摘 要

每个社会、每个民族都有自己的理想和自己追求的目标。当这些理想和目标具体化时，它们就演化成价值观。与其他社会的价值观一样，美国人的价值观也有它的历史形成过程。从独立宣言以来的美国国内外的战争也在美国文化及价值观的形成过程中起到了重要作用。这种价值观既是美利坚民族形成之日起在政治、经济、社会、思想、文化和道德等方面的演变结果，也是美利坚民族赖以生存、得以继续发展的动力源泉。从这个意义上说，探讨和弄清美国人的价值观对我们从整体上认识美国人的民族特性，以及这些特性在推动美国社会向前发展的作用具有重要的意义。电影作为文化的媒介，其中包含了其国家的价值观，民族精神及各国特有的文化现象。本文即是借助美国战争电影这个媒介对美国的文化，价值观及民族精神等方面加以研究及说明。鉴于了解美国价值观的重要意义，应从多个不同的角度对美国的价值观及民族精神进行研究，而从影视作品方面进行的研究只是旨在从某个侧面对美国的价值观加以解读。

关键词：美国战争题材电影；价值观；美国精神

Abstract

Every society, every nation has its own ideals and own goals. When these ideals and goals are specified, they will evolve into values. As values of the other nations, American values also has its own process of historical formation. The wars happening in American history also play an important role in the process of the formation of American culture and values. The values is not only the result of the evolution of the political, economic, social, ideological, cultural and moral aspects from the date of the formation of American nation, it’s also the source of power the Americans depend on to survive and continue to develop. In this sense, to explore and understand the American values is significant when we try to understand American national identity and how it works in promoting the American society. Movie, as a culture medium, contains the values of their country, the national spirits and the specific cultural phenomenon of different countries. This article uses the media of American war films to study and instruct the American culture, values and national spirits. Given the importance of understanding American values, the study on film and television works only aims at reading American values on one side, still we need to study American values and spirit from different aspects.

Keywords: American war films; Values; American spirits

Chapter 1 Introduction
    The film industry has a dual aspect. As a major economic institution, with a strong industrial and technological base, it produces products–standardized and formulaic films–for the consumption of large audiences. But the film industry is also a cultural institution, “a storytelling machine,” to use David Thurburn's concept, which fulfills important ideological functions through its production and transmission of values and myths. Unlike material products, films are symbolic creations, which signify social values and meanings through their narratives and characterization[1]. It can reflect the customs and rituals, beliefs, attitudes, values, world view, etc. Film is a visual art, which often contains a philosophical story.