Which of the following is an example of popular culture? symphonies operas soap operas ballet

Identify and explain interpersonal, collective, and/or institutional discrimination.

Discrimination is “the behavior that results from stereotyping or prejudice – overt actions to exclude, avoid, or distance oneself from other groups “. (Martin, J.N., Nakayama, T.K., 2011, p.60).  We will discuss three types of discrimination.  The three types of discrimination are interpersonal, collective and/or institutional.

 “Interpersonal discrimination refers to discriminatory interactions between individuals, which usually can be directly perceived. The little research undertaken in Britain and the United States has suggested that the experience of interpersonal discrimination among people from ethnic minority groups is widespread. A study investigating the experiences of people from ethnic minority groups from 4 areas of the United Kingdom found that, for many, the experience of interpersonal racism was part of everyday life, and being made to feel different was largely seen as routine and even expected.   Eighty percent of the respondents to a US study reported having experienced racial discrimination at some time in their lives.  About a third of the respondents to a UK-based study said that the way they led their lives was constrained by the fear of being racially harassed”.  (Karlson, S., Nazroo, J.Y., 2002, p.1).

“Institutional or collective discrimination-whereby individuals are systematically denied equal participation or rights in informal and formal ways”. (Martin, J.N., Nakayama, T.K., 2011, p. 60).  An example of institutional discrimination can be obvious, such as the “case of supervisors at a hospital outside Philadelphia who violated their antidiscrimination policy when they barred all African American employees from entering a patient’s room”.  (Martin, J.N., Nakayama, T.K., 2011, p. 60).  Hiring law was created to discourage institutional discrimination of several groups, including age, gender, and disability.  It is necessary to enforce these laws to prevent gross cases of discrimination.

How do the choices we make about popular culture influence the formation of our cultural identity?

            “Popular culture is the entirety of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are preferred by an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid-twentieth century and the emerging global mainstream of the late 20th and early 21st century. Heavily influenced by mass media, this collection of ideas permeates the everyday lives of the society” (Wikipedia, 2011).  Wikipedia’s definition by an unknown author is contradicted by Martin and Nakayama in their text, Experiencing Intercultural Communication.  Martin and Nakayama point out that popular culture often is not part of the most mainstream of items, such as romance novels and reality television.  However, they suggest the inclusion of such items in popular western culture improves their popularity, therefore helping to shape our cultural identities.

            Our cultural identities are shaped by popular culture, which is selected without our control.  Popular culture is difficult to avoid.  It is shoved in our faces on a daily basis on television, in magazines, billboards, fast food restaurants, commutes to work and a stop in the local convenience store.  Consumption of popular culture definitely shapes our cultural identities. “For example, we often consider soap operas, reality television shows, and romance novels to be popular culture, while symphonies, operas, and the ballet are not.  Popular culture is often seen as populist, in that it includes forms of contemporary culture that are made popular by and for the people through mass consumption of these products”.  (Martin, J.N., Nakayama, T.K., 2011, p. 202).    Without resistance, our cultural identities and other nations’ cultural identities could be defined completely through popular culture. 

            As a military brat or global nomad, my initial understanding of the United States was based solely on popular culture.  “Useem and Cottrell (2001) reported that only 10% of the adult TCK study participants felt completely attuned to everyday life in the US. The feeling of being disconnected is often stronger in the passport culture because TCKs don’t appear physically different from their peers.” (Bonebright, 2010, p. 354).   The difference between popular culture and actual life in the United States contributed to my difficulty adjusting to stateside living.  This is a personal example of popular culture affecting my cultural identity.

Westernized popular culture is inundating the world, overwhelming the shape of their cultural identities and may possibly eradicate the existence of folk cultures.  These folk cultures appear to be terminology referring to culture prior to the existence of popular culture.   “Scholars write as if there is a fundamental difference between a mass-produced and mass marketed culture and a more authentic ‘folk’ culture”.  (Martin, J.K., Nakayama, T.K., 2011, p. 204).  I believe there is a difference.  Popular culture as a whole requires television and mass produced items in order to spread its message and affect cultural identities.  These are recent inventions that have existed for less than a century and barely exist today in some third world countries.  Therefore, ‘folk’ cultures are cultures that existed prior to mass media. 

How might different attitudes toward work lead to intercultural communication conflicts?

Intercultural communication conflicts at work are based on a number of glaring cultural differences, including collectivism vs. individualism, work and material gain goals, and direct vs. indirect communication styles. The stark difference between collectivism and individualism can be seen when the Americans, Saudis and Japanese attempted to complete a project.  “When the American and Saudi managers went to Japan to meet with the Japanese engineers, the cross cultural problems between the Saudis and Japanese were instant, dramatic, and chronic.  The Sausis stood too close, made intense eye contact and touched the Japanese.  On top of that, the Saudis were enjoying Tokyo’s sights.  Their leisurely approach clashed with the Japanese work ethic-the Japanese concluded they weren’t serious about the project.  The tension escalated until Americans became the buffers between the Saudis and Japanese”.  (Martin, J.N., Nakayama, T.K., 2011, p. 314).  This example illustrates the very real differences in cultural identity as it pertains to work.  At first judgment, it may be easy to state that the Saudi’s lacked work ethic or that the entire incident was explained by an American, since no one complained about them.  But, different cultures approach work from different perspectives and by assimilating or at least being aware of their philosophy, we can work in better harmony. 

Describe your plan to become more interculturally savvy in communication.

                My plan to become more interculturally savvy in communication is simple.  Visit the maximum number of countries in my lifetime so I can observe and experience life while walking in a foreign culture’s shoes.  Also, preparation for each excursion is important.  Educating myself in the culture’s language and customs will ensure my trip is a culturally enlightening experience.  While planning my overseas excursions, I will participate in local international clubs that afford me the ability to interact with those from another culture.  This will aid in extending my intercultural communication knowledge and practice while still in my hometown.  And further intercultural savvy can be gained from studying foreign languages and cultures in a classroom or online setting.  This information gives you a basis with which to work from while maintaining your normal lifestyle.  But, we all dream of going off the grid and experiencing foreign culture for months or years at a time, learning about cultures by immersing ourselves in them.  This is the ultimate method of continuing my intercultural education.

Is it possible for two people to communicate effectively if they don't speak the same language? How?

            In order to communicate effectively, language is an important tool.  “Our perceptions are shaped by our language.  In a way we communicate or paint pictures with our words, and this may greatly influence how we see groups of people, ourselves, or important concepts”.  (Martin, J.N., Nakayama, T.K., 2011, p. 135).  It is important for two people to speak the same language to communicate effectively. It is also important that they speak within the same context and understand the ambiguities of a language. In a prior life, I spent much of my work time contacting India for tech support.   The Indian people on the other end of the phone spoke perfect English, but they had very little comprehension or understanding of my English.  We might as well have spoken two different languages because the intended meaning was lost in translation. 

References

Bonebright, D. (2010, July).  Adult third culture kids: HRD challenges and opportunities. 

Human Resource Development International, 13 (3), p.351-359.

Karlson, S., Nazroo, J.Y.  2002.  Relation between racial discrimination, social class,

and health among ethnic minority groups.  AMJ Public Health.  Found at:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447128/

Martin, J.N., Nakayama, T.K., 2011, Experiences in intercultural communication. McGraw-Hill,

New York, New York. 

Wikipedia, 2011.  Found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_culture