Case 2 Tuxedo
In the promotion of the film Tuxedo, there is a poster, in which Jackie Chan, the main character in the film, kicked to the audience with a sole of his big shoe. It was this poster that made the film banned in Thailand. Why did the Thai feel so annoyed at the sight of the sole?
Thai people believe that because the bottom of the feet are the lowest part of body, they should never be pointed in the direction of another person. So if there is a huge insult to a person, someone may show the sole of his shoes to him or put against him.
We see even there is no single word on the poster, the picture could be a silent language to arouse culture confliction.
Unit 7
Cultural Conceptions of Time 1.Three different perspectives: (1) informal time
(2) perceptions of past, present and future.
(3) monochronic and polychronic classifications(单时制 & 多时制) 2.Plan in advance
If you want to invite someone to eat out, you’d better send the information of invitation about a week earlier.
Otherwise, he or she will feel that you are not sincere and may refuse your invitation.
3.The lasting time for an activity In China,
the official evening reception will last for two to three hours. no rules for the time for the dinner at home with relatives, friends. In the U.S. and UK,
the official visit will last less than one hour evening reception about three or four hours party by young people over three or four hours In Arabian countries and Latin America,
The time for social activities is longer than that in USA In Spain and Portugal,
It is common that the evening reception last for the next morning 4.A survey on punctuality
In China, it is polite to arrive some minutes earlier when attending some activities.
In West, you will be considered rude if you arrive earlier for a dinner or party. The host will be unpleasant. 5.How late is “late”? Read the passage in P254
In Britain and America, ___15min____ In Arab countries, __30min________ In Italy, ___2h______
In Ethiopia, __more than 2h____ In Java (爪哇), ____no concept for late___ In the United States,
The boss can arrive late for a meeting
The secretary will receive a stern glance if she’s late a rock star or a doctor, people will waiting for them willingly the warm-up band or a nurse will not In Latin America,
Arrive late to the appointment to show respect In German,
Arrive late to the appointment to show rudeness 6.Read passages in P255
Find out the features of each kind of the perceptions of past, present, and future
(1)Past-oriented cultures
People regard previous experiences and events as most important. They place a primary emphasis on tradition. They show great respect for parents and the elderly. Country: __Britain, China, Native America__(P255) (2)Present-oriented cultures
People regard current experiences as most important. They place a major emphasis on spontaneity and immediacy.
They experience each moment as fully as possible. Country: ___Philippines, Latin America___ (P255) (3)Future-oriented cultures
People believe tomorrow is most important.
Current activities are accomplished not for their own sake but for the potential future benefits.
Their fate is at least partially in their own hands and therefore they can control the consequences of their action. Country: _____ America ____ (P255) Time systems (Hall, 1976)
(1) Monochronic Time (M-Time) “单向计时制”
Monochronic time means paying attention to and doing only one thing at a time.
It schedules one event at a time.
In these cultures, time is perceived as a linear structure just like a ribbon stretching from the past into the future.
Country: ___Germany, Austria, Switzerland, America__(P256) (2) Polychronic Time (P-Time) “多向计时制” Polychronic time means being involved with many things at once. P-time schedules several activities at the same time. It is more flexible and more humanistic.
People from P-time system emphasize the involvement of people
more than schedules. They do not see appointments as ironclad commitments and often break them.
Country: Mexican Americans, Polynesian, Samoans, African Americans Private space:
Intimate distance, Personal distance, Social distance, Public distance The bubble expands and contracts according to (1)The relationship to the people nearby(2)The person’s emotional state(3)Cultural background (4)The activity being performed Short Distance Latins Mediterranean Arabs
Medium Distance Americans Northern Europeans Long Distance Japanese Mediterranean Europeans Unit 8
Stereotype
A stereotype is an overly simplified way of thinking a person, group, etc. Three ways of forming stereotype
(1)categorize people or things by the most obvious characteristics they possess.
E.g. Japanese impression on the Americans:
Americans always try to talk everything out. Americans are straightforward in talking. American students ask too many questions in