Psyche comes from the Greek psykhe, which means, “The soul, mind, spirit, or invisible animating entity which occupies the physical body.”
American: relating to or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants, a native or citizen of the United States.
Nations are complex, especially a nation as rich in diversity as the United States. We have many myths, religions, stories and legends that drive our character. Deep in our bones, I feel that no matter your faith, beliefs or origin story these myths define you.
They define all of us.
Maybe the very thing that makes us all “Americans” is an adherence to these myths. The get told in movie after movie. Myths that we can’t ever seem to get enough of because they speak so deeply to our soul.
THE SIX DEFINING MYTHS OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHE
The Underdog — ‘Rocky’
We love underdogs. We believe we are the ultimate underdogs. From the Revolutionary War on, the American Character has identified with the underdog. The plucky loser nobody gives a chance suddenly comes through in the end.
George Washington becomes “Top Gun” is one example, but underdog movies be it “8 Mile,” “Rudy,” “Breaking Away,“ “Major League” or “The Karate Kid.” Even “Star Wars” exemplifies this important pillar of identity within the American psyche.
The Fallen Billionaire — ‘Citizen Kane’
With so much bounty, so much opportunity, so much wealth in the U.S. it makes sense that we have cautionary tales that capture how unchecked greed turns into the classical fall from grace. Be it “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “There Will be Blood,” “Scarface” or “Wall Street” we know the risks of flying too high carried only by our hubris.
Might Doesn’t Make Right or I Fought the Law — ‘Erin Brockovich’ & ‘White Heat’
The rule of law is central to the American psyche.
King Arthur: Proposition. Right or wrong. They have the might. So, right or wrong. They’re always right. That’s wrong. Right?
Right?
That question was asked in “Camelot” with Richard Harris in 1967 but has been asked again in every movie about gangsters like “The Godfather” to legal thrillers like “A Few Good Men.” The resounding answer? Nobody is above the law.
Love Story — ‘Casablanca’
Americans are hopeless romantics. We love love. We are all votives of Aphrodite in our way. It is an essential part of the American psyche. From the Statue of Liberty to a Victoria’s Secret fashion show, women are a symbol of freedom AND of success.
If there is such a thing as the patriarchy then American Patriarchy is a bit different in that we often put women on pedestals. I guess one could argue that turning women into “Goddesses” is a form of objectification and exploitation just as much as forcing a woman to wear clothing head to toe to prevent men from getting excited and establishing property boundaries.
I’d argue it is different here: we love women in this nation in a way that no other nation on earth loves women. “Casablanca” could only have been made in the good ole U. S. of A.
Ragtag Group of Friends — ‘Force 10 from Navarone’ & ‘The Breakfast Club’
Other nations and peoples have friendships, of course, but there’s something about the American psyche that promotes the kinds of friendships and partnerships that can move mountains. I think we do friends best.
In the U.S. friends make all the difference, and our movies reflect that. See “The Goonies,” “Toy Story,” “Lord of the Rings,” “The Station Agent” and “Stand By Me.”
The Lone Wolf — James Bond
I’ve often joked that England is our mum, France our dad, Germany our cool uncle with the toys in the garage, Canada and Australia our brothers, Scandinavia our grandparents (with the cookie tin), Italy and Spain the hot cousins.
This analogy can get stretched thin, but out of all the friendships we have as a nation no bond is stronger than that of our ties with England.
England is our ride or die.
And we certainly have a James Bond type figure in our psyche, but what’s interesting is how that mythos gets mutated in the States to something more like Rambo. James Bond is for King and Country but the U.S. version is always a bit sad, lonely, in pain.
Think Snake Plissken.
The world is on our shoulders, but where the English mind assumes that mantle with grace and good cheer (and arrogance if we’re being honesty) on our shoulders it has always been a burden. It’s never a mantle we wanted to take up in the first place but since it’s fallen to us we’ll do the best we can.
Did I miss any essential myth? Which myth do you most identify with?
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