Keep smiling!, Never say die!, Take it easy!, Don’t worry, be happy!
oprahization – “the increased tendency for people to publicly describe their feelings and emotions and confess their past indiscretions”
“But I take leave to doubt whether any sixth century Isolde could have used such soap-operaish -- or Oprah-ish -- language, let alone whether a sixth century Marke could have understood it and sympathized with it”
Individualism
“In the United States each individual is seen as completely and marvelously unique, that is, totally different from all other individuals and, therefore, particularly precious and wonderful”
self-regarding VS other-regarding, self-interested VS group-oriented, group(society)-minded.
Individualism
as American as apple pie = “It is as American as apple pie to be individuals”
do not mother them!
“Americans stress personal responsibility rather than collective goals”
hyper-individualism,
moderate VS extreme individualism
family
“Americans are becoming more accepting of cohabitation, divorce, and nontraditional family situations”
“Once living together out of wedlock was considered as shaking up and living in a sin, now cohabitation has become a mainstream”
foster family, nuclear family, same-sex family, trial family, urban family
children born out of wedlock
unwed mother
single-parent household
quirkyalones – a person who enjoys being single and so prefers to wait for the right person to come along rather than dating indiscreminately
Various addictions
eyes are bigger than one’s stomach (belly) – “somebody is too greedy in asking for, or taking more food than somebody can eat”
square meal
to pig out
Stereotypes
Chernyshevsky in his philosophical works posed a question about beauty;
A peasant - red-cheeked, physically strong, An aristocrat – pale, slender, weak
National characteristics of beauty,
Lacunae
Sushi, paella, stiff-upper lip, jihad,