions of American culture and values, and how this shapes their future career paths. A questionnaire (N = 497) was given to English majors at seven universities and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Some of the research literature suggests that Hollywood films particularly promote American visible culture; however, this study finds that non-visible aspects of culture (values, beliefs, lifestyles) are by far the most significant predictor of English majors’ image of America, their behavior, and potentially their future teaching practice. In doing so, Hollywood plays an important role in influencing the perceptions of Chinese English majors, including possibly challenging their value system.

Integrating Intercultural Competence into a Neuroscience Curriculum through a Short-Term Study Abroad Program.

We sought to enrich our neuroscience curriculum by developing a study abroad program that would address curricular goals and requirements at several levels. "Neuroscience and Technology in Germany" was designed to include a diversity of participants, integrate intercultural competence in participants, fulfill university core curriculum requirements, build on the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) foundation of our major, and fulfill major electives. We also hoped that it would serve as a synthetic experience allowing students to integrate foundational coursework with novel ideas and real-world research applications. We developed an itinerary that balanced multiple activities to meet those goals. We included scientific visits, STEM-focused museums, and significant cultural and historical sites. Scientific visits covered a range of topics in the field of neuroscience including cellular and pharmacological neuroscience, development, cognition, mental illness, artificial intelligence, and the mind-body problem. Pre-visit academic activities included review lectures on general topics (e.g., visual system), scaffolded literature reading, and discussion of previous literature from our hosts. Post-visit academic activities integrated previous foundational curriculum with new research. Cultural historical activities encouraged comparison between a student's home culture, predominant North American culture, and German culture. The first iteration was successful academically and logistically. In post-program surveys, 87.5% of students felt the program had met the learning objectives (n=16). Students agreed that scientific visits and preparatory lectures were relevant to the learning objectives, together with several cultural and historical visits. Students responded positively to an outing to the mountains and found a concentration camp memorial visit moving. They nearly universally reported that the program led to their personal growth. Students did not find several guided tours of STEM-related sites were relevant to our learning objectives, and opinions were mixed as to the balance of structured vs. unstructured time, balance of scientific vs. historical/cultural activities, and how to schedule free time. Students asked for more scientific background preparation, so we modified the upcoming iteration to include a "Neuroscience Boot Camp" prior to departure. We also selected guided tours more carefully and modified scheduling according to student feedback.

Have You Eaten?

Abstract Throughout history, empires have promised perpetual peace and justice for all; however, they have constantly bathed in blood while expanding their colonies and control. This paper intends to explore the theological concept of peacemaking from the experiences of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (uccp) and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (prok), both of which suffered from U.S. (neo)colonialism. It also aims to study how we can live faithfully amidst the empire by decolonizing theology and the church. To achieve this, I will begin by reviewing the concept of peace as proclaimed by empires, from the Roman to the American, and contrast it with the biblical concept of peace. This will be followed by analyzing and evaluating the impact of the received colonial American Protestant cultures and the churches’ responses to the colonial gospel. The final part will propose peace as a way of peacemaking amid the empire. This paper suggests that the concept of peacemaking is essential to decolonizing theology, particularly the theology of sallim (life-giving).

Applying Latin American Cultural and Literary Studies to Diversity Management Education

In today’s business environment, where Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) efforts are more prominent than ever, organizational leaders must be equipped to address complex interpersonal issues. In this exercise, we present an experiential exercise that provides a framework for addressing complex interpersonal issues in the workplace. The exercise utilizes some of the tenets of testimonio, a theory grounded in Latin American cultural and literary studies to guide the discussion of mini-cases. This exercise guides students through the understanding of interpersonal workplace scenarios, taking into account the experiences of employees from both social and legal perspectives, and developing multiple solutions while anticipating the consequences of those solutions. This exercise was developed with in-person graduate or undergraduate classes in mind.

Comparative Study on Quorum Modulatory Effect of Selected Medicinal Plants on Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472 (MTCC 2656)

Among the main global health concern is the rampant rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria. One of the appealing and promising strategies to combat this menace is to target the adaptive mechanism called quorum sensing (QS) used by bacteria to survive. Exploratory research on anti-QS compounds derived from natural products has been a promising area. The present study investigated methanolic extracts from 26 plants to compare their anti-QS activity using the QS biosensor strain Chromobacterium violaceum American Type Culture Collection (ATCC 12472) (Microbial Type Culture Collection MTCC2656). QS-mediated violacein pigment inhibition was carried out using agar well diffusion method with concentrations ranging from 10 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml. Leaf extracts of Mangifera indica and Pimenta dioica and peel extract of Punica granatum were the only three plants found to exhibit violacein inhibitory potential till 10 mg/ml. The result of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed 1.6 mg/ml for M. indica and P. dioica and 6.25 mg/ml for P. granatum. Further, violacein inhibitory properties of these extracts at and below MIC were evaluated by well diffusion assay (qualitative) and by flask incubation assay (quantitative). The zone of inhibition (well diffusion assay) was found to be 14.51 ± 0.63 mm to 10.37 ± 0.68mm for M. indica, 15.23 ± 0.57 mm to 9.62 ± 1.29 mm for P. granatum and 17.01 ± 0.1 mm to 13.14 ± 0.18 mm for P. dioica. The inhibitory effect of the plant extracts via quantitative assay on violacein ranged from 83-49%, 89-81%, and 89-49% for M. indica, P. granatum, and P. dioica respectively. Our findings suggested the potential of M. indica, P. granatum, and P. dioica methanolic extracts as a source of effective inhibitors of QS-mediated violacein production.

Religious Coping Styles Used by Young Black Women Who Experience Dating Violence.

Young Black women experience higher rates of dating violence victimization compared to their White peers. Religion is a cornerstone of African American culture, suggesting that Black women may use religious coping after experiencing trauma like dating violence. However, research has not explored the patterns of religious coping following dating violence experiences. The current study analyzed survey data from 481 young Black women aged 18-19 years on their religious coping behaviors, acceptance of violence beliefs, and dating violence victimization experiences. Results showed that victimization was positively associated with negative religious coping. Findings indicate that one way young Black women cope with dating violence victimization is through feelings of spiritual discontent, and they may see their victimization as a punishment from God.

Differences in Language Communication Between Chinese and American Cultures

With globalization advancing, intercultural communication has become frequent, making language crucial for cultural exchange. As influential countries, China and the United States exhibit significant cultural differences in their communication styles. Chinese culture values politeness and subtlety, often favoring indirect expression, while American culture emphasizes direct and clear communication. These differences extend to non-verbal communication as well. Understanding and respecting these differences is essential for enhancing cooperation in politics, economy, and education. This paper explores the main differences in language communication between Chinese and American cultures, analyzes the misunderstandings and conflicts these differences cause, and proposes improvement strategies. The goal is to provide insights for intercultural communication, education, and training to cultivate global talents and foster a harmonious international environment. The paper is divided into five parts: the first introduces the relationship between language and culture and the cultural backgrounds of China and the United States; the second analyzes cultural differences in language communication; the third explores misunderstandings and conflicts; the fourth proposes strategies for improving intercultural communication; and the fifth summarizes the findings and suggests future research directions.

Survival Politics and Sacrificial Transmediation: Liu Xiaobo and Signature Event Context

ABSTRACT This article interrogates the medial politics of 2010 Nobel Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo through a re-situation of Marc Abélès’s concept of “survival politics.” It understands Liu’s energetic self-representation in multiple media as an attempt to produce a usable Derridean signature, connections between texts and contexts that allow for cohesion inside endangered communities, as well as methods by which to contest dominant narratives. By reading Liu’s graduate thesis, “Aesthetics and Human Freedom,” alongside Derrida’s essay “Signature Event Context,” this article theorizes that minoritarian discourses that face erasure often choose vigorous transmedial production, self-sacrificially constraining their own freedoms in order to work toward the improbable appearance of signed texts. The article finishes by raising the possibility that the politics of authenticity and hypervisibility in contemporary African American intellectual culture are also interpretable through the lens of self-sacrificial hypermediation.

Priming “American carnage:” reality television and Donald J. Trump

ABSTRACT This essay uncovers how and why so many U.S. Americans so easily and so gleefully accepted the tenets of Donald J. Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) platform by arguing that U.S. American culture was effectively primed for MAGA values through reality television (RTV) consumption. At a nexus of genres that include “man v. nature,” “redneck,” “dirty” job romanticization, and “copaganda,” RTV primed the U.S. for Trumpism by presenting audiences with a harsh, violent, and nostalgic view of reality in an altogether entertaining format. This essay positions three RTV programs—Ice Road Truckers, Swamp People, and Appalachian Outlaws—as useful heuristics in demonstrating how RTV further foregrounded MAGA values of white hegemony, hegemonic masculinity, carnivalesque violence, and nostalgia in American culture.