CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Cultural Differences

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “Cultural Differences” in the movie “Why Did I Get Married”. The main focus of the research is on “Difference in Culture” and its relation with “the Characters in the movie”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “Hall's perspective of culture as a screen” and “Hofstede's five dimensions”. Finally the research evaluate both cultural identity and cultural bias within the film

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Cultural Differences in the Film1-3

Hall's Perspective of Culture as a Screen3-4

Hofstede's five dimensions reflected in a particular cultural pattern4-5

Power distance5

Individualism/collectivism5

Masculinity/femininity5

Uncertainty avoidance5

Dynamism5

Intercultural communication theory5-6

Conclusion7

References8

Introduction

The film "Why Did I Get Married" is about the difficulty of maintaining a solid relationship in modern times. Eight married college friends plus another non-friend (all of whom have achieved middle to upper class economic status) go to Colorado for their annual week-long reunion, but the mood shifts when one couple's infidelity comes to light. Secrets revealed, and each couple begins to question their own marriage.

Cultural differences are very important in international business because, among different countries, there are many cultures, which must be, understood and treated in the best practice by employers wishing to go into business abroad. It is necessary to understand the social, religious and social systems, language, education and culture at work. Culture is a method of values and norms shared by a group which, when taken together, develop a blueprint for life. By values, it is meant abstract ideas about what a company feels good, proper and acceptable. It is defined by rules, social rules and guidelines that promote appropriate behavior in situations and society means a group of people who share a set of values and norms. (Kobayashi, 2003)

Cultural Differences in the Film

In the movie "Why Did I Get Married" .The four couples, who are also best friends, representing different cultures, and converge on a house in the mountains for a week-long retreat that has become their ritual of sorts to help work out their marital problems and ask the question "Why did I get married?”

The values are the foundation of a culture; it provides the context in establishing and justifying the rules of society. The four married couple in the movie representing different cultures and have different thinking and follow different norms and value. Values have also emotional meaning expressed in political and economic systems of society. The main determinants of culture are the social structure, language, religion, education, political philosophy and economic philosophy. (Inglehart, 1997)

These factors evolve or change and alter the culture and values of a society, which in turn, disrupts the social structure and religion. The social structure of society is the basic social organization; there are two important dimensions to consider: the first is the extent to which the fundamental unit of social organization is the individual, and, the second is the degree to which the society stratified classes. (Harkness, 2003)

Hall's Perspective of Culture as a Screen

Hall seems to attempt to describe “organic intellectual “needed - who has ...