How Brazil sees the United States

How Brazil Sees the U.S.

America's Global Image

     Although this is about most major nations, Brazil is treated as the most important Latin American country in the polls. 73% of Brazilians polled had favorable views of America, while only 23% were negative. This was up 8% from a year ago, showing the major strides Brazilians have seen throughout the annual cycle. The 18-29 demographic has a 84% favorable opinion of the U.S., compared to 60% of the 50+ year-olds, showing how America focuses on remedying their image through youth. Climate change is one area where Brazil disapproves of the Obama's administration, considering 36% approve compared to 43% disapproving. That kind of negativity is evidence of the trepidation regarding massive global warming risks and climate change signs in the 21th century. For the most part though, the USA has great popularity in Brazil, and it shows how healthy the countries' relationship is.

How the United States Sees Brazil

How the U.S. Sees Brazil

     Josh Plotkin runs the blog Brazilian Gringo. He made the video "Why I Live In Brazil" to illuminate how even though it may be weird for some to emigrate from America to Brazil, his open inhibitions and ability to connect with other cultures is paramount to enjoying life. It is especially hard to be a fan of Brazil right now, what with the tumultuousness of the Rio Olympics and 2014 World Cup, and the corruption of the national government. Yet Plotkin points out that every country has these issues, it is the media representations of Brazil that eschew the truly good parts of what it has to offer. It is these types of videos that combat the easy characterizations of a nation in favor of a more nuanced and neutral outlook.

How China Sees the United States

How China Sees the U.S.

What do Chinese people think of America?

     Unlike Russia, China has more of a positive view of American's these days. This video created by New China TV in 2015 hits the streets of Beijing, the Chinese capital, to ask its citizens how they feel in light of the recent trip to America by Chinese president Xi Jinping. There was a large consensus that America was good, prosperous and a land of beauty. They wanted to see a future where there was a better and peaceful relationship between the two nations. Which in my opinion is a great thing to hear. 

     Another interesting reason that the people liked America was because it is where they make their money from. This is due to the fact that big American corporations outsource jobs and employ Chinese citizens for cheaper labor. This discovery is in close relation with the Bradsher and Duhigg article published in the New York Times (2012). In the writing they discussed Electronics factories in China such as Apple outsourcing jobs to Foxconn and other companies which have recently made efforts to improve labor conditions. In hiring social responsibility units and reducing long work weeks there has been a change in favorability within the Chinese communities.  Although these are really just bandages on much larger issues there has been an effort made that is appreciated. Between the years 2013 and 2014 China's support for the United States has gone up ten points making fifty percent of the country in favor of us. This data comes from the interactive on TIME created by Chris Wilson in 2014. 

How the United States Sees China

How the U.S. Sees China

American Kids Try - Episode 6: Chinese Food

     American Kids Try is a cute web series that I like to watch when I'm feeling down. This is because the children's reactions to world cuisine is adorable and funny. However, due to this project and trying to learn about globalized representations, I took a deeper look at these reactions. 

     As American's we like to see our culture and people as the global norm. We do not like when things go off from this path. One example of how American's see the Chinese, is focusing on Chinese food as all they have to offer us. Chinese food has been stereotyped as something ordered cheaply from a Panda Express when we do not feel like cooking. However, Chinese food has a deeper tradition than this. But, of course due to years of this type of belief people do not see Chinese food beyond the Americanized version. This is perfectly shown in this video by the children thinking that the duck head and the jelly fish salad were "gross". One child even went as far as to call the interviewer a "murderer". Overall, there should be more of a respect for the customs of China because it is a nation with deep cultural value. This starts with parents teaching their children to be more open minded to the ways of the world.