Discussion: Discerning Cultural Dimensions in Media Representation
Question
ModuleThree: Interculturally Speaking
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, you will meet these learning objectives:
Analyze popular media examples that demonstrate dimensions of culture
Examine how communication behaviors are interpreted differently in other cultures
Plan at a Glance
This is the recommended plan for completing the reading assignments and activities within the module. Additional information can be found in the module Reading and Resources section and in the task list.
Review the module resources and write an initial post in the discussion.
Respond to classmates in the discussion.
Continue work on Final Project I Milestone Two, which is due in Module Four. Post any questions to the General Questions discussion forum.
Reading and Resources
Required Resources
Textbook: An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global Community, Chapters 5 and 6
Chapter 5 addresses the relationship between language and culture, introduces the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and examples of translation problems that impede intercultural communication, explains the relationship between language and nationalism, and traces the development of English as the most widely spread language around the world. As you review this chapter, consider the following questions:
How is your own language impacted by your culture?
How does your own language impact your worldview?
Chapter 6 covers the Hofstede dimensions and identifies countries considered on the extremes of each of the Hofstede dimensions; it also describes the communication practices associated with each Hofstede dimension, and uses Hofstede dimensions to describe Japanese culture as an applied case study. As you review this chapter, consider the following questions:
How you might use the case study applying Hofstede dimensions to Japanese culture as a model for your discussion in this module?
What are the communication practices associated with each dimension, and how can they help intercultural communication?
Becoming Interculturally Competent
This 2004 article by Milton Bennett reviews years of research that led to the creation of the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity, which examines various stages of intercultural experience. The article also introduces us to ethnorelative perspective. As you read, consider where on the spectrum you might place your own experiences and why.
International News Services:
ABYZ News Links: Newspapers and News Media Guide
http://www.world-newspapers.com/
World-Newspapers.com: World Newspapers, Magazines and News Sites in English
These websites provides links to different newspapers and media across the globe. As part of Final Project I Milestone Two, which is due in Module Four, you will identify a country other than your own to compare for media bias in news coverage, explore how your chosen story is being represented, and provide a recommendation for future news coverage. Refer to the news service websites listed in these links for examples, or conduct your own Google search. The following news sites can also be accessed. Note that you will need the function for translating the articles on some of these sites. No matter which search engine you use (Google, Safari, etc.), look for the bar at the top of the webpage that drops down offering to translate the webpage into your language.
South Korea: Arirang World
France: France 24
Germany: Deutsche Welle
South Africa: Africa News Network 7
United Arab Emirates (UAE): Gulf News
Additional Support (Optional)
SNHU Online Writing Center
The SNHU Online Writing Center provides tools and tutorials to assist you in the writing process, including assistance with grammar, conducting research, and making proper citations.
Module Overview
In Module Two, you explored the impact of nonverbal communication as one of the forms of communication that can be interpreted differently in various cultures. In this module, we will look at the other form, verbal communication, and be introduced to the dimensions of culture. We will also learn about ethnorelativism.
Nonverbal behaviors vary from culture to culture, but language as a set of symbols can also communicate meaning and experience. In fact, in this module we will learn that there are thousands of languages spoken in the world, and that the number is climbing steadily. Learning about language is important, as we will be introduced to Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which states that language determines (and sometimes limits) the way we perceive and experience the world. According to that theory, differences between languages would explain the variability in worldviews of diverse cultures (Jandt, 2016, p. 131).
In this module, we will also learn about the dimensions of culture that help us understand values and behaviors within cultures. While these dimensions are not universal to each member of a specific culture, they do help us describe general trends in the way members of a certain culture communicate. And while there are numerous criticisms of these dimensions—and scholars are continuously researching, refining, and redeveloping these descriptions—the introduction of this concept helped scholars around the world have a better understanding of why those engaging in cross-cultural communication may experience challenges.
Broadening our knowledge of the variety of ways in which people communicate, as well as understanding the impact that their culture may have on their worldviews, allows us to expand our professional skill set, and it leads us toward the development of ethnorelative perspective (another concept we will be introduced to in this module). Be sure to carefully read Bennett’s article “Becoming Interculturally Competent,” as we will use the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) moving forward in this class.
For the discussion in this module, you will look for media examples that demonstrate dimensions of culture. Our goal is to look to popular media and consider how various communication behaviors might be interpreted differently if viewed by another culture.
In addition to the discussion, you will begin work on Final Project I Milestone Two: News Coverage Analysis, which is due in Module Four.
In Module Four, we will explore globalization and the cultural patterns of the United States and other cultures.
References
Jandt, F. E. (2016.) An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Answer
Discussion: Discerning Cultural Dimensions in Media Representation
Culture plays an important role in the daily interaction of human beings. Cultural practices differ hence they can sometimes be confusing when people of two cultural backgrounds interact. An understanding of the inner workings of culture can be understood by looking at the cultural dimensions that were created by Hofstede, and they include power distance, individualism versus collectivism, masculinity versus femininity, uncertainty avoidance, orientation, and indulgence versus restraint (Jandt, 2016). The different cultural environments determine how people in different cultures behave.
In the sitcom Blackish, episode 22 that is titled Blue Valentime, there is communication behavior and cultural dimension that is displayed by the characters. The characters Dre and Brown display indulgence in the way they react to their marital differences. The two characters are more carefree and aim at gratifying their personal experiences as opposed to salvaging their marriage. The uncaring attitude of the two characters that is defined by the language that they use towards each other makes it difficult for them to resolve their personal differences. Therefore, the attempts by Dre and Brown to send their kids to their grandma so that they can resolve their marital difference does not bear fruit due to the hard stand taken by each one of them.
In a more restrained culture, stricter morals that guide the population would have been enforced to ensure that the differences are resolved and the relationship comes back to normal. For example, the Indian culture is more restrained compared to the black culture. It has rules that define how people interact in relationships. The stricter morals help to guide how people resolve marital differences (Jandt, 2016). However, in this case, the black culture is indulgent hence giving few options of resolving differences.
References
Barris, K. (2018). Blackish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2oHMze7RwY&list=PLKlwAqvz6zqgNQIBd1zLEOQp9oJf3dnN-
Jandt, F. E. (2016.) An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
