Global Ignorance: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

 

 

Alternatively, it can be used to depict a character as being a short-sighted nationalist, usually a resident of [[Eagle Land|The God-Blessed United States of America]]. Europeans frequently use this trope as shorthand for [[National Stereotypes|stupid Americans]] who knows nothing of the world beyond the continental forty-eight states. It's not without its merits, though: [[Truth in Television|a variety of studies have found that American students are among the least geographically literate in the world]].<ref>These studies also have an explanation: America is roughly the size of Europe. It has one country where some thirty could exist if there was any meaningful basis for it. Much like the stereotype about Americans not knowing foreign languages, this is based on simple path of least resistance--a European needs to know where things are, because they are very likely to run into someone who cares deeply about geography, and similarly needs a second language to communicate with neighbors. Most Americans live nowhere near a border, and many of those who do live close to English Canada.</ref>

In another variation, a character who insists on using the old names for countries that have reformed or gained independence, such as [[wikipedia:Rhodesia|Rhodesia]] (a former British territory in Southern Africa) or Ceylon (Sri Lanka). In this case, the character is oblivious to the changing political climes, and has no interest in staying current. If he knows the modern names, [[Selective Obliviousness|but refuses to acknowledge them]], he's probably a [[Quintessential British Gentleman]] who wants to harken back to the glory days of the empire.

 

 

 

 

 

{{examples}}

== Anime and Manga ==

* In ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'', when Makie reveals how much she's learned much about the history and geography of Mundas Magicus in a few weeks, Yuna is surprised, given that normally she can't find Germany, Italy or France on a map, and thinks that Switzerland is near England and that ''Australia'' is around Europe.

* Pictured: Alfred/America in ''[[Axis Powers Hetalia]]'' asks where Japan is on a map... of North America.

** In the English dub of the anime, the narrator begins a discussion of a part of Polish history, stops herself - "Right, anime fans." - and backs up to begin a dumbed-down version of the same information. Then she stops herself ''again'': "Right, American fans. Poland is a country. In Europe!" Ow.

 

== Comic Books ==

== Film ==

* [[Dumb Blonde]] Lorelei Lee ([[Marilyn Monroe]]) in ''[[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes]]'':

'''Lorelei:''' If that's where I wanted to go, I would. }}

* From the original ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' movie:

** Understandable, since what is now El Salvador ''was'' part of Spain for about three centuries. (Of course, Buffy probably didn't know that.)

*** But it is still named in Spanish, so its not that bad of a guess.

* In ''[[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'', Glinda's song in the beginning says, "She fell from the sky/ She fell very far/ And Kansas she says/ Is the name of the star" implying that Oz is on another world that now thinks Earth is Only Kansas.

* [[Inverted Trope|Inverted]] on a local level in the classic ''[[Holiday Inn]]'', when Ted Hanover asks the maitre d' ''of a Manhattan club'' for directions:

'''François:''' How can I stop him sir when I don't know which way is Connecticut! }}

 

* Joey from ''[[Friends]]'' was fond of this one too.

** Notable exchange when Chandler is trying to compete with Joey for the attentions of a Dutch girl.

*** For some reason, Chandler doesn't point out that Pennsylvania Dutch are actually German. <s> The word "deutsch" degraded into "dutch" because it's easier to say.</s> It took to the 19th century for it to be firmly established that in English, Dutch referred to people from one of the Low Countries, and not to the Deutsch.

** Joey also spent an episode trying to find somewhere he could change US dollars into "Vermont money".

*** Which isn't actually as foolish as it seems since Sean Penn sounds similar to Phnom Penh.

* ''[[Scrubs]]'' had geography as one of J.D.'s weaknesses. He claimed New Zealand was close to "Old Zealand" and pointed out China on the Janitor's globe when he was looking for Iraq.

* In the pilot episode of ''[[Mr. Show]] With Bob and David'', Bob Odenkirk tries, and fails pathetically, in an attempt to name all the US states in 15 seconds. Thereafter, David Cross explains that Bob missed the first day of school, believes there are only five states, and thinks one of them is called "Chim-Cham".

* In a [[Running Gag]], Gob and Maeby in ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'' believe Portugal is a Spanish-speaking country in South America. The pilot also features Buster mistaking the blue parts of a map for the land (which is even sillier, since he was described a scene or two earlier as having taken classes in cartography).

* In an episode of the "Trash [[Talk Show]]" parody ''[[Night Stand]]'', host Dick Dietrick (played by Timothy Stack) responds to a Vietnamese guest's question, "You've heard of Vietnam, Dick?" with "Oh yes, we fought against each other in [[The Korean War]]."

* Andy Dwyer in ''[[Parks and Recreation]]'':

'''Andy''': Oh, really? Wow, across the pond. }}

** And in another episode:

*** Andy choosing a country for a model U.N.

'''Andy''': The bad guys from ''[[The Karate Kid|Karate Kid 2]]''? Even worse. How about Germany? They’ve never been the bad guys. }}

* In one episode of ''[[Boy Meets World]]'' Shawn thinks that you can get to Europe on a bus. He even buys a bus ticket to Paris, Texas thinking it will take him to Paris, France.

* ''[[The Amazing Race]]'' being a travel show and all, and not all of the contestants have exactly been geniuses. Occasionally the producers make a task based on it.

** Despite being constantly reminded that they were going to Chile, Season 16's Jordan (the female one) proceeded to request tickets to Santiago, ''China''.

** Season 12:

*** Which is kinda a cheap shot, but still.

** Season 17:

'''Phil''': That's right, the country of London. }}

** Also in Season 17: The teams were visiting a school in Ghana and tasked with identifying Ghana on a map. It went about as well as you would expect.

* When Frank, Dee, and Mac tried to play "50 States" in ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'', Mac and Dee continually name states like "West Dakota". Much to Frank's amusement.

* In the ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' episode "Chimera", Carter remarks to her [[Cop Boyfriend]] Pete Shanahan that there's no zoo in Colorado Springs, apparently completely unaware of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. [[Word of God|Writer Joseph Mallozi]] said that this was done on purpose to indicate that she spends so much time working she's completely unfamiliar with the city she lives in.

 

== [[Newspaper Comics]] ==

* In a ''[[FoxTrot]]'' arc, Paige's friend Nicole was once asked to locate Iraq on a world map without country names. However, it comes to light that Nicole not only can't locate Iraq on the map, she can't even locate ''the U.S''. Eventually Paige locates Iraq on her first try...but only because it was the only place Nicole didn't point.

'''Nicole:''' ''(pointing at Antartica)'' Okay, so if ''this'' is America... }}

** This arc took place shortly after a [[Real Life Writes the Plot|real-life study]] came out showing that an embarrassingly high percentage of American ''high schoolers'' could not identify their own country on a map.

** Although in fairness, while you can't genuinely see Russia from Alaska, its not exactly a huge stretch to say 'You can practically see Russia across the Bering Straight'. It's only about 50 miles from western Alaska to eastern Russia. Sarah Palin may not be the sharpest knife in the draw, but she's not actually psychotic.

* Conservative humorists had a field day when then-candidate Barack Obama mentioned visiting 57 states.

 

 

* Moviebob referred to Africa as "a beautiful country" in an episode of ''[[The Game Overthinker]]'' discussing racism. To his credit, he apologised for that error in a later video.

* During the Hulk Hogan vs. Kim Jong-Il ''[[Epic Rap Battles of History]]'', Hogan threatens to kick Kim's ass "back to Beijing". Kim's first line in his rebuttal verse: "Beijing is in ''China'', you blonde asshole!"

 

 

** Taken [[Up to Eleven]] in "G.I. D'oh" when Homer asks "We're China, right?"

*** Well, they ''are'' [[Facial Profiling|yellow]]....

** Two linked moments from Bart:

 

'''Bart''': You're going to Spain?! }}

'''Alice''': There is a difference? }}

** Also King Julian, while living in the Central Park Zoo, believes he is in France.