Cultural Differences
Cultural Differences
Jason Roby
COM 360
October 24, 2011
Professor Renee Peckham
For any relationship to succeed both parties need patience, tolerance, and understanding. This becomes especially important when individuals come from dissimilar cultural backgrounds. If the individuals take the time to learn about the other’s culture many stereotypes and misconceptions will be eliminated. If they slow down and listen to one another they will likely find that despite their differences they share many basic needs; this can serve as the common ground or a starting point needed for understanding one another. However, if both parties remain staunchly entrenched in their own culturally-based viewpoints confusion and turmoil will dominate their relationship. Overcoming cultural differences and cultural biases can be difficult, but can be rewarding to the extreme. Overcoming cultural differences and learning to appreciate diversity can open people up to satisfying relationships that transcend culture and stretch over time. This piece analyzes one such relationship that comes to life in the film Driving Miss Daisy. Miss Daisy Werthan and Mr. Hoke Colburn form a friendship despite their numerous differences and radically contrasting backgrounds. This piece examines the film through the eyes of Hall and Hofstede and scrutinizing the cultural identities, biases, and patterns demonstrated by the characters through their verbal and nonverbal interactions. Culture is learned through our interactions with other humans. Interacting with family, friends, and strangers all contribute to a human’s cultural identity (Lustig & Koester, 2010). Anthropologist Edward Hall likened culture to a screen through which the world is viewed (Lustig & Koester, 2010). Put simply, this analogy means shared experiences with others shape the meaning of words and symbols, and in turn shape how we perceive the world (Lustig & Koester, 2010). As a result, the unconscious patterns
Jason Roby
COM 360
October 24, 2011
Professor Renee Peckham
For any relationship to succeed both parties need patience, tolerance, and understanding. This becomes especially important when individuals come from dissimilar cultural backgrounds. If the individuals take the time to learn about the other’s culture many stereotypes and misconceptions will be eliminated. If they slow down and listen to one another they will likely find that despite their differences they share many basic needs; this can serve as the common ground or a starting point needed for understanding one another. However, if both parties remain staunchly entrenched in their own culturally-based viewpoints confusion and turmoil will dominate their relationship. Overcoming cultural differences and cultural biases can be difficult, but can be rewarding to the extreme. Overcoming cultural differences and learning to appreciate diversity can open people up to satisfying relationships that transcend culture and stretch over time. This piece analyzes one such relationship that comes to life in the film Driving Miss Daisy. Miss Daisy Werthan and Mr. Hoke Colburn form a friendship despite their numerous differences and radically contrasting backgrounds. This piece examines the film through the eyes of Hall and Hofstede and scrutinizing the cultural identities, biases, and patterns demonstrated by the characters through their verbal and nonverbal interactions. Culture is learned through our interactions with other humans. Interacting with family, friends, and strangers all contribute to a human’s cultural identity (Lustig & Koester, 2010). Anthropologist Edward Hall likened culture to a screen through which the world is viewed (Lustig & Koester, 2010). Put simply, this analogy means shared experiences with others shape the meaning of words and symbols, and in turn shape how we perceive the world (Lustig & Koester, 2010). As a result, the unconscious patterns
References: (Changing Minds 2011 Hall 's cultural factors)Changing Minds. (2011). Hall 's cultural factors. Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/explanations/culture/hall_culture.htm (Changing Minds 2011 Hofstede 's cultural factors)Changing Minds. (2011). Hofstede 's cultural factors. Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/explanations/culture/hofstede_culture.htm (Lustig M Koester J 2010 Intercultural competence: Interpersonal communinication across cultures)Lustig, M., & Koester, J. (2010). Intercultural competence: Interpersonal communication across cultures (6th Ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Beresford, B. (1989). Driving Miss Daisy. Georgia: Warner Brothers Pictures.