Cultural Identity and Intercultural Communication - Literature review Example

Author’s name Instructors’ name Course Date Cultural Identity and Intercultural Communication Introduction Many scholars have studied the aspect of intrapersonal communication and the aspects that are problematic when it comes to intercultural communication. These aspects include stereotypes prejudices, ethnocentrism, as well as other factors. As a result, these scholars have developed many theories that try to explain the interrelated components in intercultural communication (Ona et al. 2009). It is for this reason that the following essay discuses three elements notably culturalism, representation, and Othering. A closer look at how these three social aspects relate to intercultural communication will as well be discussed. However, this will be based on the Chinese movie: ‘The Joy Luck Club - Women’s Disenchantment of Self-awareness’ that depicts cultural identity and representation of the Chinese people. An overview of the movie ‘The Joy Luck Club - Women’s Disenchantment of Self-awareness.’ This movie that runs more than one and half-hours has been directed by Wayne Wang. Joy Luck Club is a 1993 movie that is based on the Amy Tan’s novel. The movie is about the stories of Chinese-American women’s life including their Chinese mothers. The Chinese women in this movie are pursuing self-awareness in a foreign land Jing Yin (2005); this movie is creating an independent world of Chinese women by the way of scene shooting and storytelling. In this movie, the four mothers suffered various hardships in their respective lives. For instance, one of them had to abandon her twin babies due to war. As a result of their courage and wisdom, they finally get away after the long struggle in the patriarchal society. However, despite all these, they are holding great expectations for their daughters, but these expectations are extremely high that all their daughters are unable to breathe freely. This is an indication of the continued occurrence of estrangement involving mothers and their daughters. It requires women of courage like he Chinese to overcome such challenges (Jing Yin 2005) Apart from the above representation of the Chinese culture, another way that cultural identification has been symbolized is through the name the title “Joy Luck Club” which comes from the ‘mahjong’, which is a weekly Chinese party that gives Chinese mothers time for relaxation and communication. Cultural Identity Various sociologists have studied the topic of culture widely. This has attracted various definitions given to culture by different scholars and historical overviews (Ona et al. 2009, p. 18). However, it is agreed that culture is a behavior, which is shared by almost all members of a given social group .The same behavior is passed from one generation to the other. It is also seen are as dictated by morals, laws and customs, in order to direct and shape a certain behavior. Culture is intended to structure and determine one’s perception and attitude towards the world or other aspects of life (Rona Tamiko Halualani, S. Lily Mendoza, &Jolanta A. Drzewiecka2009). Culture influences everyday life of a human being including myths as well as value systems. It is seen as well, as the system of lifestyle and as the key component in defining the style of life. It is mainly through lifestyle that a given culture can be determined Janelle S. Tayl or,(2003)It consists of beliefs and values that depict the social interaction of an individual or a group of people. On the other hand, values refer to factors that are implicitly or explicitly desirable to an individual or group of people, and which affect the lifestyle adopted by the said party especially in making decisions .Values are expressed through attitudes, which make one to act in a given manner towards something. Culturalism Reconceptualization of Culture and Identity According to Austin, J. et al. (2005) human beings are unable to control pre-constructed social dynamics. The concept of cultural identity involves many factors. Cultural identity s termed as the attribution of many qualities of a given population that acts as cultural beings. Some scholars argue that in practice, meaning cultural experience by individual members of a particular group, cultural identity is the same as ethnicity. This is another aspect, which is as well contested among scholars of social issues. However, as far as intercultural communication is concerned, cultural identity refers to a culture, which has been localized (Katie 2011). There have been great efforts by various nations and states in the world to develop their cultural identity in order to reduce divisions amongst the population and thus fostering identification by the best of the world Culturalism It is evidently correct that the debate on multiculturalism has led to changes in the political fronts. For instance, the Left defends and respects the minority’s cultures while, at the same time, the Right is there to defend the national culture. The reality is that the two fronts represent two varying cultural ideologies. Culturalism is the school of thought that maintains that individual’s members of a given locality are determined through their culture was these cultures form organic and closed wholes. There have been many theories in relation to culture such as cultural fundamentalism (Holliday et al. 2010, p.64). Culturalism also maintains that an individual cannot leave his culture but can only realize oneself within the same culture it means that cultures have their rights as well as protections, although in some cases, these cultures violate rights of individuals. It is evident there is the need to understand cultural differences and values which are held by various individuals and groups in the society Katie (2011), Understanding how to deal with different cultural values is crucial in intercultural communication. It is important to note that many societies are multicultural. This is further transferred to different sectors of a given country. This calls for cooperation across cultural and geographical boundaries. There are various aspects that play important roles in ensuring that a given culture is identified and recognized. One of these is the intercommunication among individual as well as cultural behavior and practices Kelly J Schultz (2011); this is further manifested in the intercultural communication. Different individuals from various backgrounds hold different values. Values are core beliefs that one holds dear in his heart and of which he may do what is possible to defend. These values are directly related to one’s cultural background and environment in which one has been brought up (Hirshin 2000).The manifestations of these values are observed in one’s life interaction, including in the economic or any social environment. It is critical to note that culture cannot exist in itself. This is because is m characteristically conserved as plural. Culture changes from one form to the other as it adapt and construct itself to the dynamic social environment . According to Hirshin (2000), A culture that does not change and exchange with other cultures is a dead’’ This does not mainly apply to anthropological view of culture but also Tom ‘high culture’ such as arts and cinemas. It must be agreed that intercultural communication, which has been spread due to globalization has led to the question of identity attracting more interest among scholars. There are many aspects that come into play in intercultural communication and identities .these include the issue of, languages, religion, ethnicity, race as well as culture as depicted in the above Chinese movie. As is the case in the Chinese movie above, an individual may not realize these changes but believes that he is fixed to his initial identity .Representation is a concept that has also affected other fields of social concerns especially in intercultural communication (Austin, J. et al.2005) This concept of representation was started in early 60s by Moscovici in a seminar on perceptions of psychoanalysis. Since this time, social representation has reached almost all spheres social experience including the experience of Chinese immigrants in Australia .There has been a lot of debate surrounding the correct definition of social representation. The difficulty has as well been attributed to its closeness to other aspects such as stereotypes and attitudes. Particular presentations of people, experiences, voices, among others that are represented and reinterpreted and constitute people’s realities. Representation helps people to socialize around the world especially interacting and sharing with other cultures, Kelly J Schultz (2011), The result of this complexity is the hybridity, multiplicity and instability of representation that compete with each other. There are two types of representation namely hegemonic and oppositional oppositions. The two types of social representations can influence and combat each other. This shows that representations have ideological components where people exert power in exercising representation. This means that the representation is a manifestation of the relationship of “self, other and the object world (Austin, J. et al. 2005)The main concept of representation is putting meaning on people or ideas to symbolize a social aspect of a given identity as the cultural food depicted in the movie ‘The Joy Luck Club - Women’s Disenchantment of Self-awareness’. It is worth noting that the representation does not often correspond to actions, actions or behavior. Othering: Making Differences Othering is a firm of social representation that is closely related to stereotypes. It is a process of perceiving or portraying other people as different or inferior in one way or the other. Othering can start as early as school age. It reaches beyond defining oneself as superior while considering others as ‘in adequate’ Kelly J Schultz (2011), Othering has played a great role in determining the life experiences of many groups of people around the globe. It has made other cultures to be stereotyped and be seen as inferior in the society. The process involves objectivizing of another group or person and then creating the ‘other’ as was the case with Chinese students in the white Australia. This results into ignoring the subjectivity and complexity of individuals. In addition, both essentialism and culturalism in intercultural communication studies have d on ‘Othering’ through imposition of cultural elements in determining the behavior, opinion or encounters of people . How these Factors Relate to Intercultural/International Communication. The three aspects notably culturalism, representation, and Othering are related to the intercultural communication (Grace, H. et al. 1997)A good example of culturalism is the elephant sports that are famous in India. These events depict the cultural identity of this society. It shows the community’s identity and cultural pride. On the other hand, representation is observed in many occasions .Various countries represent their culture in various ways. One of the common ways is through languages. Conclusion Cultural differences and identity are a wide topic. However, it remains a reality that there are various ways that cultures are manifested by various groups in the society. This could be either being through culturalism, representation or Othering, among other methods of cultural identity. In addition, it is important to note that culture cannot exist in itself. This is because is characteristically considered as plural. At the same time, culture changes from one form to the other as it adapts and constructs itself to the dynamic social environment. This means that there is no static culture- a phenomenon that has been widely contributed by the globalization. References Austin, J. et al. (eds) 2005, Culture and identity (2nd ed.), Pearson Education Australia, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W., pp. 49-72. Grace, H. et al. 1997, Home/world: space, community and marginality in Sydney's west, Pluto Press, Annandale, N.S.W., pp. 99-153. Hirshin (2000) Postcolonial Studies, Fashion orientalism and the limits of counter culture Vol 3 , N o 3 , pp 3 11 – 3 29, Holliday, A., Hyde, M. & Kullman, J. (2010). Intercultural communication: an advanced resource book for students, 2nd Ed, Routledge: London and New York, pp.63-65. Ona T, et al. (2009). ‘‘Critical’’ Junctures in Intercultural Communication Studies. London, Routledge Vol. 9, No. 1, 17-35. Ja n e ll e S . T a y l o r , (2003)Confronting ‘‘Culture’’ in Medicine’s ‘‘Culture of No Culture’’Academic Medicine Volume 78, Issue 6, pp. 555-559 Jing Yin (2005) Constructing the Other: A Critical Reading of the Joy Luck Club the Howard Journal of Communications, Taylor & Francis Inc.:16:149_175.  Kelly J Schultz (2011) Education or Exotification? A Reexamination of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival Dr. Amy Shuman: Department of Anthropology, Folklore JURORS Volume 2, 2011 http://libeas01.it.ohio-state.edu/ojs/index.php/juros/index Katie B (2011) Othering, Power Relations, And Indigenous Tourism: Experiences in Australia’s Northern Territory: Volume 11, 2010 http://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/platforum/index Rona Tamiko Halualani, S. Lily Mendoza, &Jolanta A. Drzewiecka(2009):‘Critical’’ Junctures in Intercultural Communication Studies: The Review of Communication: Vol. 9, No. 1, January 2009, pp. 17_35 Read More

Culture influences everyday life of a human being including myths as well as value systems. It is seen as well, as the system of lifestyle and as the key component in defining the style of life. It is mainly through lifestyle that a given culture can be determined Janelle S. Tayl or,(2003)It consists of beliefs and values that depict the social interaction of an individual or a group of people. On the other hand, values refer to factors that are implicitly or explicitly desirable to an individual or group of people, and which affect the lifestyle adopted by the said party especially in making decisions .

Values are expressed through attitudes, which make one to act in a given manner towards something. Culturalism Reconceptualization of Culture and Identity According to Austin, J. et al. (2005) human beings are unable to control pre-constructed social dynamics. The concept of cultural identity involves many factors. Cultural identity s termed as the attribution of many qualities of a given population that acts as cultural beings. Some scholars argue that in practice, meaning cultural experience by individual members of a particular group, cultural identity is the same as ethnicity.

This is another aspect, which is as well contested among scholars of social issues. However, as far as intercultural communication is concerned, cultural identity refers to a culture, which has been localized (Katie 2011). There have been great efforts by various nations and states in the world to develop their cultural identity in order to reduce divisions amongst the population and thus fostering identification by the best of the world Culturalism It is evidently correct that the debate on multiculturalism has led to changes in the political fronts.

For instance, the Left defends and respects the minority’s cultures while, at the same time, the Right is there to defend the national culture. The reality is that the two fronts represent two varying cultural ideologies. Culturalism is the school of thought that maintains that individual’s members of a given locality are determined through their culture was these cultures form organic and closed wholes. There have been many theories in relation to culture such as cultural fundamentalism (Holliday et al. 2010, p.64).

Culturalism also maintains that an individual cannot leave his culture but can only realize oneself within the same culture it means that cultures have their rights as well as protections, although in some cases, these cultures violate rights of individuals. It is evident there is the need to understand cultural differences and values which are held by various individuals and groups in the society Katie (2011), Understanding how to deal with different cultural values is crucial in intercultural communication.

It is important to note that many societies are multicultural. This is further transferred to different sectors of a given country. This calls for cooperation across cultural and geographical boundaries. There are various aspects that play important roles in ensuring that a given culture is identified and recognized. One of these is the intercommunication among individual as well as cultural behavior and practices Kelly J Schultz (2011); this is further manifested in the intercultural communication.

Different individuals from various backgrounds hold different values. Values are core beliefs that one holds dear in his heart and of which he may do what is possible to defend. These values are directly related to one’s cultural background and environment in which one has been brought up (Hirshin 2000).The manifestations of these values are observed in one’s life interaction, including in the economic or any social environment. It is critical to note that culture cannot exist in itself. This is because is m characteristically conserved as plural.

Culture changes from one form to the other as it adapt and construct itself to the dynamic social environment . According to Hirshin (2000), A culture that does not change and exchange with other cultures is a dead’’ This does not mainly apply to anthropological view of culture but also Tom ‘high culture’ such as arts and cinemas.

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