History NationalStereotypes / NorthAmerica

* UsefulNotes/{{Georgia|USA}} will almost always be treated as a backwards hick town that is extremely white and extremely intolerant (see the ''30 Rock'' episode "Stone Mountain"). The sole exception is its capital, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, which is 54% black (and they're all hip-hop artists), home to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[[note]]the initialism is inherited from its original name of Communicable Disease Center[[/note]]), two major universities, the world's busiest airport, and some of the largest medical and industrial facilities in the country, and actually has the 3rd highest population of LGBT people in the U.S. (behind San Francisco and Seattle). It's known as the hometown of Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, and UsefulNotes/MartinLutherKingJr, and also where UsefulNotes/TedTurner founded Creator/{{TBS}} and CNN. But at least since Music/RayCharles, it is "always on our mind".

* A stereotype about Americans that has gotten under a lot of strain since the second half of the 20th century is that of the "heroic American". During the 19th and early 20th century, Americans were depicted as cowboys who save the day, a stereotype fed by Creator/BuffaloBill, Creator/JohnWayne, Creator/RoyRogers, and Creator/ClintEastwood. Powerful comic book superheroes like Franchise/{{Superman}}, Franchise/{{Batman}}, Franchise/{{Popeye}}, and Franchise/SpiderMan also fueled this image, fighting for [[Franchise/{{Superman}} "truth, justice, and the American way."]] Especially older generations tend to see Americans as noble, self-reliant individuals who take no nonsense, grab matters into their own hands, act quick and efficient, and save everyone. This is also the idea most Americans (like to) have about themselves. Even some of their politicians, who see the world as a place divided in ''good'' (our side) and ''evil'' (the other side).

* Old stereotypes show them as slaves, working in cotton fields and singing bluesy songs. If they are a bit better off they are portrayed as servants, butlers, cooks, shoe shiners, or [[{{Mammy}} ''Mammy'' maids]]. They enjoy eating watermelons and/or chickens or playing dice games. Typical for those times they are depicted as being lazy, dumb, superstitious, primitive, or overly submissive ("Yes suh, no ma'm") to their white superiors [[ScaryBlackMan and scared of ghosts]]. If a black character is joyful, he is usually an [[UncleTomFoolery Uncle Tom]] or [[Film/SongOfTheSouth Uncle Remus]] type of character. Additionally, during the pre-civil rights era, African-Americans were often depicted as hypersexual beings who couldn't control their libido and [[WhereDaWhiteWomenAt would lust after their white counterparts]].
** Most of these stereotypes still exist in some form today but are often deployed for the sake of parody or RefugeInAudacity. When these offensive characteristics are PlayedStraight today, they are immediately met with controversy.
* Modern stereotypes depict them as jazz musicians, [[GospelMusic gospel]] or {{Doowop}} choir singers, fiery baptist preachers with loud and [[PunctuatedForEmphasis punctuated speech]], basketball or American football players, boxers, dancers, computer geeks with big old glasses, [[NWordPrivileges N-word dropping]] stand-up comics, rappers, R&B heartthrobs, soul singers with big afros, [[GangBangers gang members]], drug dealers, convicts, pimps, bums, and prostitutes. They always [[JiveTurkey talk in slang]], and are usually [[SoulBrotha cool]], [[SassyBlackWoman sassy]], or[[ScaryBlackMan scary]], often a mix of all three.
* Black stereotypes tend to vary heavily based on gender. On the more negative end, Black males are often depicted as products of broken homes, with [[HairTriggerTemper extremely poor tempers]] and criminal aptitudes, who are obsessed with collecting the latest shoes and chains, dropped out of their [[SuckySchool poorly funded and maintained high schools]], are [[ReallyGetsAround hyper-promiscuous]] and unfaithful, and are always paying out child support to one of their numerous baby mothers. Black women are portrayed as weave-wearing welfare queens, with even nastier tempers, stressed out or neglectful baby mamas, obnoxious hoodrats, or ill-tempered shrews with giant-sized chips on their shoulders, and they are sometimes portrayed as more 'masculine' and less lady-like than their non-white counterparts. On the more positive end, black men are often stereotyped as the epitome of 'coolness'. They're laid-back, flashy, and effortlessly charismatic, equipped with natural athleticism, style, and [[BlackIsBiggerInBed sex appeal]]. These kinds of depictions often play on the stereotypical insecurities of white American males, who have, since the end of the civil rights movement, often viewed black men as their 'cooler' competition who make white men look lame by comparison. Black women on the other hand are often viewed as either the prototypical independent woman, smart, no-nonsense take charge ladies who aren't afraid to put people in their place, or as kind and nurturing maternal figures chock full of down-to-earth wisdom. Resilient, forthright, and dependable, they carry emotional and physical burdens without complaint, and [[MagicalNegro will happily help the protagonist reach their destination]]. However, just like their male counterparts, they can also be depicted as a source of insecurity for non-black women, as according to stereotype, black women boast [[BuxomBeautyStandard much curvier figures]] than their non-black counterparts, and due to the benefits of melanin, don't seem to age quite as quickly.

** EverythingIsBigInTexas might as well generally be called ''Everything Is Big in America'': houses, cars, steaks, hamburgers, beers, guns, movies, parades, advertising boards, skyscrapers, movies, religious devotion, drug use, celebrities, the presidential elections... it all has to be huge, grand and larger than life. To foreigners this often comes across as having no sense of humility or moderation. Everything, from the wage slips to the food servings to the ferocity with which people defend their ideals and views, seems much more exaggerated in America than it needs to be. Though, there is a geographical explanation for this: after Russia, Canada, and China, the U.S.A. is the largest country in the world in terms of geographic area. This is already something that's difficult to imagine when you're living in a smaller country. Americans think "big" because they can! There is so much space in the U.S.A., compared to the more crowded and suburbanized countries in, for instance, Europe. Taking a commercial flight to visit another town or state within the same country is very normal; even between cities in the same ''state'' is not unknown, though mostly just in UsefulNotes/{{California}} or UsefulNotes/{{Texas}}.[[note]]Houston or Dallas to El Paso is about the same as Paris to Vienna, though hardly as scenic.[[/note]]
** Despite this, [[Main/TheWhiteHouse The White House]] is one of the smallest official residents of a head of state or government in the entire world and many depictions of its interior in film and television turn it into a [[BiggerOnTheInside TARDIS]] by the size of its interior. In fact, most staffers of the White House will lament Hollywood's depictions not being true as they wish their office space was that spacious. The famous Press Briefing Room is notoriously cramped, as any one in the press pool will tell you. The space expansion in film and live action typically upscale for both convenience of film equipment and because RealityIsUnrealistic.

** PatrioticFervor: American patriotism is also something that raises eyebrows in other countries: school children being forced to salute the American flag every morning and memorize the pledge of allegiance, people rising in unison to sing along with the national anthem whenever it's played, controversy over flag etiquette and [[BurningTheFlag burning flags]], etc. Though other countries are not immune to nationalistic pride, American patriotism feels very creepy in foreign eyes. With foreign more often than not meaning European

* Especially in American media, Mexicans will always be depicted as ''mestizo'', even in some of the more northern areas of Mexico where whites are just as common. Any other racial diversity, including Mexicans with African, Asian, or non-Spanish European ancestry, are pretty much unheard-of in fiction.[[note]]For a real-life example of this diversity, telecom mogul Carlos Slim, who was the richest man in the world for a time in the current century and is still in the top 5 to 10, is the son of Lebanese immigrants. (The family name is a Hispanicized version of the original name of Salim.[[/note]] Indigenous Mexicans like the Mayans and Nahuas are okay in period pieces, but seem to vanish after Cortés - oh, and the only Nahua group anyone outside of Mexico pays attention to are the Aztecs.

* If Canada's city and suburban life are depicted in popular culture, it will be mostly UsefulNotes/{{Vancouver}}, because a lot of Hollywood productions are filmed there, giving it the nickname ''Hollywood North''. The only other locations that exist in popular culture are UsefulNotes/{{Toronto}}, UsefulNotes/{{Quebec}}, Winnipeg, and Nova Scotia. Saskatchewan may get mentioned too for being [[InherentlyFunnyWords a funny location name]], especially the city of [[HehHehYouSaidX Regina]], for the same reason (it's pronounced with a hard "I", rhyming with [[CountryMatters the word for a woman's privates]]). The only monuments that will be shown are the CN Tower and the Skydome, both in Toronto.

* Especially in American media, Mexicans will always be depicted as ''mestizo'', even in some of the more northern areas of Mexico where whites are just as common. Any other racial diversity, including Mexicans with African, Asian, or non-Spanish European ancestry, are pretty much unheard-of in fiction. Indigenous Mexicans like the Mayans and Nahuas are okay in period pieces, but seem to vanish after Cortés - oh, and the only Nahua group anyone outside of Mexico pays attention to are the Aztecs.
* Mexican characters are common in (beat 'em up) video-games and are prevalently depicted as [[MaskedLuchador masked luchadors]] in all of the main series, likely because Lucha Libre is the nation's most iconic national sport. Examples come in two distinct flavours: There's the [[HeroicBuild stacked]], [[JusticeWillPrevail heroic]], [[TheFaceless mysteriously faceless]], FriendToAllChildren type, which includes King from the VideoGame/{{Tekken}} series and the Aztec inspired, eagle-masked Tizoc from VideoGame/FatalFury - both fight to help fund and support local orphanages. The other type is far closer to real life and almost the exact opposite, being depicted as ''very'' [[TheNapoleon short in stature]], [[LargeHam loud]], [[ArrogantKungFuGuy gobby]] and HotBlooded, with [[ThemeNaming examples including]] El Fuerte from ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' (who's voiced like a pitched-down Speedy [=Gonzales=]), El Stingray from ''VideoGame/SaturdayNightSlamMasters'' and El Blaze from ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter''. Angel, from ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' (whose favourite foods are "tequila and raw cactus slices", according to her offical bio), represents a female Mexican luchadora, albeit without the usual mask.

* Mexico City is the only place that exists in fiction. Acapulco, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta might get a mention. Ditto Tijuana, but instead would be depicted more as a WretchedHive, where whorehouses, cheap tequila and donkeys are the main attractions.

* Due to the geographical closeness with the U.S., Mexicans are normally depicted, at least in the rest of Latin America, with the same stereotypes normally depicted [[EagleLand for Americans]], except "like to hide behind their inflated military budget" part is swapped out for "[[SmallNameBigEgo like to hide behind their oversized egos]]". Unlike with Americans, this is normally PlayedForLaughs. In a less funny version of this, Mexicans are sometimes stereotyped as being subservant to Americans, a statement normally considered a BerserkButton for Mexicans for obvious reasons.

* Burning countries flags either because they're against [[ForTheEvulz for no reason]].

* Historically, Canada is best remembered for the Klondike Gold Rush (1896-1899), where, as all fans of the Donald Duck comics know, Uncle Scrooge [=McDuck=] amassed his first fortune. The town is also known for the narrative poem ''Literature/TheShootingOfDanMcGrew''.

* CanadianMusic has a strong association with CountryMusic and FolkMusic, with famous examples such as Music/HankSnow, Music/LeonardCohen and Music/JoniMitchell. Some Canadian rock and pop acts like Music/PaulAnka, Music/NeilYoung, Music/{{Rush|Band}}, Music/CelineDion, Music/JustinBieber have reached iconic status, but are still often [[MistakenNationality mistaken for being American]] by some foreigners.

* Canadian national dishes are maple syrup, Kraft dinner (macaroni and cheese), poutine, butter tarts, and Canadian bacon. Except in Canada, it's called peameal bacon. [[InsistentTerminology Cue the confusion.]]

* In terms of technology, infrastructure, and lifestyles, Canada is often portrayed as being more primitive and [[CallToAgriculture close to nature]] than the "modern" United States (See above re: lumberjacks, hunters, and campers.). Socially, however, Canada is often portrayed as far more progressive and liberal than the United States, with laws supporting secularism, same-sex marriage, universal healthcare, mosaic culture, higher taxation to redistribute wealth, outlawing of capital punishment, strict gun control, etc. When foreigners ''are'' aware of this, they tend to depict Canada as either a progressive paradise or as CommieLand. American liberals often joke about moving to Canada or (if they live in a left-leaning northern state) [[DividedStatesOfAmerica seceding]] to join Canada whenever conservative politicians take power. American conservatives often joke about the celebrities who threaten to move to Canada the next time a Republican takes the White House but who never get around to doing so. In older works, this is somewhat justified as Canada was considerably more conservative politically than the US (although attitudes were shifting subtly before then) until the 1970s, when PM UsefulNotes/PierreTrudeau's controversial but [[LongRunners long-lasting]] Liberal government started to change ''absolutely everything''. Seriously; Trudeau's policies were controversial enough to kill the Liberal Party in some provinces for decades[[note]]In the most recent election in 2015, the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, who collectively have 48 seats and were previously hurt by Trudeau's energy policy, elected a grand total of ''five'' Liberal [=MPs=], compared to 39 for the Conservatives--and this was in a really good year for the Liberals.[[/note]], but important enough for him to be named the third-greatest person in Canadian history--and that's with many people who hated him voting to keep him down.

*** [[OurPresidentsAreDifferent The American President]] is a stereotype in itself. When actual presidents aren't directly referenced themselves a ''standard'' version of the American President will be used. Democratic Presidents will be portrayed as an {{Expy}} of UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy. Republican Presidents are usually portrayed as an {{Expy}} of UsefulNotes/RichardNixon and/or UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan. Invariably they all look up to UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln. In American fiction the President will always be a good, decent man who cares about his people. He may have some flaws, but they only make him human and don't diminish his heroic stature. In foreign fiction the portrayals tend to be more cynical and show him as either a [[PresidentEvil bumbling imbecilic fool, a closet racist or a corrupt, war mongering lunatic]]. Or he is just a puppet in hands of his Vice President, the Minister of Defense, the CIA or the FBI. In either way he will be involved in all kinds of [[GovernmentConspiracy shady conspiracy theories]] which plan the overthrow of foreign regimes that disobey Washington's orders by organizing new wars to please the American gun lobby. All the President wants to do is push the red button and [[NukeEm nuke the world to smithereens]]. Typically all his government meetings take place in the Oval Office or the Pentagon and without any interference or approval from the House of Congress. Apart from political and economical mayhem he may also have extra-marital affairs with his secretaries or other women, as made (in)famous by UsefulNotes/BillClinton. In America itself negative portrayals of the American President occur more in direct satirical attacks of a specific real life president, usually from the viewpoint of people from the opposite political ideology.
* [[UsefulNotes/GeorgiaUSA Georgia]] will almost always be treated as a backwards hick town that is extremely white and extremely intolerant (see the ''30 Rock'' episode "Stone Mountain"). The sole exception is its capital, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, which is 54% black (and they're all hip-hop artists), home to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[[note]]the acronym is inherited from its original name of Communicable Disease Center[[/note]]), two major universities, the world's busiest airport, and some of the largest medical and industrial facilities in the country, and actually has the 3rd highest population of LGBT people in the U.S. (behind San Francisco and Seattle). It's known as the home town of Coca-Cola, UsefulNotes/MartinLutherKingJr, where UsefulNotes/TedTurner founded Creator/{{TBS}} and CNN, and Delta Airlines. But at least since Music/RayCharles, it is "always on our mind".
* Alabama is best known for being the state where cowboys ride "with a banjo on their knee", the song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Music/LynyrdSkynyrd, and the homeplace of ''Film/ForrestGump''. On a more negative note, it's also the home state of the Ku Klux Klan (even though neither incarnation of the Klan was founded there) and many furious race riots in the past, plus its politics regarding abortion and gay marriage. Also famous for the city of Montgomery, where Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat to a racist white man notably set off the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
* UsefulNotes/NorthCarolina. Best known for the export of cotton and tobacco. Cape Hatteras is known as "the graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the huge amount of ships that sank there.[[note]]Necessity being the mother of invention, this is why NC's coasts are speckled with lighthouses -- to warn sailors away from rocky coasts in nighttime, against which many a ship has crashed.[[/note]] Cape Fear is infamous because of the thriller ''Film/CapeFear'', and Kitty Hawk is remembered as the area where UsefulNotes/{{the Wright Brothers}} made their first flight. Also, the Northeastern transplants of the Research Triangle Park near the capital tend to get the stinkeye from the rest of the state, spawning at least one [[FunWithAcronyms backronym]] for one of the cities that makes it up: "Central Area for Relocated Yankees".

* Arkansas is commonly confused with Kansas due to the name's similarity. Home of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African American students who were initially unable to attend the city's central high school due to their color. Other than that, it's best known for UsefulNotes/{{Walmart}} and UsefulNotes/BillClinton.
* Maryland: Maryland is where government employees who work in DC live or retire to (always Maryland, never Virginia.... the closer they are to the conspiracy, the better) and is full of nothing but Catholics (it was founded as the only Catholic colony and is home to the oldest Archdiocese in the United States). Baltimore is usually seen as a run down town where you'll be shot and where ''Series/TheWire'' is set in. Marylanders all over are obsessed with Orioles baseball, Ravens football, and eating blue crabs with Old Bay. Generally it's where the government hides top secret things related to aliens and conspiracies when they want to keep it closer than Nevada and New Mexico. The Eastern Shore (east of the Chesapeake Bay) and Panhandle (north of West Virginia) never get mentioned.

** When in New York, make sure that you show the Art/StatueOfLiberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Broadway, Wall Street, The New York Stock Exchange, Times Square, the UN Headquarters, Brooklyn Bridge, Film/KingKong or many Jewish actors or comedians like Creator/WoodyAllen. Play "New York, New York" by Music/FrankSinatra on the soundtrack. Mention at least once it's "the city that never sleeps." Whenever the Statue of Liberty is shown, it's often in a historical setting with immigrants arriving by ship in the harbor. And of course skyscrapers can be seen everywhere.
** New York City has five boroughs, namely the Bronx (where HipHop was born, the Yankees play, and the Bronx Zoo can be visited), Brooklyn (historically an immigrant neighborhood, full of BrooklynRage), Manhattan (cultural and economic heart of town, exemplified by Times Square, Wall Street and cultural icons like the Empire State Building, Broadway, Central Park, and several museums), Queens (which is like Brooklyn, but bigger, with fewer hipsters and more Mets fans) and Staten Island (which would be welcomed into New Jersey if it were even one iota less repulsive).

* Connecticut: Had you actually bothered to learn that [[NothingExcitingEverHappensHere Connecticut is a real place on the map]], you would probably think of its people as rich, snobby Rockefeller Republican Yalies who hate Harvard. Preppy style clothing is frighteningly common, especially among the baby boomer generation. The only entertainment available here is the local library, college sports, and the nearest mall.

* Mexican characters are common in (beat 'em up) video-games and are prevalently depicted as [[MaskedLuchador masked luchadors]] in all of the main series, likely because Lucha Libre is the nation's most iconic national sport. Examples come in two distinct flavours: There's the [[HeroicBuild stacked]], [[JusticeWillPrevail heroic]], [[TheFaceless mysteriously faceless]], FriendToAllChildren type, which includes King from the VideoGame/{{Tekken}} series and the Aztec inspired, eagle-masked Tizoc from VideoGame/FatalFury - both fight to help fund and support local orphanages. The other type is far closer to real life and almost the exact opposite, being depicted as ''very'' [[TheNapoleon short in stature]], [[LargeHam loud]], [[ArrogantKungFuGuy gobby]] and HotBlooded, with [[ThemeNaming examples including]] El Fuerte from ''Street [=Fighter=]'' (who's voiced like a pitched-down Speedy [=Gonzales=]), El Stingray from VideoGame/SaturdayNightSlamMasters and El Blaze from ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter''. Angel, from ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' (whose favourite foods are "tequila and raw cactus slices", according to her offical bio), represents a female Mexican luchadora, albeit without the usual mask.

* In (beat 'em up) videogames, American fighters (generally) come in one of two flavours, adhering to the distinct types presented by the {{Eagleland}} trope: Type 1 examples will often positively portray the [[AllAmericanFace all-American hero]], and include [[PatrioticFervor patriotic]], military powerhouse Guile of ''[[{{Franchise/StreetFighter}} Street Fighter]]'' Fame, who [[WearingAFlagOnYourHead has the Stars & Stripes tattooed to both shoulders]], as well as the HotBlooded, cheerfully friendly Terry Bogard from ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters''. Felicia from VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} also (arguably) represents Type 1, being a friendly, caring sort who wants nothing more than to [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream make it big on Broadway]].
** Type 2 examples are more numerous, the most obvious being Rufus of ''Street [=Fighter=]'' fame, who is morbidly obese, [[ArrogantKungFuGuy arrogant]], very dim, [[TheMunchausen chats absolute crap]] and has moves with sci-fi names (Galactic Tornado, Space Opera Symphony). Poison, also of ''Street [=Fighter=] (originally ''Final [=Fight=]) fame is very much Type 2, and is presented as overtly sexual, sleazy, sassy, and obsessed with money. In VideoGame/RivalSchools, one of the teams is made up of three American exchange students who sum up Type 2 almost completely; There's Roy, an arrogant, [[AbsoluteXenophobe xenophobic]] {{Jerkass}}, Tiffany an ''outrageously'' costumed, [[DumbIsGood ditzy]] cheerleader complete with ValleyGirl expressions and pneumatic boobs, and finally Boman -- a [[MoralGuardians preacher]] in training. A good Mixed Flavour Type example is Ken Masters of ''Street [=Fighter=]'' fame, who is definitely cocky and brash, but is also an honourable person and shown to deeply care about his friends and family.

* In fighting games and beat-em-ups, African-American characters are almost always male and tend to fulfill the roles of [[BlackBoxerStereotype imposing boxers]] or streetwise bruisers and are usually [[BadassNormal Badass Normals]] of some kind who possess [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower CharlesAtlasSuperpowers]]. They also generally tend to lack the more fanciful backgrounds of their non-black peers, as being a [[ScaryBlackMan big black guy]] is seen as more than enough of a gimmick to sell the character to the audience. This tendency is much more exaggerated in video games from Japan, where minimal exposure to African-Americans has enhanced stereotypes of their supposed toughness. Examples include Balrog from Street Fighter, Bruce Irvin from Tekken, Jax from Mortal Kombat, and T.J. Combo from Killer Instinct. On the odd chance that the character in question is a woman, she often plays the role [[MsFanservice of eye candy]], sporting highly revealing outfits that emphasize her voluptuous frame. Examples include Master Raven from Tekken and Kimberly Jackson from Street Fighter.

* UsefulNotes/NorthCarolina. Best known for the export of cotton and tobacco. Cape Hatteras is known as "the graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the huge amount of ships that sank there. Cape Fear is infamous because of the thriller ''Film/CapeFear''. Kitty Hawk is remembered as the area where UsefulNotes/{{the Wright Brothers}} made their first flight.

* Typically, all white people are stereotyped as primitive, slow-witted and uneducated gap toothed slack-jawed yokel ''rednecks'' and ''hillbillies''. They all have double names (''Billy Bob'', ''Mary Lou'') or biblical names (''Ezechiel'', ''Jebediah'') and are very religious Christians. All of them are Republican voting [[GoodOlBoy good ol' boys]] who don't believe in the evolution theory, yet see [[FlyingSaucer UFOs]] everywhere. Everybody is still frustrated that they lost the Civil War, yet confident that ''The South Will Rise Again''. They hang out the Confederate Flag, deny the Afro-American Civil Rights Movement ever happened and wish slavery was still in effect. Some of them are ugly and stupid as a result of inbreeding and [[KissingCousins fancy their cousins]].

** 3) The even more SmallTownTyrant FatSweatySouthernerInAWhiteSuit who lives on a plantation. He is constantly dabbing himself with a handkerchief or uses a fan for the same purpose. Typically he smokes a cigar, uses a cane and/or [[IOwnThisTown controls the local town]]. He has put all his brothers and cousins in high governmental positions. At night he is a closet UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan member. Can be a charming and sophisticated, yet arrogant and untrustworthy SouthernGentleman too.

* UsefulNotes/{{Colorado}} has something of a duality. On the one hand, there's Colorado Springs, aka the Vatican City of Protestant fundamentalism where everyone owns a gun and lives in the mountains. On the other, there's Boulder and the ski towns, home of the GranolaGirl, the NewAgeRetroHippie and, for the latter, rich celebrities making a second home, all of them snowboarding and [[TheStoner getting high]]. And if you're from UsefulNotes/{{Denver}} or (especially) its suburbs, you're either a wannabe BadassLongcoat who's thinking about shooting up [[UsefulNotes/{{Columbine}} a high school]] or the movie theater, or ducking and covering to get away. Eastern Colorado, of course, does not exist, consigned to the same void of nonexistence as the western slope or anything south of Colorado Springs. It is also the state ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' is set in and where the show's creators, Creator/TreyParkerAndMattStone, lived.

* Everyone in UsefulNotes/{{Idaho}} lives in a potato field, Boise, ''Film/{{Deliverance}}'' country (where everyone is part of the UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan or the Aryan Nation), or a boring small town that's apparently stuck in the 90s like ''Film/NapoleonDynamite''.

* [[UsefulNotes/GeorgiaUSA Georgia]] will almost always be treated as a backwards hick town that is extremely white and extremely intolerant (see the ''30 Rock'' episode "Stone Mountain"). The sole exception is its capital, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, which is 54% black (and they're all hip-hop artists), home to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[[note]]the acronym is inherited from its original name of Communicable Disease Center[[/note]]), two major universities, the world's busiest airport, and some of the largest medical and industrial facilities in the country, and actually has the 3rd highest population of LGBT people in the U.S. (behind San Francisco and Seattle). It's known as the home town of Coca-Cola, UsefulNotes/MartinLutherKingJr, where UsefulNotes/TedTurner founded Creator/{{TBS}} and Creator/{{CNN}}, and Delta Airlines. But at least since Music/RayCharles, it is "always on our mind".

* Black stereotypes tend to vary heavily based on gender. On the more negative end, Black males are often depicted as products of broken homes, with [[HairTriggerTemper extremely poor tempers]] and criminal aptitudes, who are obsessed with collecting the latest shoes and chains, dropped out of their [[SuckySchool poorly funded and maintained high schools]], are [[ReallyGetsAround hyper-promiscuous]] and unfaithful, and are always paying out child support to one of their numerous baby mothers. Black women are portrayed as weave-wearing welfare queens, with even nastier tempers, stressed out or neglectful baby mamas, obnoxious hoodrats, or ill-tempered shrews with giant-sized chips on their shoulders, and they are sometimes portrayed as more 'masculine' and less lady-like than their non-white counterparts. On the more positive end, black men are often stereotyped as the epitome of 'coolness'. They're laid-back, flashy, and effortlessly charismatic, equipped with natural athleticism, style, and [[BlackIsBiggerInBed sex appeal]]. These kinds of depictions often play on the stereotypical insecurities of white American males, who have, since the end of the civil rights movement, often viewed black men as their 'cooler' competition who make white men look lame by comparison. Black women on the other hand are often viewed as either the prototypical independent woman, smart, no-nonsense take charge ladies who aren't afraid to put people in their place, or as kind and nurturing maternal figures chock full of common sense and down-to-earth wisdom. Either way, in popular media they are often tasked with unshakingly supporting the (normally white) main protagonist through thick and thin and supplying him/her with much-needed advice. Strong, forthright, and dependable, they carry emotional and physical burdens without complaint, and [[MagicalNegro will happily help the protagonist reach their destination]]. However, just like their male counterparts, they can also be depicted as a source of insecurity for non-black women, as black women are often depicted as boasting [[BuxomBeautyStandard much curvier figures]] than their non-black counterparts, and due to the benefits of melanin, tend to age slower, which might make other women feel inadequate.
* In fighting games and beat-em-ups, African-American characters are almost always male and tend to fulfill the roles of [[BlackBoxerStereotype imposing boxers]] or streetwise bruisers and are usually[[BadassNormal Badass Normals]] of some kind who possess [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower CharlesAtlasSuperpowers]]. They generally tend to lack the more fanciful powers and abilities of their non-black peers, as being a [[ScaryBlackMan big black guy]] is seen as more than enough of a gimmick to sell the character to the audience. This tendency is much more exaggerated in video games from Japan, where minimal exposure to black people has enhanced stereotypes of their supposed toughness. Examples include Balrog and Mike from Street Fighter, Bruce Irvin from Tekken, Jax from Mortal Kombat, and T.J. Combo from Killer Instinct. On the odd chance that the character in question is a woman, she's usually a [[MsFanservice]], whose revealing outfits emphasize a curvaceous figure.
* A similar rule used to pervade the world of Professional Wrestling, where for many years simply being 'a black guy who wrestles' and hailed 'from the streets' was seen as more than enough of a backstory. However since the early 2010's this has begun to change, and many prominent contemporary black wrestlers now possess actual gimmicks.

* In a multi-racial cast, especially in family media and comedic works, chances are the African-American character will be presented as comparatively level-headed, a sort of racial take on CloserToEarth. If that is the case, you may expect them to sarcastically comment 'white people' in response to the zany antics of the other characters.

* Modern stereotypes depict them as jazz musicians, [[GospelMusic gospel]] or {{Doowop}} choir singers, fiery baptist preachers with loud and [[PunctuatedForEmphasis punctuated speech]], basketball or American football players, boxers, dancers, computer geeks with big old glasses, [[NWordPrivileges N-word dropping]] stand-up comics, rappers, RnB heartthrobs, soul singers with large Afro-hair, [[GangBangers gang members]], drug dealers, pimps, bums, and prostitutes. They always [[JiveTurkey talk in slang]], and are usually [[SoulBrotha cool]], [[SassyBlackWoman sassy]], or[[ScaryBlackMan scary]]
* Black stereotypes tend to vary heavily based on gender. On the more negative end, Black males are often stereotypically depicted as products of broken homes, with [[HairTriggerTemper extremely poor tempers]] and criminal habits, who are obsessed with collecting the latest shoes and chains, dropped out of their [[SuckySchool poorly funded and maintained high schools]], are [[ReallyGetsAround hyper-promiscuous]] and unfaithful, and are always paying out child support to one of their numerous baby mothers. Black women are portrayed as weave-wearing welfare queens, with even nastier tempers, stressed out or neglectful baby mamas, obnoxious hoodrats, or ill-tempered shrews with giant-sized chips on their shoulders, and are sometimes portrayed as more 'masculine' and less lady-like than their non-white counterparts. On the more positive end, black men are often stereotyped as the epitome of what it means to be 'cool'. They're laid-back, flashy, and effortlessly charismatic, equipped with natural athleticism, style, and [[BlackIsBiggerInBed sex appeal]]. These kinds of depictions often play on the stereotypical insecurities of white American males, who have, since the end of the civil rights movement, often viewed black men as their 'cooler' competition who make white men look lame by comparison. Black women on the other hand are often viewed as either the prototypical independent woman, smart, no-nonsense take charge ladies who aren't afraid to put people in their place, or as kind and nurturing maternal figures chock full of common sense and down-to-earth wisdom. Either way, in popular media they are often tasked with unshakingly supporting the (normally white) main protagonist through thick and thin and supplying him/her with much-needed advice. Strong, forthright, and dependable, they carry emotional and physical burdens without complaint, and [[MagicalNegro will happily help the protagonist reach their destination]]. However, just like their male counterparts, they can also be depicted as a source of insecurity for non-black women, as black women are often depicted as boasting [[BuxomBeautyStandard much curvier figures]] than their non-black counterparts, which might make other women feel inadequate.

** A more surprising notion for people outside the USA is that Afro-Americans are still a minority in the United States. They only take up about 14% of the general population! From watching American films and TV series one gets the impression that there are about as many Afro-Americans as white people in the USA. (This has a sliver of truth to it though, since American TV shows are more likely to be set in major cities, and in many American cities it is entirely possible to see as many black faces as white ones over the course of a day. In most suburban and rural areas, not so much.)

* Black stereotypes tend to vary heavily based on gender. On the more negative end, Black males are often stereotypically depicted as products of broken homes, with [[HairTriggerTemper extremely poor tempers]] and criminal habits, who are obsessed with collecting the latest shoes and chains, dropped out of their [[SuckySchool poorly funded and maintained high schools]], are [[ReallyGetsAround hyper-promiscuous]] and unfaithful, and are always paying out child support to one of their numerous baby mothers. Black women are portrayed as weave-wearing welfare queens, with even nastier tempers, stressed out or neglectful baby mamas, obnoxious hoodrats, or ill-tempered shrews with giant-sized chips on their shoulders, and are sometimes portrayed as more 'masculine' and less lady-like than their non-white counterparts. On the more positive end, black men are often stereotyped as the epitome of what it means to be 'cool'. They're laid-back, flashy, and effortlessly charismatic, equipped with natural athleticism, toughness, style, and [[BlackIsBiggerInBed sex appeal]]. These kinds of depictions often play on the stereotypical insecurities of white American males, who have, since the end of the civil rights movement, often viewed black men as their 'cooler' competition who make white men look lame by comparison. Black women on the other hand are often viewed as either the prototypical independent woman, smart, no-nonsense take charge ladies who aren't afraid to put people in their place, or as kind and nurturing maternal figures chock full of common sense and down-to-earth wisdom. Either way, in popular media they are often tasked with unshakingly supporting the (normally white) main protagonist through thick and thin and supplying him/her with much-needed advice. Strong, forthright, and dependable, they carry emotional and physical burdens without complaint, and [[MagicalNegro will happily help the protagonist reach their destination]]. However, just like their male counterparts, they can also be depicted as a source of insecurity for non-black women, as black women are often depicted as boasting [[BuxomBeautyStandard curvier figures]], and more sex appeal than their non-black counterparts, and might make other women feel somewhat inadequate.

** A more surprising notion for people outside the USA is that Afro-Americans are still a minority in the USA. They only take up about 12% of the general population! From watching American films and TV series one gets the wrong impression that there are about as much Afro-Americans as white people in the USA. (This has a sliver of truth in it, since American TV shows are more likely to be set in cities, and in some American cities it is entirely possible to see as many black faces as white ones over the course of a day. In most suburban and rural areas, not so much.)
* In a multi-racial cast, especially in family media and comedic works, chances are the African-American character will be presented as comparatively level-headed, a sort of racial take on CloserToEarth. If that is the case, you may expect lines about "white people stuff" delivered as sarcastic comments on the antics of the other characters.

* Modern stereotypes depict them as jazz musicians, [[GospelMusic gospel]] or {{Doowop}} choir singers, fiery baptist preachers with loud and [[PunctuatedForEmphasis punctuated speech]], basketball or American football players, boxers, dancers, computer geeks with large glasses, [[NWordPrivileges N-word dropping]] stand-up comics, rappers, RnB heartthrobs, soul singers with large Afro-hair, [[GangBangers gang members]], pimps, and prostitutes. They always [[JiveTurkey talk in slang]] and are usually [[SoulBrotha cool]] and [[SassyBlackWoman sassy
* These stereotypes vary based on gender. On the more negative end, Black males are often stereotypically depicted as being fatherless individuals who were raised by a single mother or grandparents, have [[HairTriggerTemper extremely poor tempers]], are obsessed with collecting the latest shoes and chains, dropped out of their [[SuckySchool poorly funded and maintained high schools]], are [[ReallyGetsAround promiscuous]] to the point of producing many children by different women and have to pay immense child support. Black women are portrayed as weave-wearing welfare queens, with even nastier tempers, stressed out or neglectful baby mamas, or gruffly independent women with chips on their shoulders, and are sometimes viewed as more 'masculine' than their non-white counterparts. On the more positive end, black men are often stereotyped as the epitome of what it means to be 'cool'. They're laid-back, flashy, effortlessly charismatic, and unshakingly confident, with natural athleticism, toughness, style, and [[BlackIsBiggerInBed sex appeal]]. These kinds of depictions often play on the stereotypical insecurities of white American males, who have historically viewed black men as 'hyper-masculine' threats to their position, hence all the jokes about [[ChocolateBaby Chocolate babies]] you may have heard before. Black women on the other hand are often viewed as the prototypical independent woman, smart, no-nonsense take charge ladies who aren't afraid to put people in their place. In popular media, such black women often take nurturing or protective roles as maternal or big sister figures, unshakingly defending and supporting the (normally white) main protagonist through thick and thin and giving her much-needed reality checks. However, just like their male counterparts, they can also be depicted as a source of insecurity for white women, their 'natural strength' and stereotypical [[BuxomBeautyStandard curvaceousness]] serving as a source of jealousy for others.
* Throughout most of the 19th and 20th century, the USA was depicted in foreign popular culture as a place where all white men were racists and/or members of the UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan who oppressed or lynched black people. Often the American president himself would be depicted as a white "nigger-hating" asshole. In more recent times, this idea has died out, save for news stories about white PoliceBrutality against black people and getting away with it without legally being persecuted, and starting in the 2010s, protests always happening because of it. Foreigners still have the impression it's tough to be black in the USA, but it doesn't seem as awful as it was before 1964.

* Old stereotypes show them as slaves, working in cotton fields and singing bluesy songs. If they are a bit better off they are portrayed as servants, butlers, cooks, shoe shiners, or [[{{Mammy}} ''Mammy'' maids]]. They enjoy eating watermelons and/or chickens or playing dice games. Typical for those times they are depicted as being lazy, dumb, superstitious, primitive, or overly submissive ("Yes suh, no ma'm") to their white superiors [[ScaryBlackMan and scared of ghosts]]. If a black character is joyful, he is usually an [[UncleTomFoolery Uncle Tom]] or [[Film/SongOfTheSouth Uncle Remus]] type of character.
** Most of these stereotypes still exist today, but are often used for the sake of parody or RefugeInAudacity. When these offensive characteristics are PlayedStraight today, they are immediately met with controversy.
* Modern stereotypes depict them as either being jazz musicians, [[GospelMusic gospel]] or {{Doowop}} choir singers, baptists with loud and [[PunctuatedForEmphasis punctuated speech]], basketball players, dancers, computer geeks with large glasses, [[NWordPrivileges N-word dropping]] stand-up comics, rappers, soul singers with large Afro-hair, [[GangBangers gang members]], pimps, and prostitutes. They always [[JiveTurkey talk in jive]] and are usually [[SoulBrotha cool]] and [[SassyBlackWoman sassy]]. Black males are also stereotypically depicted as being fatherless individuals who were raised by a single, neglectful mother or grandparents on welfare, have [[HairTriggerTemper extremely bad tempers]], obsessed with collecting Nike shoes like Air Jordans, having dropped out of their [[SuckySchool poorly funded and maintained high schools]], are [[ReallyGetsAround promiscuous]] to the point of having many children by different women and have to pay child support for their children, while black women are either portrayed as welfare queens, having even nastier tempers, stressed out or neglectful baby mamas, or more positively, the strong, independent black women.

* If you have to emphasize that you're in the United States, don't forget to reference the following clichés: the bald eagle, apple pie, baseball, basketball, American football, a ticker-tape parade, a gun show, corn, (Thanksgiving) turkeys, skyscrapers, prairies, coyotes, canyons, the Star Spangled Banner, [[RushmoreRefacement Mount Rushmore]], The White House, the Art/StatueOfLiberty, the Hollywood sign, rockets, {{jazz}}, {{blues}}, {{bluegrass}}, {{gospel music}}, {{country music}}, Music/FrankSinatra, RockNRoll, Music/ElvisPresley, HipHop, a fast food chain (preferably UsefulNotes/McDonalds), Coca Cola, [[AbsurdlyLongLimousine large cars]] driving over deserted roads, a school shooting, hamburgers, hot dogs, cowboys, Native Americans, and WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse.

** Americans helped Europe win two world wars, but its citzens usually forget that the US collaborated with other countries to defeat the Axis. Many war movies and documentaries paint [[AmericaWonWorldWarII the wrong impression that America won these wars singlehandedly]]. After World War II, the United States were generally seen as liberators by all the countries that had been suppressed by the Nazis or Japanese: AmericaSavesTheDay. This led to an internationally positive view of the U.S. where many people across the world gladly embraced American products like Coca Cola, chewing gum, large cars, and Hollywood films. As the Truman doctrine was introduced, the American government started sending troops to every major international conflict, thus coining the nickname "the policeman of the world." By the 1960s, at the height of UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, American's foreign policy was criticized by other countries. In later decades, America's involvement in many wars, rebellions, and other conflicts became controversial, usually because it seemed to be a greater benefit to their own government and multinationals than the actual countries themselves. To this day, America's heroic image has remained polarized. A considerable number of people across the globe hate the USA solely based on the actions of their government, their powerful multinational corporations, and their aggressive marketing campaigns. (See AmericaSavesTheDay, AmericaTakesOverTheWorld, UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks and AmericaWonWorldWarII), though at the same time they still use American products and enjoy American films and TV series. Also, the USA isn't the only (Western) country with internationally powerful multinationals and governments who sponsor dictatorships and engage in wars.
** Thanks to the numerous TheWildWest legends and movie westerns, the country is still seen as AmericansAreCowboys. If a character in foreign fiction is depicted as being American, he is either a cowboy or at least wearing a cowboy hat.
** UsefulNotes/AmericanGunPolitics: Even though the U.S. isn't the only country where carrying firearms is legal, the image of the "gun-obsessed American" is more common than with other nationalities. Many American citizens appear to be extensions of cowboys who will proudly [[CrazyPrepared sometimes carry a gun everywhere they go, even if there is no danger about]]. This "gun obsession" may have also been popularized by numerous westerns and violent Hollywood action movies where the cool ones always have [[PhallicWeapon large guns]]. Similar to a typical Hollywood scenario, American real life crime fighting is often presented as if you just have to hunt and shoot down "the bad guy" and every problem is solved.

*** These major shootings always spark huge debates over whether or not the United States should enact more stringent legislation regarding the sale of guns. In foreign media many people have the impression that all American gun owners are mostly conservative trigger-happy Republican rednecks, obsessed with the 2nd Amendment (which gives the right to bear arms) and are firmly terrified of any gun control. In reality, even liberal-minded and otherwise not-that-macho Americans may own a gun or more for self-defense, hunting, or just target shooting in clubs. It has been claimed that a majority of Americans are actually in favor of stricter guns laws, even though, once again, concrete measures still seem a long way from ever getting passed in Congress.

** UsefulNotes/AmericanChurches: Outside the USA, many people have the impression that all Americans are devoutly obsessed with God and Jesus and will do anything to force their conservative ideals on others. The amount of cults and/or spin-offs of Christianity in the USA is amazing, from Mormonism over Scientology to Christian Science. Even the national pledge of allegiance is held to "one nation under God" and the US president will frequently conclude his speeches with the phrase "May God bless America." Compared to other Western countries, a large amount of Americans frequently visit their local religious community, pray, believe every word in their religious books literally, and get scared or angry when confronted with someone who merely suggests that Church and State should remain separate. Despite having some TruthInTelevision, many foreign news casts and documentaries have a tendency to focus on the most extreme pious, intolerant, corrupt, money grabbing, near insane God fearing fundamentalists instead of the average, moderate, non-judgemental church goers. Historically, the United States didn't have a health care system like other democratic Western nations have, so being part of a religious community often used to be the only way to get aid from your local neighborhood during sour times.
** OnlyInAmerica: In foreign eyes, Americans seem to have very odd, almost contradictive repressive attitudes towards children, adolescents, and even adults. Owning guns is O.K. Praising the military is wonderful. Watching extremely violent, bloody, and gory films is an innocent pastime. But the mere sight of a bare breast or genitalia is a gigantic BerserkButton, despite the fact that gun violence is more harmful than human nudity. Countless American films, series, and public broadcasts try to discourage people from having premarital sex. Yet, at the same time, American media desperately tries to suggest nudity and sex, but always just shy away from actually showing it. It's almost tempting fate. The subject is so often censored and avoided in the USA that whenever a glimpse of nudity or sex does appear in a film or TV series, it immediately causes excitement and/or controversy. A lot of it hardly bats an eye in Europe, where violence is the most common subject for censorship, especially regarding minors.
*** Another example is the legal drinking age in the U.S.A. of 21 years old compared to the age of 16 or 18 in most European countries and 18 in the neighboring Mexico. Despite being one of the biggest beer drinkers in the world who promote 'having a beer with your buddies' constantly in the media, the idea of teenagers having alcohol is just too frightening! [[note]] This isn't really from fear, it's due to the extreme reliance on private automobiles in the US versus the vastly more extensive public transportation in Europe, and a great many locales in Europe being walkable. A 16 year old walking home stumble drunk isn't much of a danger, but one driving a car certainly is. [[/note]]
*** From the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "I'm A Little Bit Country": "Imagine an entire country founded on saying one thing and then doing the other."
*** Many Americans see nothing particularly hypocritical in not wanting nudity on network TV in the day, but do enjoy it on late night HBO. [[note]] The idea of hourly restrictions is to prevent children from seeing this content. It may well be prudish and not be effective, but it's not hypocritical. Note also that non broadcast venues like HBO can show nudity any time of day. [[/note]] Also note that the U.S. has a large porn industry and for most of the second half of the 20th century sold many issues of nudity magazines like Magazine/{{Playboy}}, "Hustler", "Penthouse" and "Screw". Even though Americans often claim they don't have a problem with sex and nudity their personal attitude towards the matter in the media is far more prohibiting than in Europe. It gets to the point that most American mainstream films and TV series that specifically have sex as a major topic or theme still have remarkably few actual nudity in them.

* America is also known for the significant amount of recreational drug use prevalent in the country (far more than any other developed nation) resulting in many common stereotypes, including: drunken, giggling men celebrating St. Patrick's Day in New York, unshaven roadside hippies listening to Jimi Hendrix while stoned out of their minds in California, drug-abusing gangsta rap and hip-hop stars, large crowds full of intoxicated teenagers and young adults dancing wildly to booming rave and club music at house parties, the shaken mental patient recounting his illuminating and/or terrifying hallucinogenic drug experiences, crowds of dazed stoners campaigning for the marijuana legalization on "4/20", cigar-chomping businessmen, celebrity alcoholics that drink and drive, beer-guzzling/cocaine-snorting heavy metal stars, crystal meth-addicted gun-brandishing Southern rednecks, and perpetually depressed emos addicted to prescription drugs and heroin. A great deal of the drug abuse prevalent in the United States is due to the extreme policies of the War on Drugs started by Richard Nixon in the late 1960s (and championed further by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s), which criminalized and imprisoned people for drug use rather than invest in addiction clinics or solution to the poverty conditions that led many to drugs in the first place. This "War" is now seen as a miserable failure and has caused a lot of societal damage throughout the country, especially to the poor and minorities (although some substances have been decriminalized and legalized in specific states).
* America’s stereotypical reputation as a country of morons - to put it bluntly - is also fed by the fact that so many news reports about insane fundamentalists, crazy conspiracy theorists, horrible accidents, failed stunts, terminally unhealthy people and stupid corrupt politicians always seem to come from the U.S. In the country itself such wacky news events seem to concentrate in [[OnlyInFlorida Florida]], California, Texas, Utah and Washington. American public schools and even universities are notorious for being far below a decent educational level and general knowledge, compared with other industrialized and well-developed countries. This stereotypical image is further fed by the fact that basically any citizen of the United States can blabber whatever he or she wants, because they are protected by the freedom of speech and know very well that it will give them enough media attention if they shout loud enough. Also adding to America's non-intelligent reputation is that since the 1950s quite some U.S. Presidents have come from bizarre backgrounds and are more televisually intrigueing than anything else. These include [[UsefulNotes/DwightEisenhower an army general without prior political experience]], [[UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy a womanizer who looked like a fashion model]], [[UsefulNotes/JimmyCarter a peanut farmer/nuclear engineer]], [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan a Hollywood actor]], [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush a former oil tycoon/baseball team owner]] (and son of [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush a former president]]), [[UsefulNotes/BillClinton an amateur saxophonist]], and [[UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump a businessmen and reality TV show host without any political or military experience before he was elected]].

* WackyAmericansHaveWackyNames: Outside the US, particularly from a UK/AUS point of view, there are names that are thought of as being quintessentially American-esque. Suitably macho, jock names likes "Chad", "Todd", "Brad", etc. for boys, and cutesy names like "Tiffany", "Candy", or "Britney" for girls are great examples, and if Americans are spoofed in media produced outside the US, you can bet a name like the above will be selected. If you tell someone from outside of America that your name is 'Randy', expect raised eyebrows (especially in Britain[[note]]"randy" is synonymous with "horny" in British English[[/note]]). Americans are also known for sometimes having rather an [[WhoNamesTheirKidDude ''interesting'' taste in names]], often striving for something "unique" rather than traditional -- one only has to watch American talk-shows to see guests with names like "Jaxxon", "Sharpay", and "Sharadiant". Even dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist conservatives like Sarah Palin exhibit a penchant for rather strange names, with her children -- Bristol, Piper, ''Track'', Willow, and ''Trig''...

** To snobbish people, the USA seems to lack any actual art or sophistication and is centuries behind the cultural traditions of other continents. But how could it be otherwise, they say, if more government spending is used for the military and college sports than the [[UsefulNotes/AmericanEducationalSystem American public school system?]]. Everything ''made in U.S.A.'' seems to be campy, decadent, unoriginal, dumbed down, overcommercialized kitsch [[MerchandiseDriven only created to serve the ''almighty American dollar]]''. This image is particularly influenced by the power of huge multinationals like Creator/{{Disney}}, [[CocaPepsiInc Coca Cola, Pepsi]], UsefulNotes/McDonalds, General Motors, Creator/{{MTV}}, [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Microsoft]] and Apple who appear to be everywhere. [[HorribleHollywood Hollywood]] and [[ItCameFromBeverlyHills Beverly Hills]] dominate movie and TV screens and give us dumb and shallow blockbuster movies, campy soap operas and sitcoms with laugh tracks. All American pop music is bland, watered down and appeals to cheap emotions only, without any authentic appeal or artistic vision. The USA seems to have no philosophical or literary tradition of any note, except infantile superhero comics. Literature fans still wait for the UsefulNotes/GreatAmericanNovel to be written. Their culinary tradition is downgraded by their tendency for fast food and soft drinks. If snobbish foreigners really want to point out what makes America's idea of culture so different they tend to point at stuff like [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland]], UsefulNotes/LasVegas, the Magazine/{{Playboy}} mansion, pink limousines, shallow beauty contests, and phony award shows. In reality, of course, not all Americans enjoy this stuff. The USA is not even the only country with multinationals or shoddy unsophisticated stuff, and there are enough Americans who have made and endorsed art, education and technology of a more sophisticated and less commercialized nature. Many American film classics are internationally respected for being great works of art. {{Jazz}} is widely seen as the truest and most unique American art form and one could argue that even country, blues, rock, soul and hiphop have something authentic and original in their roots. The UsefulNotes/GreatAmericanNovel may not have been written yet, but there have been some strong contenders for that title up to this point.

** Foreign audiences associate American media with big budget spectacle. Consider the fact that Hollywood is the only place in the world where millions of dollars are used to make films and TV shows about sensational topics. And mostly because they can export it to the rest of the world, even if fails to make a profit in the U.S. During the first half of the 20th century, westerns were their most successful international export product. Since the second half of that century, it's mostly blockbuster action movies with long fight sequences, spectacular explosions, and gratuitous bullet rains.

** America, and especially Los Angeles, are also infamous for loving and celebrating pop culture beyond belief. Theme parks, [[Film/MidnightMovie midnight movies]], [[DriveInTheater drive-ins]], TV marathons based on a particular film genre, fan clubs, [[CultClassic cult classics]], [[FanConvention geeky fan conventions]],... all originated in the US. Americans really enjoy everything that's campy and bizarre, no matter how dumb, shallow, bad, or lousy it might be. People gather around with friends to watch their favorite films or TV episodes for the zillionth time. They will dress up as their favorite fictional characters for Halloween. Hosts of horror movie themed TV shows will present the film of the week in costume. Fans will buy or trade issues or rare bootlegs to add to their proud collection. T-shirts and posters are created around certain artists, characters or quotes. Other countries have started following this phenomenon in recent times, but still the sheer fun and excitement built around celebrating certain franchises, films, TV series, cartoons, comic strips, video games, Internet series, or musical artists can only be experienced full in the US. The only downside of this behaviour is that some people have the impression that Americans live too much in these fake ''made in Hollywood'' fantasies and base their entire world view on that.
** The USA also has a close association with comic strips and animated cartoons. Despite not being the inventor of these media they did popularize and commercialize it globally. The USA has a broad variety in comic book genres, but still {{Superhero}} comics are often regarded as the most ''typical'' American. ''Typical'' in the sense that these superheroes are well known across the globe, but more thanks to movie adaptations than the actual comics, and thus only seem extremely popular in the USA itself. Foreigners will often mock superhero stories for being nothing more than naïve, childish and formulaic tales about some [[TheCape caped]] crusader with omnious superpowers, gained from some absurd incident during his youth. The character will typically be running or flying around in a PaperThinDisguise and beating up ridiculous supervillains, while shouting badass lines. As usual he will triumph in the end, because, after all, he has super powers, so how could he be beaten? Especially in Europe readers can't relate to these ''heroic'' characters and prefer their own, more down to earth comic strips series about everyday people. This also explains why American comic strips and cartoons about identifiable ordinary [[TheWoobie pitiful losers]], such as ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'', ''WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' have always been far more succesful in Europe.

* When playing sports: all Americans will be playing UsefulNotes/{{Baseball}}, UsefulNotes/AmericanFootball, or UsefulNotes/{{Basketball}}, usually with some cheerleaders jumping on the side. All these sports originated in the United States and remain far more popular than soccer, which is universally beloved in almost every country, except in the U.S, where many of the world's most iconic soccer players are almost obscure.
* Some animals that are seen as "typical" American (despite the fact that many also live in Canada and/or only in certain parts of the USA) are the bald eagle, mountain lions, grizzly bears, American black bears, beavers, coyotes, cougars, bobcats, mooses, reindeers, alligators, raccoons, striped skunks, opossums, muskrats, gila monsters, rattlesnakes, bisons and buffaloes, turkeys, and groundhogs.
* If you have to emphasize that you're in the United States, don't forget to reference the following clichés: the bald eagle, apple pie, baseball, basketball, American football, a ticker-tape parade, a gun show, corn, (Thanksgiving) turkeys, skyscrapers, prairies, coyotes, canyons, the Star Spangled Banner, [[RushmoreRefacement Mount Rushmore]], The White House, the Art/StatueOfLiberty, the Hollywood sign, rockets, {{Jazz}}, {{Blues}}, {{Bluegrass}}, {{Gospel Music}}, CountryMusic, Music/FrankSinatra, RockNRoll, Music/ElvisPresley, HipHop, a fast food chain (preferably UsefulNotes/McDonalds), Coca Cola, [[AbsurdlyLongLimousine large cars]] driving over deserted roads, a school shooting, hamburgers, hot dogs, cowboys, Native Americans, and WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse.

** A more surprising notion for people outside the USA is that Afro-Americans are still a minority in the USA. They only take up about 12% of the general population! From watching American films and TV series one gets the wrong impression that there are about as much Afro-Americans as white people in the USA. (This has a sliver of truth in it, since American TV shows are more likely to be set in cities, and in some American cities it is entirely possible to see as many black faces as white ones over the course of a day. In suburban and rural areas, not so much.)

* Historically, they have been called "Indians", a word that is still used outside the U.S.A. In the United States themselves, the word is no longer considered politically correct and they are referred to as "Native Americans" or "American Indians." (Obviously, Native Americans themselves have various individual preferences, but usually, either of these terms is least likely to cause offense.)

* A more positive depiction of Native Americans that became the norm since the 1960s is the NobleSavage or MagicalNativeAmerican, all of them [[BadassNative badass]]. They will be PerfectPacifistPeople who prefer smoking the PeacePipe and signing peace treaties with white men. Unfortunately, they are usually the victim of the white man's greed and colonialism. Often they live in such harmony with nature that they only kill as many buffaloes they need and not a single one more. Usually will provide the foolish white man with a GreenAesop about nature and the danger of destroying the environment. This image has become so strong that they are often used in environmental messages, like the CryingIndian.

* In popular culture, Native Americans are virtually a historical artifact. Stories set in the modern age hardly show them, except as proprietors of {{Native American Casino}}s. Those who aren't are poor, live in reservations, and are either alcoholics, diabetics, or both.

** UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco is best known for its streetcars, Golden Gate Bridge, the Transamerica pyramid, [[Franchise/StarTrek Star Fleet Headquarters]], wineries, Silicon Valley, earthquakes, Chinese people, homosexuals, and hippies.

** TruthInTelevision: The state's tourist magazine runs a monthly column called "One of Our Fifty Is Missing," for readers to report real-world encounters with others who honestly don't know that New Mexico is a state, leading for example to requests to show a New Mexico passport, etc. One of these was an experience recounted by a ''former governor of New Mexico''.

* UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} is TheWildWest. It's extremely hot and sunny here, [[Film/MrsDoubtfire enough to melt a snow cone in Phoenix]]. All rural (much of the landscape really is, but in terms of the population, in reality, Arizona is one of the more populous states in the union, has the highest percentage of the people living in cities with over 100,000 people of any state, and its capital, Phoenix, is one of the ten American cities with a population of over a million) and the population consists of outlaws, {{Cowboy Cop}}s, and bartenders. Anybody who tries to enter from [[SouthOfTheBorder the south]] will be shot on sight. Half of the locations are all known for their national parks (Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest, many Indian reservation camps,...) or their {{Western}} connotations, like Yuma, Tombstone and the O.K. Corral. Arizona is also nicknamed "The Copper State", because copper is the predominant mineral. Historically it is furthermore well known as the last of the lower 48 states to join the United States. It's also known as the state where John [=McCain=] was a senator.

* UsefulNotes/{{Colorado}} has something of a duality. On the one hand, there's Colorado Springs, aka the Vatican City of Protestant fundamentalism where everyone owns a gun and lives in the mountains. On the other, there's Boulder and the ski towns, home of the GranolaGirl, the NewAgeRetroHippie and, for the latter, rich celebrities making a second home, all of them snowboarding and [[TheStoner getting high]]. And if you're from UsefulNotes/{{Denver}} or (especially) its suburbs, you're either a wannabe BadassLongcoat who's thinking about shooting up [[UsefulNotes/{{Columbine}} High School]] or the movie theater, or ducking and covering to get away. Eastern Colorado, of course, does not exist, consigned to the same void of nonexistence as the western slope or anything south of Colorado Springs. It is also the state ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' is set in and where the show's creators, Creator/TreyParkerAndMattStone, lived.

* South Dakota is famous for Mount Rushmore... and features nothing else. (Except ''possibly'' [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Drug Wall Drug]]). It doesn't matter how you drive into the state; it'll always be the first thing you come across. The rest of it is pine trees, highways, and wasteland. In truth, eastern South Dakota has the overflow crowd of Norwegian Lutherans, for a lot of it.

** Des Moines, Iowa: the reason why Creator/BillBryson left town and came to England, making a rep as a famous travel writer, journalist, and occasional TV presenter. Without actually saying so, he implies the cloying crushing boredom of his home town and native state was the biggest single prompt to him to get up and go as far away as possible.
* [[CornyNebraska Nebraskans]] still drive covered wagons, live on farms, and raise corn and cows. They are also rabid Cornhusker fans, loving the team even more than their own families.

* Indiana: The Three Kinds of Indiana: hicks who could've been from Alabama if they weren't wearing snowboots and a winter coat; whitebread EverytownAmerica-ish suburbanites (particularly around Indianapolis and the Chicagoland region); and Inner City Indiana, for which the exemplar is Gary, Indiana, AKA the Armpit of America, where the chemical factories and steel mills release a putrid perfume for all to smell and where the cops will beat the crap out of you, cite you for marijuana possession... and proceed to smoke it right in your face. But to the rest of the world, Indiana is associated with Franchise/IndianaJones' first name and the Indianapolis 500 race. Most recently the state passed law which grants business owners the right of conscience to refuse to serve customers whose lifestyles and opinions offend them especially those who object to gay marriage. It caused a national outrage with many businesses cutting ties to the state and making it so that the Indiana government went back to revise the language in the law. The law ultimately didn't do any lasting damage, as Mike Pence, the governor who signed it, later became Vice President.

** 2) The [[SmallTownTyrant corrupt, racist, xenophobic, pot bellied sheriff]] in SinisterShades who supposedly obeys the law, yet informs everybody: ''We do things our own way here.'' This typically involves having no trials or one where a SimpleCountryLawyer and/or a HangingJudge who will invariably chose the side of the sherrif and sentence you to heavy fines or a lynching by hanging. All his prisoners are typically WorkingOnTheChainGang alongside the road.

** 4) A fire-and-brimstone preacher who is staunchly conservative, judgemental and intolerant. He believes every word in the Bible literally, denounces the evolution theory and will engage in exorcisms, magical healings, river baptisms and stuff that is a mix between fraud and superstition. Is either Baptist or Pentecostal and will be supported by MoralGuardians and frightened locals.

* People from UsefulNotes/{{Tennessee}} are either hillbillies who play banjos and [[KissingCousins sleep with their cousins]], typical fat DeepSouth rednecks, or in the case of Memphis, murderous inner-city thugs who will beat you up, steal your wallet, and stab or shoot you to death if they think you might have more than $5 on you. The hillbillies are all on meth, the rednecks are all drunk, and the gangstas guzzle codeine cough syrup by the quart. The exceptions are Nashville, which is populated entirely with country musicians, Memphis, with blues musicians, and Graceland, which is filled with [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] freaks.
* West Virginia is considered an acceptable target even by the most politically correct people out there. According to the rest of America, West Virginians are all uneducated, white trash, racist, dirt poor, toothless, shoeless, gun-toting hillbillies who eat raccoons and have moonshine running through their veins. The state pastimes include hunting squirrels and having sex with their [[BrotherSisterIncest cousins]], then letting their inbred offspring drive when they're two-years-old.

** UsefulNotes/{{Houston}} is home to the Space Center, [[Film/{{Apollo13}} where a problem might be informed]] and San Antonio is historically remembered for [[RememberTheAlamo the Alamo]]. TV watchers world wide also know it for oil-bearing ranches, as depicted in ''Series/{{Dallas}}'', the same city where UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy was assassinated.

* UsefulNotes/{{Oklahoma|USA}}: Texas's dumb little brother. Everyone who lives Oklahoma is either a proud [[MagicalNativeAmerican Native American living in a teepee]], a [[HalfWittedHillbilly dumb-as-rocks, meth-addicted hillbilly]] living in a trailer wondering why the "ternaders" always blow his house away, the RightWingMilitiaFanatic, the SouthernFriedPrivate, or a SmallTownTyrant oil baron or rancher. The entire state is made up of flat, featureless prairie, with no trees or hills to speak of, and has a climate that is either boiling hot or freezing cold depending on the time of the day or year. Bison herds can be found anywhere with open space. Tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, and even acts of domestic terrorism are daily occurrences. Common pastimes include watching college football, shopping at Walmart, having sex with your sister, and making fun of Texas and/or Kansas. Residents will kindly tell out-of-staters to leave and never come back. The government rivals most third world dictatorships in terms of brazen corruption. [[BerserkButton Whatever you do, don't call it Midwestern]]. The rest of the world knows it for the eponymous musical ''Theatre/{{Oklahoma}}''.

** OnlyInFlorida and OnlyInMiami: The people who live in Florida are stereotyped as some of the dumbest, weirdest and most insane people in the world. They're depicted as extremely dim-witted surfer dudes, drunk college students, ditzy beach babes in bikinis, hippie nudists, reality TV stars, cultists, conspiracy theorists, gun-loving libertarian maniacs, crazy old retired people, neo-Confederates and deranged criminals who commit extremely strange crimes. Florida is so well-known for its sheer number of inexplicably ridiculous incidents that it's resulted in the the creation of a character in popular culture, the notorious "Florida Man" due to the frequent usage of this term in news headlines in reference to people responsible for bizarre occurrences in the state. Fittingly, the only U.S. President from Florida is also by far the weirdest one: UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump.
* Kentucky is known for bluegrass musicians, tobacco, horse racing, bourbon, college basketball, Fort Knox, the annual Kentucky horse race and of course, its famous fried chicken.

** Virginia as a whole has shifted considerably in recent years, voting Democrat in the past three Presidential elections and in the 2019 elections for both houses of the General Assembly, with its western neighbor taking the "reddest of red" mantle. This is at least partially due to the increasing dominance of state politics by three large Northern Virginia counties and to demographic changes in those counties. However, stereotypes take a long time to die.

*** [[OurPresidentsAreDifferent The American President]] is a stereotype in itself. When actual presidents aren't directly referenced themselves a ''standard'' version of the American President will be used. Democratic Presidents will be portrayed as an {{Expy}} of UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy. Republican Presidents are usually portrayed as an {{Expy}} of UsefulNotes/RichardNixon and/or UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan. Invariably they all look up to UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln. In American fiction the President will always be a good, decent man who cares about his people. He may have some flaws, but they only make him human and don't diminish his heroic stature. In foreign fiction the portrayals tend to be more cynical and show him as either a [[PresidentEvil bumbling imbecilic fool, a closet racist or a corrupt, war mongering lunatic]]. Or he is just a puppet in hands of his Vice President, the Minister of Defense, the CIA or the FBI. In either way he will be involved in all kinds of [[GovernmentConspiracy shady conspiracy theories]] which plan the overthrowal of foreign regimes that disobey Washington's orders by organizing new wars to please the American gun lobby. All the President wants to do is push the red button and [[NukeEm nuke the world to smithereens]]. Typically all his government meetings take place in the Oval Office or the Pentagon and without any interference or approval from the House of Congress. Apart from political and economical mayhem he may also have extra-marital affairs with his secretaries or other women, as made (in)famous by UsefulNotes/BillClinton. In America itself negative portrayals of the American President occur more in direct satirical attacks of a specific real life president, usually from the viewpoint of people from the opposite political ideology.
* [[UsefulNotes/GeorgiaUSA Georgia]] will almost always be treated as a backwards hicktown that is extremely white and extremely intolerant (see the ''30 Rock'' episode "Stone Mountain"). The sole exception is its capital, UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}, which is 54% black (and they're all hip-hop artists), home to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), two major universities, the world's busiest airport, and some of the largest medical and industrial facilities in the country, and actually has the 3rd highest population of LGBT people in the U.S. (behind San Francisco and Seattle). It's known as the home town of Coca-Cola, Martin Luther King Jr, where UsefulNotes/TedTurner founded Creator/{{TBS}} and Creator/{{CNN}}, and Delta Airlines. But at least since Music/RayCharles, it is "always on our mind".
* Alabama is best known for being the state where cowboys ride "with a banjo on their knee", the song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Music/LynyrdSkynyrd, and the homeplace of ''Film/ForrestGump''. On a more negative note, it's also the home state of the Ku Klux Klan (even though neither incarnation of the Klan was founded there) and many furious race riots in the past, plus its politics regarding abortion and gay marriage. Also famous for the city of Montgomery, where Rosa Parks's refusal to give up her bus seat to a racist white man notably set off the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
* UsefulNotes/NorthCarolina. Best known for the export of cotton and tobacco. Cape Hatteras is known as "the graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the huge amount of ships that sank there. Cape Fear is infamous because of the thriller ''Film/CapeFear''. Kitty Hawk is remembered as the area where the Wright Brothers made their first flight.
* UsefulNotes/SouthCarolina: Charleston is known for inspiring the dance style "charleston". On a negative note, white South Carolinians (the entire population, according to the stereotype) are often stereotyped as ''the'' most reactionary people in the world.
** Since it was the first state to secede from the Union during the American Civil War, and produced two of the most notorious racist senators of the Jim Crow era (Ben Tillman and Strom Thurmond), white South Carolinians are the most likely Southerners to be depicted as racist Neo-Confederates. The state itself still apparently accepts the Confederate dollar during purchase and there is a Confederate flag waving on every other building in sight. If you watch the national news, you might have heard the phrase "South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum;" that phrase was coined by its [[RebelliousRebel anti-secessionist attorney general]] James L. Petigru in '''[[OlderThanTheyThink 1860]]'''.
* Arkansas is commonly confused with Kansas due to the name's similarity. Home of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African American students who were initially unable to attend the city's central high school due to their colour. Other than that, it's best known for UsefulNotes/{{Walmart}} and UsefulNotes/BillClinton.
* Maryland: Maryland is where government employees who work in DC live or retire to (always Maryland, never Virginia.... the closer they are to the conspiracy, the better) and is full of nothing but Catholics (it was founded as the only Catholic colony and is home to the oldest Archdiocese in the United States). Baltimore is usually seen as a run down town where you'll be shot and where ''Series/TheWire'' is set in. Marylanders all over are obsessed with Orioles Baseball, Raven's Football, and eating blue crabs with Old Bay. Generally its where the government hides top secret things related to aliens and conspiracies when they want to keep it closer than Nevada and New Mexico. The parts east of the Chesapeake Bay and north of West Virgina never get mentioned.
** In the news media, it's different. Maryland consists only of Baltimore and certain suburbs. It's obligatory to suffix any place name in Maryland with "near Baltimore," whether or not that's true, unless the town's name begains with B, in which case the name is simply changed to Baltimore. Also, the news media used to hold up Baltimore as the shining success story of progressive urban policy; when that turned out not to be true, it became the city where progressive urban policy had [[RetCon never been tried]] because of Maryland's anti-urban, deep red political climate; in actuality, it's a very blue state with its population made up almost entirely of the Baltimore and D.C areas and with a legislature that tends to be generous to Baltimore. In July 2019, when Donald Trump criticized Baltimore, the city as portrayed in the news media, which tend to favor Democrats, changed overnight from a hellhole for which Governor Hogan, a Republican, deserved all of the blame to a paradise for which Hogan deserved none of the credit.
** Insofar as the news media do recognize the existence of places in Maryland outside the Baltimore metropolitan area, Montgomery County used to be Exhibit A for the idea that Washington-area fat cats live off the sweat of the rest of the nation. Given demographic changes, this baton has been passed to various Northern Virginia counties.

* [[{{Joisey}} New Jersey]] is full of {{corrupt politician}}s, organized crime, industrial pollution, ill-behaved Italians, StepfordSuburbia, {{emo teen}}s, ''Series/TheSopranos'', and ''Series/JerseyShore''. It also has Vegas East--better known as Atlantic City. (Don't forget what's left of your wallet when you leave).

** When in New York, make sure that you show the Art/StatueOfLiberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Broadway, Wall Street, The New York Stock Exchange, Times Square, the UN Headquarters, Brooklyn Bridge, Film/KingKong or many Jewish actors or comedians like Creator/WoodyAllen. Play "New York, New York" by Music/FrankSinatra on the soundtrack. Mention at least once it's "the city that never sleeps." Whenever the Statue of Liberty is shown, it's often in a historical setting with immigrants arriving by ship in the harbour. And of course skyscrapers can be seen everywhere.
** New York City has five boroughs, namely the Bronx (where HipHop was born, the Yankees play, and the Bronx Zoo can be visited), Brooklyn (historically an immigrant neighbourhood, full of BrooklynRage), Manhattan (cultural and economic heart of town, exemplified by Times Square, Wall Street and cultural icons like the Empire State Building, Broadway, Central Park, and several museums.), Queens (which is like Brooklyn, but bigger, with fewer hipsters and more Mets fans) and Staten Island (which would be welcomed into New Jersey if it were even one iota less repulsive).
** Harlem is basically seen as a neighborhood where everybody is African-American. In popular culture it is either depicted as a place where you will get robbed or shot, or where African-American gangs are holding rap and break dance competitions.
** Irish-Americans are also thought of with much ignorance-fueled suspicion in Great Britain as a bunch of ignorant dolts with a chip on their shoulder about UsefulNotes/TheIrishQuestion whose dollars in donation to NORAID subsidized the IRA armed campaign for [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles nearly thirty years]] and kept them in bombs and bullets.

* UsefulNotes/{{Pennsylvania}} is known as the hometown of religious groups like Quakers and the Amish. Apart from that they have a strong link with their historical past:
** UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}} is famous being the hometown of Boston born Creator/BenjaminFranklin, the cracked Liberty Bell, Philadelphia {{Soul}} and the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art [[Film/{{Rocky}} where Rocky made his famous victorious pose]]. Philadelphians are known for being cheesesteak and pretzel eaters. A negative stereotype (mostly held by [[UnknownRival New Jerseyans]]) is that Philadelphians are the most obnoxious people on the face of the Earth. Especially when it comes to their sports fans. Double especially if it's the Eagles -- you know, [[NeverLiveItDown the ones who booed Santa Claus]].

** Another stereotype is that Pennsylvania consists of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and most of the rest of it is either Amish Country or rural Hicksville, especially the big area in the middle, or as many people call it, "Pennsyltucky."
** Northeastern Pennsylvania is historically known for its industry, especially coal-mining and, more recently, [[Series/TheOfficeUS the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company]].

** Boston is known as the birth place of Creator/BenjaminFranklin and known for the 1770 Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's midnight ride and the annual Boston Marathon.

* UsefulNotes/{{Nevada}}: Best known for UsefulNotes/LasVegas and [[WretchedHive all the degenerate and decadent stuff that can be found there]]. Stuff that is illegal elsewhere in the USA is legal here, including gambling and prostitution [[note]]Prostitution in Nevada is not illegal at the state level, but it is in Clark County, which is the one Las Vegas is in ... [[/note]]. In popular culture the place is both portrayed as a place of fun, as well as a shallow and degrading hangover afterwards. It's known for cheap and quick weddings, {{Elvis impersonator}}s, and washed-up former stars who perform kitschy shows there for nostalgic audiences before they finally croak. Since it was founded by mobsters expect some shady businesspeople, mafiosi, drug dealers, drug users, pimps and prostitutes to appear here too. The rest of Nevada, apart from the Poor Man's Vegas in Reno and hundreds of hotels and motels, may as well be labeled [[{{Area 51}} "Here There Be Aliens."]]

* Illinois: People are apparently either stuck-up, hypocritical, politically corrupt snobs with a [[UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} Chicaaagaa]] drawl ("Daaaaa Bears"), or they're murderous gangsters, like the Sicilian Mafia ruled by UsefulNotes/AlCapone during the 1920's or young, black delinquents of the present made infamous by the DrillMusic scene. During the heydays of UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan, it was internationally known for the Chicago Bulls basketball team. And they'll advertise the fact that UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln lived in Springfield, Illinois before his presidency constantly...

See also AcceptablePoliticalTargets, AmericaTakesOverTheWorld, {{Eagleland}}, and OnlyInAmerica.

** Irish-Americans are also thought of with much ignorance-fueled suspicion in Great Britain as a bunch of ignorant dolts with a chip on their shoulder about UsefulNotes/TheIrishQuestion whose dollars in donation to Northern Irish "charities" subsidized the most murderous Irish terrorist groups for [[UsefulNotes/TheTroubles nearly thirty years]] and kept them in bombs and bullets.
** Although after 9/11, when the USA was itself the victim of a terrorist attack, donations to Irish terrorists from North American sources dried up overnight -- the penny had finally dropped about what terrorism does and people were less willing to inflict this on others, even on the Brits.

* UsefulNotes/{{Hawaii}}: Pretty girls with long black hair, coconut bras, and grass skirts who enjoy [[HulaAndLuaus hula dancing]] and put flower garlands ("leis") over every tourist's shoulders. The island has a very relaxed atmosphere with parties ("luaus") and people drinking soft drinks while wearing [[HawaiianShirtedTourist Hawaiian shirts]], surfing, and playing the ukelele. There are also a lot of pineapples, Tiki statues, and pigs roasted at the beaches. And, of course, the word "Aloha" most be mentioned or sung at least once!.

* To many people (and not only Americans themselves), [[WeAllLiveInAmerica the United States are seen as the most important place in the world]]. Whenever the continent "America" is mentioned, people are usually solely referring to the United States, which often irks other countries in North, Central and Latin America[[note]]Except Canada, where the people generally try to avoid seeming American at all[[/note]]. If you can [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream become rich and famous in the U.S., then you have really made it]]. For many Americans, the idea of becoming rich, famous, and successful is almost an obsession. From becoming the "prom king and queen", to making it big in Hollywood, over becoming a billionaire to even entering the White House. Americans always see everything "big!", are in constant competition with others, and feel that "time is money". It comes to no surprise that fast food was invented in the U.S.A.

*** This is actually done to appeal to overseas audiences as much as domestic ones, as in recent years blockbuster films have done tremendous business in foreign countries, in some cases blockbuster films actually do better overseas then in the U.S. The line of thought seems to be that [[WeAllLiveInAmerica generalizing something to be based in the USA rather than elsewhere may appeal to everybody, rather than alienate others]]. Of course, this often backfires too.

*** Many Americans see nothing particularly hypocritical in not wanting nudity on network TV in the day, but do enjoy it on late night HBO. Also note that the U.S. has a large porn industry and for most of the second half of the 20th century sold many issues of nudity magazines like Magazine/{{Playboy}}, "Hustler", "Penthouse" and "Screw". Even though Americans often claim they don't have a problem with sex and nudity their personal attitude towards the matter in the media is far more prohibiting than in Europe. It gets to the point that most American mainstream films and TV series that specifically have sex as a major topic or theme still have remarkably few actual nudity in them.

*** Another example is the legal drinking age in the U.S.A. of 21 years old compared to the age of 16 or 18 in most European countries and 18 in the neighboring Mexico. Despite being one of the biggest beer drinkers in the world who promote 'having a beer with your buddies' constantly in the media, the idea of teenagers having alcohol is just too frightening!