1．Introduction 1
2. A review of current cultural values at home and abroad 2
2.1 Definition of value 3
2.2 The necessity and significance of the study 5
3. Comparison of American and Chinese value system through popular TV plays 7
3.1 Ameircan value system reflected from American sitcome Friends 7
3.1.6 Assertiveness 12
3.2 Chinese value system reflected from Chinese TV play Struggle 12
3.3 Difference and similarities in sino-American value system 15
3.4 Development trend of Chinese and American value system 17
4．Conclusion 18
Acknowledgements 20
References 21
ABSTRACT
Nowadays globalization poses unique challenges to the issue of how people from diverse cultural backgrounds communicate effectively in the process of cross-culture communication. Value is the core of culture and it guides people’s behaviors. So a contrastive analysis of the value systems of the American and Chinese allows insight into behaviors of both Chinese and American and leads to successful communication. The previous researches on values pay too much attention to differences, or show little respect to the levels of differences, and overlook similarities. And the philosophers’ researches on value mostly are abstruse and hard to understand. This thesis mainly analyzes value of the American and Chinese through an analysis of the two popular TV plays Friends and Struggle. And the development trend of American and Chinese value system is also discussed.
