从老友记看中美文化差异.docx

1、从老友记看中美文化差异本科生毕业论文An Analysis of Sino-American Cultural Differences in Friends从老友记解读中美文化差异姓名刘博学号200701020127专业外国语言文学系指导教师李育 教授2011年5月30日An Analysis of Sino-American Cultural Differences in FriendsA Thesis Submitted toForeign Languages Department ofHenan University of Economics and Law inPartial Fulf

2、illment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of ArtsByLiu BoSupervisor: Li Yu May 30, 2011AbstractFriends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. It consists of 236 episodes of 10 seasons. It was watched by

3、 52.5 million American viewers and played in decades countries later. It won plenty of major theater awards for the six leading actors and the whole play staff. The series revolves around a group of friends in the borough of Manhattan, New York City. It describes fully of their life, friendship, tro

4、uble, laugh, contradiction, love and work. They treasure friendship and kinship, they trust, tolerant and support each other. Their positive and optimistic life attitude encourages millions of people. The reason that this sitcom appeals to us so much is not only the sincere feelings among them, but

5、also the fresh sight which is different from China. Western civilization has always led the world cultural development since the Industrial Revolution. The special notice can help us to understand this sitcom better and deeper as well as improve our self- cultivation demeanor. This thesis firstly in

6、troduces Friends. Secondly, it lists and analyzes the cultural differences in Friends. Thirdly, it analyzes the factors causing cultural differences. Fourthly, it makes suggestions for students learning western culture.Key words: Friends; culture; difference; factors 摘 要老友记是一部由大卫马克兰和玛尔塔考夫曼创作的美国情景喜剧，

7、从自1994年9月22日至2004年5月6日在美国NBC电视台播出，全剧共10季236集，本土观众数量达到五千万，后来在数十个国家播出。这部喜剧为六个主角和整个剧组赢得了大量戏剧奖项。老友记主要描写六个居住在纽约市曼哈顿区的六个年轻人的故事他们的生活、友谊、烦恼、欢乐、矛盾、爱情和事业。他们对友情和亲情的珍惜，他们对彼此的互相信任、宽容和支持，他们积极向上的生活态度激励了上百万的观众。这部喜剧之所以这么吸引我们不仅是因为他们彼此间真挚的感情，而且是因为那些与中国传统不同的新鲜视角。自工业革命开始，西方文明就引领着世界文明的发展。对西方文明的特殊关注可以帮助我们更好更深的理解这部喜剧。这篇论文分

8、四个部分来对老友记进行分析：首先，对老友记进行了简介。其次，列出了老友记中体现的中美文化差异。再次，分析引起这些差异的文化原因。最后，提出了学习西方文化的建议。关键词：老友记；文化；差异；原因Acknowledgements This thesis is the product of the author and the supervisors three months of efforts. It has been repeatedly revised under the guidance of Professor Li Yu. It was the joint efforts of bot

9、h the author and teachers in Foreign Languages Department. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Professor Li Yu and teachers who have helped the author in the process of the thesis writing. I will also give my thanks to my classmates and friends who have helped me revise the thesis. Last b

10、ut not least, I will give my heartfelt thanks to my parents who have been always supporting and encouraging me.ContentsIntroduction Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The TV series revolves around a grou

11、p of friends in the borough of Manhattan, New York City. It was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television. The original executive producers were Crane, Kauffman and Kevin S. Bright, with numerous others being promoted in later seasons.Kauffman and Cra

12、ne began developing Friends under the title Insomnia Cafe in November 1993. They presented the idea to Bright, with whom they had previously worked, and together they pitched a seven-page treatment of the series to NBC. After several script rewrites and changes, including a second title change to Fr

13、iends Like Us, the series was finally named Friends and premiered on NBCs coveted Thursday 8:30 pm timeslot. Filming for the series took place at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California in front of a live studio audience. After ten seasons on the network, the series finale was promoted by NBC, a

14、nd viewing parties were organized around the U.S. The series finale (the 236th episode), airing on May 6, 2004, was watched by 52.5 million American viewers, making it the fourth most-watched series finale in television history and the most watched episode of the decade.Friends received positive rev

15、iews throughout most of its run, becoming one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. The series won many awards and was nominated for 63 Primetime Emmy Awards. The series, an instant hit from its debut, was also very successful in the ratings, consistently ranking in the top ten in the final prime

16、time ratings. It is now often regarded by critics to be one of the finest shows in television history. The series made a large cultural impact, which continues today. The Central Perk coffee house that was featured prominently in the series has inspired various imitations throughout the world. The s

17、eries continues in syndication worldwide. All 10 seasons are available on DVD. The spin-off series Joey was created to follow up with the series after the finale.There are not many papers analyzing the Sino-American cultures in Friends, the only few study the kinship, friendship, love among six char

18、acters and some everyday life details. The author of this paper thinks that it is necessary to research it, it can on only make us understanding more about American culture, but as well recognize the cultural differences. Thereby, we can cope with the cultural problems more leisurely, communicate mo

19、re smoothly, and remove cultural barriers more easily.1 Introduction to Friends1.1 The Outline of Friends1.1.1 Characters Rachel Green - a popular schoolgirl of the past, is now a spoiled brat living off her fathers finance. In an attempt to start a new life after running out on her wedding, she sha

20、res an apartment with an old best friend Monica Gellar, and eventually befriends the other 4 and Monicas older brother, Ross. Phoebe Buffay - brought up as a fatherless child, Phoebe is a ditzy yet loveable hippy, who has become a personal masseuse. Despite liking her profession, her dream is to bec

21、ome a star in the music industry and bases her songs on her life experiences. The other 5 friends secretly believe that Phoebe will never make it, but still encourage her to write. Phoebe often performs at the Central Perk coffee house, and strongly believes in herself. Monica Gellar - a compulsive

22、neat freak, who has trouble with her love life. Monica was teased when she was in high school for being overweight. However, now a head-chef at a top restaurant in Manhattan, she has lost all her excessive weight, and just wants to start a family with the right guy to complete a happy life. Ross Gel

23、lar - older Brother of Monica, he has always had strong love feelings for Rachel. A successful professor of science leads him to be often teased by the other 5 friends about his profession. Ross has experienced many misfortunes in life, including 3 divorces and bringing up a child with his lesbian e

24、x-wife. Ross now is devoted to finding a girl to settle down with, without a divorce, and makes it his personal goal to share happiness with Rachel. Chandler Bing - a financial secure data processor, who relies on humor as a defense mechanism. Despite being rich, the other 5 have no idea what his pr

25、ofession is, and Chandler is a wimpy, average looking cigarette addict, who has never had a serious relationship. Will he ever get it, and is she just round the corner from him? Joey Tribiani - Despite being close to all the friends, he is especially open with Chandler, who his also his roommate. Jo

26、ey is a small time actor, who desperately wants fame and fortune, and Chandler has high hopes of Joey, so helps Joey with money for acting lessons and professional photographs. Despite being a relatively bad actor, Joey is an adorable, sensitive guy, who is very successful with women, but needs to b

27、ecome famous and rich to complete his successful life.1.1.2 Storylines and FormatThe first season introduces the six main characters: Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani, Chandler Bing and Ross Geller. Rachel, who left her fianc at the altar on her wedding day, has come to New

28、 York and ends up living with Monica. At first she works as a waitress in a cafe, later she gets a job in Bloomingdate finally. It establishes early on in the season that Ross has been infatuated with Rachel since the two characters attended high school. Several episodes revolve around his attempts

29、to tell her how he feels. Then Rachel finds she loves him, too. But because Rachels self-willed and Rosss parsimonious, they are on and off, for over ten years. Joey, a struggling actor, gets a part in a fictionalized version of the soap opera Days of our Lives in the second season, but he loses the

30、 part soon after when he angers the writers by saying in an interview that he writes many of his own lines. Richard, a friend of Monica and Ross parents who is recently divorced and with grown children, is 21 years older than Monica but despite this they date for the second half of the season. In th

31、e season finale, they end the relationship when they realize that he does not want any more children and she does.Phoebe, established as having no family except for an identical twin sister, becomes acquainted with her half-brother and in the finale discovers her birth mother she never knew she had.

32、 She becomes a surrogate mother to the children of her brother and his wife. Ross begins dating an English woman called Emily and determines to get married. Rachel attends the wedding at the last minute, intending to tell Ross that she still loves him, but decides not to. Things are thrown into chaos when Ross replaces Emilys name with Rachels while saying his vows. Then they got divorced. Phoebe starts a relationship with Gary, a police officer she meets after finding his badge. Although leery of moving in with Gary, she