AMERICAN CULTURE II LEISURE TIME IN AMERICA

American Culture 2
Course: American Culture II
Student’s name: PhanThi Thu Thuy (23/08/1982)
Class: English K13-CQQT
Write a 1000-word essay about:
Topic: Leisure time in America
How is the value of competition reflected in sport and other leisure activities in the
United States? What is the impact of media on America society?
The popularity of sport in the United States today is undeniable. Athletics have become
intertwined in the structure of family, friendship and business connections in this country, it can
be argued that sport plays a role in shaping the minds and lives of individuals of all ages.
So, in a social environment characterized by the executives of companies that make up
financial records, employee fraud staff. Not surprisingly, many athletes, coaches and sports
administrators choose to cheat in sports - whether in the classroom, in games, while recruiting,
or in gaining an advantage economical and competitive. Today, many coaches, athletes, sports
administrators and owners even think that "if you are not cheating, then you are not trying hard
enough to win”.
People from different racial, ethnic backgrounds can compete at same level. People from
different races and ethnic groups can compete at the same level. Sports like football, basketball,
soccer. However, sport also has been praised for teaching values. Parents, coaches, school and
university administrators, and many fans argue that young people can learn respect,
responsibility, discipline, sportsmanship and teamwork through participating in sports.
However, when winning becomes the main or only goal of coaches, athletes and parents, the
ability to develop characters will disappear and be replaced by the "winning-at-all-costs"
mentality. Some people feel that the desire to “win” at all cost may weaken American values. In
extremes, can lead to disorder and violence. Many are critical of the attitudes of coaches:
Encourage fighting and Hate losing (losers).
However, there is still a tradition of “honorable defeat” – losing to an opponent who
played well. Pressure to succeed can lead to violence in American sports – injuries are common.
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American Culture 2
Most Americans would say competition strengthens national character. Lack of competition
would lead to laziness and vice. Pressure to succeed can lead to violence in American sports –
injuries are common.
Americans spent more than $100 billion - over the past year on sporting events, athletic
equipment and gym memberships, a new CreditCards.com survey found. The pressure to win
can also lead to drug use (against American laws and values). People here work hard and play
hard so physically is very important to them. They often participate in exercise, swimming,
tennis, aerobics and marathons. Americans often have trouble relaxing online in their spare time
so physical activity can be relaxing. Online entertainment games in American society like
Tennis, Jogging, Skiing. They participate in sports according to hobbies, handicrafts, bird
watching, etc. Some people love adventure travel like mountain biking, climbing, skydiving,
etc. There are also soft adventures for the elderly.
The general population has gotten heavier, but their “ideals” have gotten slimmer. In
addition to Americans facing insecurity or eating disorders due to the growing population, many
parents' anxiety about children's exposure to the internet is also increasing. Today, media has
been changing drastically since its inception. While print was the main form of media for the
longest time, when radio and television became major forms of media they brought something
with them that words could not do. There are many television programs that make children
spend too much time watching TV, causing them to be obese and have poor academic
performance. In addition, children who do not fully understand the online rules will increase
their risk. Because of new technologies and in the information explosion, everyone has access to
the network via mobile phones. That makes children lose attention (surfing the channel) and
easily exposed to inappropriate media. Historical channels, Discovery, Science channels are
proposed to be replaced, but most children love to watch MTV, HBO. Government wants more
regulation of content. Others say responsibility is the parents, but many work full time.
Mass Media, what is the first thing most Americans do when they wake up in the
morning, when they get out of their car, or when they are done with work? They check their cell
phones. Currently communication and media have a strong hold over our everyday lives, they

search for answers in the media, looking to form opinions and learn about what in the world is
affecting them personally. Through the media they decide what places they are going to go, their
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political parties, what is in style, and many other things that seem to be crucial factors. Mass
media has developed drastically over the last century, and each change has influenced American
culture.
As technology expanded and matured, the electronic age began. Since that time mass
media has multiplied exponentially, information can be accessed faster and faster, more and
more information could be circulated and accessed. As well as information circulating,
marketing and ads were now able to reach more people, and target audiences based on
individuals’ internet use. The internet influences the growth and spread of media, and eventually
gave the power of media transfer to the people, now publishers and stations are no longer in
control of the media and its information. Though the information may be started by a journalist,
government official, or news associate, people can access the information, add his or her input,
and spread his or her view on the topic to others. The individuals who rely on the media, are
creating it themselves through websites, blogs, social media sites like facebook and twitter,
through cell and smart phones, and endless other forms of content sharing (“Effects of mass,”
2013).
Obviously as the ways of accessing media have evolved, so has the way it affects the
individuals who have access to it. When radio and television news first became popular, most
used that and the newspaper as their primary sources of information, and did not question where
that information came from, or if it was valid or not. As people have begun to receive more and
more information from different sources, and see that there are more points of view and
opinions on the same information, this is shown in both traditional and emerging media. This
new source of information is a huge effect on not only American culture, but the entire world.
Media can influence the opinions of people in severe ways, both good and bad, for example
government influence on media can sway the opinions of the people exposed to that specific

media.
Media’s drastic growth has lead society to become more aware of what is going on
socially, economically, etc. However, as more and more information is presented to us we are
more susceptible to biased information that is underhandedly attempting to sway opinions to
parallel that of the biased (Wendt & Spohn).

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The awareness of this and ability to filter information from the media is called “media
literacy”. Being media literate allows a person to create his or her own opinion by taking
information from media sources, filtering that information, and producing his own idea, based
upon what he has learned and applied (“A few words,” 2012).
Mass media is a very important factor in the growth of society, and for the most part, it is
good for individuals to indulge themselves in the information that is circulating. If we as
individuals use caution, critical thinking, and expose ourselves to many types of media,
becoming media literate, we can use mass media as a tool to enhance our lives and culture every
day.

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REFERENCES:
1. “A few words” about “media literacy”. (2012).
2. Curtis, A. R. (2012). Mass media influence on society. (Master’s thesis, University of
North Carolina at Pembroke)
3. Deliso, M. (2006, October 02). Traditional media more trustworthy than emerging.
Effects of mass media on American culture.

/>4. Wendt , T., & Spohn , A. (n.d.). The role of mass media in modern american culture.
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