Lecture #2 Why Study Intercultural Communication?
Lecture #2 Why Study Intercultural Communication? Intercultural Communication: involves interaction between people whose cultural perceptions and symbol systems differ enough to influence the communication event Second Definition: The symbolic exchange process whereby individuals from two or more different cultural communities attempt to negotiate shared meanings in an interaction situation, within an embedded societal system 1) The Self Awareness Imperative Awareness of own cultural identity and background Confront ethnocentrism: a tendency to think our own culture is superior to other cultures Comes from two Greek words: Ethno (group or nation) + Kentron (centre) Done subconsciously or consciously Can lead to negative evaluations, dehumanization, prejudice, discrimination, conflict, violence Combined with power (state, institutional) to justify colonialism, etc. Expand our cultural horizons, broaden and deepen perspective on the world Social Location: the intersection of your identities, which include gender, socioeconomic status (SES), race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, age, etc. 2) The Demographic Imperative Visible Minority: persons, other than Aboriginal persons, who are nonCaucasian in race or nonwhite in colour Changing immigration patterns Before the 70s, most immigrants were European Diverse workforce Cultures are either: “more or less” heterogeneous: difference(s) in a group, culture, or population or “more of less” homogeneous: similarity in a group, culture, or population Diversity: the quality of being different Challenges like racism become prevalent Anglocentrism: using Anglo or white cultural standards as the criteria for interpretation and judgments of behaviours and attitudes
3) The Economic Imperative Globalization: the processes that have created a situation whereby the world is now characterized by an interrelated, interdependent, global community, with increased movement or people, capital/money, labour, people, goods, and culture across national borders Positive Effects: Cultural globalization Cultural Deterritorialized: cultural subjects (people) and cultural objects (film, traditions, foods) uprooted from their “situatedness” in particular physical, geographic location, and reterritorialized: relocated in new multiple, and varied geographic spaces Hybrid Identity: fuses global and local culture Negative Effects: Job Loss Cultural homogenization (US dominated culture) International business dealings and cultural sensitivities Examples of ad campaigns gone wrong 4) The Technological Imperative ICTs (information communication technologies) Global Village: McLuhan communication technology united people in remote parts of the world Increased information about people and cultures Increased contact with people who are different from us Meanings are often lost (tone, nonverbal communication, etc) Increased contact with people who are similar to us Diasporic Groups: ethnic and/or national groups that are geographically dispersed throughout the world Identity, culture, and technology Identity Management: the way individuals make sense of their multiple images concerning the sense of self in different social contexts Identity Tourism: taking on the identity of someone else Different access to communication technology Digital Divide ICTs creating more polarized societies?
5) The Peace Imperative Can people of different genders, ages, ethnicities, races, languages, SES, and cultural backgrounds coexist on this planet? Long history of ethnic conflict, colonialism: the system by which groups with diverse languages, cultures, religions, and identities were united to form one state, usually by a European power; and the system by which a country maintains power over other countries or groups of people to exploit them economically, politically, and culturally Canada colonized Residential schools And basically the shittiness that ensued because of Canada ruining Aboriginal peoples lives Intercultural communication: Can’t solve world’s problems, but better ways to communicate about/through conflict 6) The Ethical Imperative Ethics: Principles of conduct that help govern behaviours of individuals and groups Relative vs. Universalist Dialogical Approach: focuses on the importance of dialogue in developing and maintaining relationships between individuals and communities SelfReflexivity: a process of learning to understand oneself and one’s position in society 7) The Social Justice Imperative Better not just ourselves but society at large Social Justice: the process of communicating, inspiring, advocating, organizing, and working with others of similar and diverse organizational affiliations to help all people gain respect and participate fully in in society in a way that benefits the community as well as the individual To create a more equitable and just world through communication Review: 1. The self awareness imperative: Understanding of our own location in larger political, social and historical contexts. 2. The demographic imperative: Diverse and changing societies, domestic and international migration. Questions of religious, cultural, economic and ethnic diversity.
3. The economic imperative: What do companies need to do to operate in global markets? What are positive and negative effects of globalized economic activity? 4. The technological imperative: Increasing access to ICTS that enable quicker and more contact. More interaction with people who are the same and who are different than us. 5. The peace imperative: Issues of conflict, colonialism, economic disparities, and religious, racial, and ethnic differences. 6. The ethical imperative: Understanding how we act ethically in the world, from a universalist, relativist and dialogic approach. 7. The social justice imperative: How do we make a better world for all of us by getting rid of injustice and inequality?
3) The Economic Imperative Globalization: the processes that have created a situation whereby the world is now characterized by an interrelated, interdependent, global community, with increased movement or people, capital/money, labour, people, goods, and culture across national borders Positive Effects: Cultural globalization Cultural Deterritorialized: cultural subjects (people) and cultural objects (film, traditions, foods) uprooted from their “situatedness” in particular physical, geographic location, and reterritorialized: relocated in new multiple, and varied geographic spaces Hybrid Identity: fuses global and local culture Negative Effects: Job Loss Cultural homogenization (US dominated culture) International business dealings and cultural sensitivities Examples of ad campaigns gone wrong 4) The Technological Imperative ICTs (information communication technologies) Global Village: McLuhan communication technology united people in remote parts of the world Increased information about people and cultures Increased contact with people who are different from us Meanings are often lost (tone, nonverbal communication, etc) Increased contact with people who are similar to us Diasporic Groups: ethnic and/or national groups that are geographically dispersed throughout the world Identity, culture, and technology Identity Management: the way individuals make sense of their multiple images concerning the sense of self in different social contexts Identity Tourism: taking on the identity of someone else Different access to communication technology Digital Divide ICTs creating more polarized societies?
5) The Peace Imperative Can people of different genders, ages, ethnicities, races, languages, SES, and cultural backgrounds coexist on this planet? Long history of ethnic conflict, colonialism: the system by which groups with diverse languages, cultures, religions, and identities were united to form one state, usually by a European power; and the system by which a country maintains power over other countries or groups of people to exploit them economically, politically, and culturally Canada colonized Residential schools And basically the shittiness that ensued because of Canada ruining Aboriginal peoples lives Intercultural communication: Can’t solve world’s problems, but better ways to communicate about/through conflict 6) The Ethical Imperative Ethics: Principles of conduct that help govern behaviours of individuals and groups Relative vs. Universalist Dialogical Approach: focuses on the importance of dialogue in developing and maintaining relationships between individuals and communities SelfReflexivity: a process of learning to understand oneself and one’s position in society 7) The Social Justice Imperative Better not just ourselves but society at large Social Justice: the process of communicating, inspiring, advocating, organizing, and working with others of similar and diverse organizational affiliations to help all people gain respect and participate fully in in society in a way that benefits the community as well as the individual To create a more equitable and just world through communication Review: 1. The self awareness imperative: Understanding of our own location in larger political, social and historical contexts. 2. The demographic imperative: Diverse and changing societies, domestic and international migration. Questions of religious, cultural, economic and ethnic diversity.
3. The economic imperative: What do companies need to do to operate in global markets? What are positive and negative effects of globalized economic activity? 4. The technological imperative: Increasing access to ICTS that enable quicker and more contact. More interaction with people who are the same and who are different than us. 5. The peace imperative: Issues of conflict, colonialism, economic disparities, and religious, racial, and ethnic differences. 6. The ethical imperative: Understanding how we act ethically in the world, from a universalist, relativist and dialogic approach. 7. The social justice imperative: How do we make a better world for all of us by getting rid of injustice and inequality?
