What does it mean to be an American?

Ever since a fellow student brought up this question in class, I find myself pondering its meaning quite often. In films and television, we see different portrayals of what it means to be an American such as in “Hail the Conquering Hero” or even “Downton Abbey.”

I’m especially intrigued by “Downton” because it is all done by the British with the exception of Elizabeth McGovern as the matriarch of the family named Cora and occasionally Shirley MacLaine along with Paul Giamatti who have both guest-starred in the series as Cora’s biological family. The British portrayal of these Americans is that they are hopeful and have lots of money to spare with non-traditionalist ideas to boot! When Cora’s biological family comes to visit, her brother’s valet is downstairs with the other servants and asks Daisy, the kitchen maid, “Aren’t you excited?” and she says, “I’m never excited” (Series 4, Episode 9). The British characters act condescending toward Americans and their culture. Maggie Smith’s character as the Dowager Countess even says, “Why does every day involve a fight with an American?” (Series 1, Episode 4), upon learning that the swivel chair was invented by Thomas Jefferson. Even Robert, the patriarch of the family played by Hugh Bonneville even says to Cora, “Don’t you go American on me.” And when Tom Branson, the handsome former chauffeur played by Allen Leech goes to Boston for a new beginning returns to England because he missed it too much and America just wasn’t for him. Seeing this throughout the series, I can’t help but notice how the British are portrayed as these traditionalists who are unwilling to accept that America is the new world superpower of the new age which is after WWI. The writers make America out to be this progressive superpower with lose morals and optimistic, hopeful people.

Then in “Hail the Conquering Hero” which is a film about Americans by Americans certainly rings true on what it means to be an American. The film is about a young man named Woodrow who enlisted in the army but left shortly after he started training but did not return home. He kept in contact with his family, lying to them about how he went overseas, fought in the war and received honorable discharge. He meets some discharged soldiers one night at a bar before finally returning home and they agree to accompany to him. When they get off the train, they see a huge, immaculate celebration for Woodrow. A lot of critics have talked about how with this film, it displays the “everybody who participates gets an award” policy we seem to have in America and the writers of the film saw a lot of this in the returning WWII veterans. Throughout the rest of the film, we see Woodrow digging himself deeper and deeper into this lie because eventually the town wants to dedicate a statue to him and have a bunch of celebrations in his honor. Eventually, the main character finally comes forward with the truth. The depiction of Americans always digging themselves in too deep and not coming forward with the truth seemed to reflect the writers’ feelings toward Americans of the time.