What does it mean to be an American?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. The difficulty of finding a national identity

2.1.Immigration

2.2.U.S. Demography: The racial composition of the USA

3. Changing concepts of national identity in American history

3.1. Concepts focused on conformity

3.1.1. The Melting Pot

3.1.2. Americanization

3.1.3. Anglo-Saxon Racism

3.2. Concepts focused on diversity

3.2.1. Cultural pluralism

3.2.2. Cosmopolitanism/ Transnationalism

3.2.3. Multiculturalism

3.2.4. Postethnicity

4. The depiction of American identity concepts in the in the films The Birth of a Nation and Crash

4.1. The Birth of a Nation by D. W. Griffith

4.1.1. General facts

4.1.2. Plot synopsis

4.1.3. The cinematic representation of race with reference to Anglo-Saxon racism

4.1.3.1. The image of the inferior African-American

4.1.3.2. The glorified ideal of the Aryan race

4.1.3.3.Mulattoes as expression of a monstrous American future

4.1.4. The film’s influence on America’s society

4.1.4.1.Manifestation of racial bias and the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan

4.1.4.2.The birth of a multicultural nation

4.2.Crash by Paul Haggis

4.2.1. General facts

4.2.2. Plot synopsis

4.2.3. The depiction of Los Angeles as a multicultural universe

4.2.3.1. The cinematic representation of an interracial contact zone

4.2.3.2.Racism as a unifying force

4.2.3.3.The construction of whiteness and its connection to otherness

4.2.3.4.Parables of hope

4.2.4. Fragmented they stand?

5. What does keep Americans united?

5.1. The American Creed

5.2. Constitutional faith

5.3. National symbols of cohesion in everyday life

6. Synopsis and Outlook

Objectives and Themes

This thesis examines the ongoing struggle to define American national identity amidst historical and contemporary diversity. By analyzing changing conceptual frameworks—from assimilationist theories like the "melting pot" and Americanization to pluralistic models like multiculturalism and postethnicity—it explores how the United States balances its multiracial reality with the need for social cohesion. The research investigates the following key themes:

• The impact of continuous immigration and demographic shifts on American identity.
• The historical tension between conformity-based assimilation and the recognition of diversity.
• The visual representation of racial ideologies and identity conflicts in American cinema.
• The role of the American Creed and constitutional faith in fostering national unity.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Presents the central question of American identity and the historical dilemma between fostering a uniform nation or embracing cultural diversity.

2. The difficulty of finding a national identity: Explores the role of immigration and the exceptional racial heterogeneity that challenges a singular definition of Americanism.

3. Changing concepts of national identity in American history: Analyzes the theoretical evolution from conformity-based models like the Melting Pot to pluralistic perspectives such as multiculturalism.

4. The depiction of American identity concepts in the in the films The Birth of a Nation and Crash: Discusses how these two films serve as mirrors for different racial ideologies and the resulting societal tensions in their respective eras.

5. What does keep Americans united?: Investigates the binding elements of American nationalism, focusing on the American Creed, constitutional faith, and national symbols.

6. Synopsis and Outlook: Concludes that American identity remains an evolving ideological commitment rather than a fixed ancestral status, highlighting the ongoing effort to reconcile diversity with democracy.

Keywords

American identity, National identity, Immigration, Melting Pot, Americanization, Anglo-Saxon racism, Multiculturalism, Postethnicity, Assimilation, Diversity, American Creed, Constitutional faith, Race relations, U.S. Demography, Social cohesion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this work?

The work investigates the challenges the United States faces in establishing a cohesive national identity due to its history of immigration and exceptional cultural diversity.

Which thematic fields does the thesis cover?

It covers the history of American immigration, theories of cultural assimilation, racial ideologies, the influence of cinema on public discourse, and the role of shared democratic values.

What is the primary research question?

The thesis seeks to answer what keeps the American people united despite their internal diversity and what it ultimately means to be an American.

Which scientific methods are employed?

The author relies on a qualitative analysis of literary works, sociological theories, historical documents, and an independent film analysis to support its arguments.

What is discussed in the main body of the work?

The main body treats historical concepts of conformity (Melting Pot, Americanization), concepts of diversity (multiculturalism, postethnicity), and provides a comparative analysis of the films "The Birth of a Nation" and "Crash".

Which keywords characterize the work?

Key terms include national identity, assimilation, multiculturalism, American Creed, and racial diversity.

How does the author analyze "The Birth of a Nation"?

The author views the film as a reflection of early 20th-century xenophobia and scientific racism, showing how it glorified the Ku Klux Klan as a guardian of Aryan racial purity.

How is the film "Crash" interpreted in the thesis?

The thesis interprets "Crash" as a modern look at a multicultural society where people are disoriented by race relations, arguing that while it offers optimism through redemption, it simultaneously avoids challenging systemic white privilege.

What is the conclusion regarding the American Creed?

The author concludes that the American Creed, anchored in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, acts as the primary binder for the diverse American population through shared values of liberty and equality.