A Comparative Study Of Sino-US Cultural Values In Reality Television

In the field of cultural values comparative study, scholars have taken news, magazines and advertisements as analysis samples. As for Reality TV, no scholar has done research in this particular area. Therefore, the goal of this thesis is to analyze the Sino-US cultural values differences reflected by the authentic examples in Sino-US Reality TV The Amazing Race by comparative study based on Hofstede's cultural value dimensions theory. This research shows that in American culture, individualism is more obvious. For example, people emphasize competition and private space. Power distance is low, i.e. people have strong pursuit for equality. Uncertainty avoidance is also low, i.e. people can tolerate unusual things and are willing to take unknown risks. In Chinese culture, people are collectivism-oriented. For instance,people depend on their in-group members to look after them. Also, people have high loyalty to their in-group members. Power distance is high. People rely on authority and social hierarchy is common. Uncertainty avoidance is high. People cannot tolerate unusual things and are only willing to take known risks. Both American culture and Chinese culture are masculinity cultures. However, compared with American culture, masculinity tends to be stronger in Chinese culture.