American foundational myth

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What examples can you find in popular culture that refer to beliefs about ourselves as Americans, and what myths reinforce these beliefs?

Upload 4 images or news articles. Make sure to explain how it works as an example of an American foundational myth.

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This image has deep roots in American mythology. It is founded upon a belief about ourselves as a people, that the nation was forged by rugged individualists who relied on their own wits (with the help of firearms) in the struggle to build a democracy. The perspective viewers are given in this picture helps reinforce the sense of power guns can provide, along with a sense of moral rightness about what the shooter is doing. This mythology is at the center of the ongoing debate over gun control. Steven Gassaway This is a photo of a bald eagle, the emblem of the United States of America. The United States is represented by an eagle because it is one of the most strong, fierce, and powerful birds in the world. This is a great representation of the United States because of the prosperity it took to acquire freedom. The bald eagle is at the top of the food chain in the same way that the United States is one of the most influencial nations in the world. The lifespan of a bald eagle is very long compared to other birds, representative of the United States' longetivity of prosperity. Overall, the intimidation, power, and longetivity of the American bald eagle represents the United States in perfect fashion and has extensive ties to American mythology. Julia Herzberg I chose to find an image portraying the first Thanksigivng, where we can see both pilgrims and native Americans gathered together and feeding one another. This is representative of America's foundation not only because it portrays the first Thanksgiving celebrated in our country, but it displays the ideology we Americans pride ourselves in of helping others and working together despite our differences. While historically native Americans were pushed into near cultural extinction from European settlers, American values are built on the ideology that we came to this coutnry to live in freedom from societal constructions that didn't allow for differences. Religious freedom, freedom of speech, and the pride we have in our diversity as a melting pot country all stem from the notion that many different people come to America for the same reasons. This picture serves as an example of this coming together of cultures we pride ourselves in as a country. Sarah Maher The picture chosen is of Christopher Colombus first arriving to land in the Caribbian Island. Till this day, people think that Colombus set foot on the new world but he never did. Colombus is celebrated as a national holiday in the United States due to president Franklin D. Roosevelt, Columbus Day was made a federal holiday in 1934. Europen immgrants pride themselves in finding the new world. However, the history behind Colombus is more dark than we seem to know. The idea that we came to America to find freedom and provide freedom to others is not based on true facts of Colombus. Marion Miller America's melting pot is a metaphor for the assimilation of immigrants into the United States where various nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities are fused together. The term became popular during the 1900's when there was an influx of European immigrants coming into the country. The image I selected is one where Lady Liberty is stirring a pot of "citizenship" filled with individuals from various countries. This image is important within American mythology because it speaks to the fundemantal idea that America is a place where people can come, build a new life, and achieve their "American dream." This idea is also at the center of modern U.S immigration debate which has filled the news recently. Faheem Khan The picture that I chose to use for this, is the famous and well known man known to be the personification of both the United States and the American ideology itself, Uncle Sam. According to legend, Uncle Sam first came into use during the War of 1812 and was supposedly named for Samuel Wilson. He was mainly used to recruit new and young soldiers for the US army. He gave this idea of hope and determination to the US people, that they were really fighting for their country and their efforts would not be in vain. Somehow it worked and motivated a lot of men to sign up for battle, even though there was still a very high chance that they may never comeback. Uncle Sam's mythology has be around since the early 19th century, Uncle Sam has been a popular symbol of the US government in American culture and a manifestation of patriotic emotion. Brandon Weiner I chose a picture of George Washington who is deeply involved in American myths. Washington is thought of as the father of the United States, someone who shaped and formed what America is today. There are stories about him such as him cutting down the cherry tree or the fact that he never told a lie. These are of course unverifiable but they are placed on Washington who is seen as the father of America that he can do no wrong. He simply became a symbol in American myth to resemble as strong and powerful country. Akshitha Ajayan A modern day example of an American Foundational myth is the Hamilton musical. The musical pays tribute to the life of Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton. He is known for serving in the Revolutionary War, writing many of the Federalist Papers, which helped in ratifying the Consitution, serving as the Secretary of the Treasury, and shaping Washington's foreign policy. Hamilton's story represents the American Dream, the idea that people from all backgrounds and walks of life can come to America to achieve their dreams and become successful through hard work. He represents the American beliefs of standing up for what you believe in and actively participating in government (civic duty). Hamilton is the model American citizen. Aharon Paul The chose a picuture of the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty represents many of the ideals the United States of America is built on. Some of them include: freedom, liberty and the "American Dream". Back in the late 1800, immigrants that would be traveling to the United States, would go through Ellis Island. Upon reaching Ellis Island, they would also see the Statue of Liberty. For these immigrants, it represented opportunity to live freely under no oppresion. Many of these immigrants were coming from Northern and Western Europe due to political instability, restrictive religious laws and deteriorating economic conditions. It represented the opportunity for those people and people of all backgrounds to come here and achieve their dreams for themselves and their families. All of these ideals together reflect a hope for a better world. Loni Fields I chose Rosie the Riveter. During both WWI and WWII, women had to start working jobs that men would normally work since the men were on the frontlines. The name "Rosie the Riveter" was from a song sang by many bands, but more notably by a big band called Kay Kyser. It was based off a real woman, Rosalind P. Walter, who worked on F4U Corsairs. The actual iconic image, however did not come about until 1942 during WWII. The image itself portrays a woman flexing her arm and wearing a red bandana while holding a serious gaze, shouting "We can do it!". It at first wasn't more than war propaganda to motivate factory workers, but was later adapted for feminism movements in the 80s. It symbolizes feminine power and the ability to do anything a man can do. Johnny Appleseed I decided to focus on Johnny Appleseed as one of Americas founding myths. Appleseed born John Chapman was an American pioneer as wells as a nurseryman. As a nurseryman he proceeded to plant large amount of apple trees to number of states in the United States of America. While he is remembered as a legend while still being alive due to his kind demeanor and generous acts, his ideas in nature conservation is what propelled him as an American legend. This was even noticed by the native Americans and was admired by them for his intention in conserving nature led to him being seen as someone blessed by the great spirit. His kindness even spread towards animals and insects who he deeply cared for even creating a story where he had a pet wolf which started following him after he had healed its injured leg. The ideology of conserving nature is heavily advocated and is something that the current generation has to acknowledge. - Ajay Ragul Neelakandan For my myth I chose to focus on Davy Crockett. Crockett was a fronteirsman born in 1786, a politician, as well as a soldier in the Texas Revolution. However, there are several feats attributed to Crockett that seem impossible, such as killing a bear when he was only 3 years old, as well as seemingly superhuman abilities in bouts with Native Americans and at the Alamo. These stories most likely came about from a time when Americans romanticized moving out west onto the frontier, as it gave a very strong folk hero to try to emulate and to inspire. Gerald Bogue
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American Foundational Myths

Mythology of hope and change
This is a portrait that was done by Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844. As the title suggests, it is an
image that portrays the American Nation as one that lives by hope for the better in future. The
image was structured to indicate the struggle that the European immigrants had to go through
before getting to North America. The US is thus taken to be the land of freedom and bright
expectations just as the immigrants had. They had to move from England due where there was no
freedom of worship to a place that would offer freedom of worsh...


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