Perception of Culture in Media

In our first class we discussed our perception of other cultures based on what we've learned through media, and how other cultures view Americans. I couldn't think of an experience I had of this at the time, but eventually one popped into my head.

In 2010, I was in Goias, Brazil visiting my husband's family. His niece (about 20 years old) had a pop magazine and was reading about Amy Winehouse. She mistakenly thought that Winehouse was American. She very seriously asked my husband if all girls in the United States were like Winehouse (i.e. drink heavily, use drugs). He translated for me, and I was very quick to assure her that Winehouse was not American, and (while I've never been to Britain) most likely not representative of most of the young women there.