Galina Elizarova speaking about basic approaches to the concept of culture

 

1.4.2 "Culture" in the Field of Intercultural Communication (pdf links)

Please read both of Dr. Stephan Dahl's papers (just to page 23 of the "Communication and Culture Transformation" paper, or "Culture acquisition and modification") to get familiar with the different concepts of culture within the field of Intercultural Communication:

 

Theme 1 Assignments

Assignments for the first theme

1) Reflection (1-2 pages)

· Please explain briefly your own interest in Intercultural Communication (ICC).

· How does ICC link to your major studies? (If you are an ICC major, please think of your previous studies, or other subjects you might have studied.) Please give some ideas of how you could combine or apply an ICC perspective to your selected field of studies.

· What was especially interesting or even surprising for you in this material (texts, video, and pdfs)? Please choose two topics, and discuss them briefly.

 

2) Information search (about 1 page)

· Choose an academic journal that concentrates on intercultural communication research. Foe example, you can go to the University of Jyväskylä library pages to start your seach. While there, click on the link to the Nelli-portal on the right-hand side of the screen --> find ejournals --> search for and choose Journal of International and Intercultural Communication or Journal of Intercultural Communication Research. You can also choose another relevant source, such as Journal of Intercultural Communication.

· Go through 2 most current issues available of the selected journal and observe the research topics there. Which disciplines / perspectives seem to be prevalent? What kind of perspectives seem to be missing? What approaches would you find important to study within ICC, and why?

· Choose one article of interest from the last two issues. Describe briefly its basic claims, and critically discuss your views about them.

· Note! Some of the issues may not (yet) be available unless purchased. Choose older ones or issues that are accessible. If you are doing this course outside the University of Jyväskylä services, please conduct your own university's librarian or choose among publications that are freely available online.

 

Theme 2: IDENTITY, STEREOTYPES AND COMMUNICATION

This theme addresses the dimensions of identity, stereotypes, and perception, as well as verbal and nonverbal communication in different cultures. Through video presentations and readings, you will explore the nature of

· Identity (specifically cultural identity)

· Stereotypes

· Verbal and nonverbal communication (including conversation styles, politeness, and expectations related to time and space)

Identity

Ethnic and cultural identity

In today's world, increasing globalization raises more awareness of cultural diversity. Cultural identities and ethnicities are becoming more relational and contextual, as well as constantly evolving. They are complex, ambiguous and multifaceted.

Individuals undergo self- and cultural identity transformation in order to achieve understanding, harmony and balance within themselves and their environment, and in their connection with others. Cultures also change in this process, because social, political, economic and historical influences affect cultural and intercultural interactions. Cultural groups reflect, re-create, unify, and maintain their ethnic and cultural identities.

Cultural identities are negotiated, co-created, and reinforced in communication with others. They reflect our unique, personal life histories and experiences. They may also be seen as manifestations of social reality.

Racial identity

Race has been defined as a group of persons related by common descent or heredity. It is a classification of modern humans based on an arbitrary selection of physical characteristics as skin colour, facial form, or eye shape. Race is a social construction of human difference that is used to classify human beings into separate value-based categories.

Some researchers use the singular term racial / ethnic rather than separating race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity represent social categories that develop during early socialization and maintain a central place in self, culture and communication process.

Ethnic identity

Ethnicity has been defined in various ways. Ethnic refers to a group of people sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, etc. Furthermore, it has been explained as the attribute of membership in a group set off by racial, territorial, economic, religious, cultural, aesthetic, or linguistic uniqueness. Ethnicity has also been seen as a cultural marker that indicates shared traditions, heritage, and ancestral origins; ethnicity is defined psychologically and historically. On the other hand ethnic identity may be explained as an emotional bond that people share that originates from their past and that gives them an emotional force to claim their common historical origins.

Since the end of the 1990s, the terms ethnicity and race have been less commonly used. Instead culture has become the preferred term.

Cultural identity

It is commonly understood that culture and cultural identity are umbrella terms that subsume racial and ethnic identity. Culture has been defined as learned and shared values, beliefs, thinking patterns and behaviour common to a particular group of people. Culture forges a group's identity and assists in its survival. Institutions, language, social structures and various practices shared by a group of individuals are also part of culture. In addition, the individuals are connected by an ancestral heritage, often linked to a particular geographical location. Individuals have a sense of belonging to a particular culture or ethnic group.

Cultural communication is a system of symbols, meanings and norms that are shared by group members and passed down to the following generations.

Plurality of Identity

Every person has multiple dimensions of identities. In communication and daily interactions we define who we are. According to Fong, we negotiate our identities with people who are similar to us and different from us. Our identities are developed in social interactions.

Castells points out that identity must be distinguished from what, traditionally, has been called roles and role-sets. Roles - for example to be a worker, a father, a neighbour, a basketball player and a smoker at the same time - are defined by norms defined by the institutions and organizations of society. Their influence on people depends on negotiations and arrangements between individuals and these institutions and organizations.

Identities organize the meaning while roles organize the function. The essential question is how, from what, by whom, and for what identities are constructed. Building materials are to be found in history, biology, institutions, collective memory, personal fantasies and power apparatus. Individuals, social groups and societies process these materials. The social construction of identity always takes place in a particular context where power relationships rule.

Sometimes identities may start as resistance and they gradually become dominant in the process. The building of identity may lead to a different life, from an oppressed identity to the transformation of society. An example of this is a post-patriarchal society, which liberates women, men and children through the realization of women's identity.