An Analysis of American – Chinese Movie ‘Saving Face” by Using Face Negotiation Theory
An analysis of American – Chinese movie ‘Saving face” by using Face Negotiation Theory
Table of contents Face Negotiation Theory 2 An application of face-negotiation theory in the movie “Saving face” (2004) 3 Advantages and disadvantages of face theory 6 Conclusion 7 References 8
The term “face-negotiation theory” was first introduced by Stella Ting-Toomey, a Professor of Human Communication Studies at California State University, in 1988 based on amazing works of Goffman in 1955 and Levinson and Brown in 1987 (Oetzel & Ting-Toomey 2003). According to Griffin (2005), the main idea of this theory is to clarify people coming from dissimilar cultures will have different ways in managing conflicts as well as communication. This essays aims to explain briefly about face-negotiation theory and a media text which reflects this theory.
Face-negotiation theory (Face theory)
In face-negotiation theory, the terms “face”, “facework”, “face threat”, and “face concerns” as well as three dimensions of face play important roles. Dr. Ting-Toomey (1988) supposes that people coming from dissimilar culture are negotiating face at all times. She assumes that the term “face” refers to a “public self-image” that an individual want to be seen and treated when communicating with other people. One’s face can be lost, or maintained, restored and strengthened. Next, according to Goffman (1959, cited in Cupach & Metts 1994), face threats is simply clarified as conflicts. Another important concept is facework which means “specific verbal and non-verbal messages that help to maintain and restore face loss, and to uphold and honor face gain” (Ting-Toomey & Kurogi 1998, pp. 190). Moreover, the framework of this concept embraces face-saving, which is occurred to safeguard a face, and face-restoration which happens when people’s face is harm (Cupach & Metts 1994). Face concern considers for mutual face, or self-face because it mainly focus on other people (Griffin
Table of contents Face Negotiation Theory 2 An application of face-negotiation theory in the movie “Saving face” (2004) 3 Advantages and disadvantages of face theory 6 Conclusion 7 References 8
The term “face-negotiation theory” was first introduced by Stella Ting-Toomey, a Professor of Human Communication Studies at California State University, in 1988 based on amazing works of Goffman in 1955 and Levinson and Brown in 1987 (Oetzel & Ting-Toomey 2003). According to Griffin (2005), the main idea of this theory is to clarify people coming from dissimilar cultures will have different ways in managing conflicts as well as communication. This essays aims to explain briefly about face-negotiation theory and a media text which reflects this theory.
Face-negotiation theory (Face theory)
In face-negotiation theory, the terms “face”, “facework”, “face threat”, and “face concerns” as well as three dimensions of face play important roles. Dr. Ting-Toomey (1988) supposes that people coming from dissimilar culture are negotiating face at all times. She assumes that the term “face” refers to a “public self-image” that an individual want to be seen and treated when communicating with other people. One’s face can be lost, or maintained, restored and strengthened. Next, according to Goffman (1959, cited in Cupach & Metts 1994), face threats is simply clarified as conflicts. Another important concept is facework which means “specific verbal and non-verbal messages that help to maintain and restore face loss, and to uphold and honor face gain” (Ting-Toomey & Kurogi 1998, pp. 190). Moreover, the framework of this concept embraces face-saving, which is occurred to safeguard a face, and face-restoration which happens when people’s face is harm (Cupach & Metts 1994). Face concern considers for mutual face, or self-face because it mainly focus on other people (Griffin
References: An application of face-negotiation theory in the movie “Saving face” (2004) “Saving face” is a movie about a Chinese-American lesbian – a young surgeon named Wilhelmina (Wil) – and her mother who has unexpected pregnancy named Gao Saving face (2004), motion picture, Destination Films, USA, W Smith, J Lassiter & T Zee, Producers, A Wu, Director. Ting-Toomey, S & Gudykunst, W 1988, Culture and interpersonal communication, Sage Publications, USA