THEATRE DRAFT: United States & Australian Culture

[FlameMaster5]

Hey guys, I have a draft I have to present to my school board, but I'm going to write it as if it's really the paper. It's due MONDAY, so I gotta work hard...

NOTE: If there be any additions, it'll be in RED.

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UNITED STATES & AUSTRALIAN CULTURE

The United States and Australia are very unique countries, and they have many similarties and differences. From their beginnings to modern day living, these two countries have been shaped by a variety of people and their cultures.

The culture of the United States has been developing since long before it ever became a country. Its main early influence was British culture due to the connection with colonies. That spread the English language, legal system and other cultural inheritances. Other influences came from Ireland, Germany, Italy, Poland and Africa because of the large amount of immigrants. Native American culture, too, was stirred into this melting pot.

The culture of Austalia did not become a variety of culture until after World War II. The country launched a massive immigration program, believing it should "populate or perish". More than two million people immigrated to Australia from Britain and other countries such as Greece, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Yugoslavia also became major sources of immigrants. Turkey and Lebanon later came into the mix as well. This wave of immigration greatly changed the character of Australia's society, which before had been monocultural, inward-looking and conservative.

The United States and Australia's cultures began similarly using immigrants. Over time, the two countries have become well-built and bearers of multicultural people. Despite that, however, there is major differences between the "land of the free" and the "land Down Under". What about culture today?

In modern day United States, the primary language is American English. According to the 2000 U.S Census, more than 97% of Americans can speak English well, and for 81% it is the only language spoken at home. There are more than 300 languages besides English which can claim native speakers in the United States. The deaf mainly uses American Sign Language, which is also native to the country. Even with a common standard language, however, there are four major dialects in the United States--northeastern, south, inland north and midlands. The Midlands accent, considered the "standard accent" in the United States, extends from what were once the "Middle Colonies" across the Midwest to the Pacific states.

In Australia today, the Austalian English is the most common out of 234 living languages. The English language in Austalia is truly distinguished. Austalian English is somewhat different from other English speaking countries. Australians have their own styles and characters in using the language, vocabulary, pronunciation and accent. Like most cultures, Australia has its own share slang words, metaphors and phrases that sets the country apart from others. Their own special words and phrases is called strine.


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I'm not finished yet, but it's a start. :]

[FlameMaster5]

To continue...

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UNITED STATES & AUSTRALIAN CULTURE

The United States and Australia are very unique countries, and they have many similarties and differences. From their beginnings to modern day living, these two countries have been shaped by a variety of people and their cultures.

The culture of the United States has been developing since long before it ever became a country. Its main early influence was British culture due to the connection with colonies. That spread the English language, legal system and other cultural inheritances. Other influences came from Ireland, Germany, Italy, Poland and Africa because of the large amount of immigrants. Native American culture, too, was stirred into this melting pot.

The culture of Austalia did not become a variety of culture until after World War II. The country launched a massive immigration program, believing it should "populate or perish". More than two million people immigrated to Australia from Britain and other countries such as Greece, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Yugoslavia also became major sources of immigrants. Turkey and Lebanon later came into the mix as well. This wave of immigration greatly changed the character of Australia's society, which before had been monocultural, inward-looking and conservative.

The United States and Australia's cultures began similarly using immigrants. Over time, the two countries have become well-built and bearers of multicultural people. Despite that, however, there is major differences between the "land of the free" and the "land Down Under". What about modern living and culture today?

In the United States, the primary language is American English. According to the 2000 U.S Census, more than 97% of Americans can speak English well, and for 81% it is the only language spoken at home. There are more than 300 languages besides English which can claim native speakers in the United States. The deaf mainly uses American Sign Language, which is also native to the country. Even with a common standard language, however, there are four major dialects in the United States--northeastern, south, inland north and midlands. The Midlands accent, considered the "standard accent" in the United States, extends from what were once the "Middle Colonies" across the Midwest to the Pacific states.

In Australia, the Austalian English is the most common out of 234 living languages. The English language in Austalia is truly distinguished. Austalian English is somewhat different from other English speaking countries. Australians have their own styles and characters in using the language, vocabulary, pronunciation and accent. Like most cultures, Australia has its own share of slang words, metaphors and phrases that sets the country apart from others. Their own special words and phrases is called strine.

Recent business for the United States and Australia are very much alike. The two countries both have a large variety of jobs and the work is similar. From political business to farming, the United States and Australia appear to have the same tastes in jobs.

In the United States educational system children are required to attend school from the age of five or six. Typically, students graduate from high school at age eighteen. Although, many states allow students to drop out of school at age sixteen. The public education systems vary from one state to another, but generally a student goes though kindergarten to grade 12 (K12). There are preschools for the younger students, which are generally not part of the educational system. Along with public schools, there are private schools and religion-based schools too.

In Australia, school is compulsory between the ages of six and sixteen with, in recent years, more students are staying on until they are eighteen. Government schools educate about two-thirds of Australian students, with the other third in independent schools, a proportion which is rising in many parts of Australia. Government schools are generally free, while independent schools charge fees. Regardless of whether a school is government or independent, they are required to study the same curriculum frameworks.

The types of food served at home in the United States vary greatly and depend upon the region of the country and the family's own cultural heritage. Recent immigrants tend to eat food similar to that of their country of origin, and Americanized versions of these cultural foods. German cuisine also had a profound impact on American cuisine. Around the world the United States is well known for its numerous and successful fast food franchises, though. Such chains known for selling prerepared meals of foods such as hamburgers, french fries, soft drinks, fried chicken and ice cream. Though popular, such food has been criticized by dietitians in recent decades for being unhealthy and a cause of obesity. It has thus become somewhat of a stereotype to associate American cuisine with obesity and junk food. Yet, fast food represents only a tiny fraction of available American cuisine.

Modern Australian cuisine has been heavily influenced by the country's South-East Asian neighbours, and by the many waves of immigrants from there, and all parts of the world. Fresh produce is readily available and thus used extensively, and the trend (urged by long-term government health initiatives) is towards low-salt, low-fat healthy cookery incorporating lean meat and lightly cooked, colourful, steamed or stir-fried vegetables. Australia's wide variety of seafood is also popular and barbecues are common at weekend family gatherings. Some English trends are still evident in domestic cuisine as well.

Historically, the United States' religious tradition has been dominated by Protestant Christianity. Today over three quarter of Americans identify as Christian with a slight majority identifying as Protestant (56%). Catholics (27%) are the largest Christian denomination as Protestants belong to a variety of denominations. Some parts of the population are Atheist. There are also the religions Judaism, Hinduism and Islam. The government is a secular institution, with what is often called the "separation of church and state" prevailing.

Religion in Australia is diverse: there is no state religion, the establishment of which is prohibited by the Constitution. At the time of European settlement, the Indigenous Australians had their own religious traditions of the Dreamtime (as Mircea Eliade put it) There is a general belief among the Australians that the world, man, and the various animals and plants were created by certain Supernatural beings who afterwards disappeared, either ascending to the sky or entering the earth (Eliade, 1973, p. 1). and ritual systems, with an emphasis on life transitions such as puberty and death (Berndt, 1974, pp. 4-5).

There is a wide variety of holidays in the United States. New Year's Eve/Day, Valentine's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are only the commonly known holidays celebrated. There are many more holidays that honor certain people and events as well.

In Australia, there is a broad mixture of holidays as well. New Year's Eve/Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter, Anzac Day, Queen's Birthday, Christmas and Boxing Day(except in South Australia). Much like the United States, there is many other holidays that honor certain people and events too.

Icons that represent the United States are the following: apple pie, hamburgers, Uncle Sam, the World Trade Center, etc. Some of these icons have been around for centuries, some have newly arrived in the United States' culture. Each of them, however, represents some part of this free land.

Icons in Australia are the following: vegemite, Fosters, Weet-Bix, Lamingtons, Hills Hoist, Australia Zoo, Steve Irwin, R.M Williams, etc. Many of these icons are food, important people, places and ways to live easier lives in Australia. This goes to show that the land "Down Under" is very unique.

When comparing the United States and Australia, you see the many differences and similarities. Both countries are a mixture of many cultures and the people living there are the ones who made the countries great. The United States and Austalia had many of the same immigrants settling within them, yet they are now truly individual countries. From their government to their usual way of life, they both can see eye-to-eye as well as set each other apart.




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OK... I think I'm finished with this draft. @_@ I'm going to check it and then send it in. If it needs any rivision, my teacher will let me know before the real paper. Hopefully I won't have to change much, if any at all. Phew...

[Deleted]

toom uhc info, but i'm sure it will be goo.d I'll read it when i have the time

[FlameMaster5]

Too much is better than too little. ;]