Intercultural Communication: The Basics Session 1: Opening the Conversation Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

Intercultural Communication: The Basics

Session 1: Opening the Conversation

Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

Objectives

» Move from passive recipients to active participants of intercultural communication

» Introduce challenges and opportunities of intercultural communication in the context of globalization

» Define culture» Understand how social location and

standpoint shape perspective and experience» Introduce intercultural praxis


Intercultural Communication in the Context of Globalization

• Globalization changes in intercultural communication engagement

- Do you have examples of this?

• Technology connects lives in a global economy- How do you experience this?

• Gap between haves and have-nots is widening.- Is this evident where you live?- Is this evident in Panama?

• Intercultural communication takes place in a context of political, economic, and cultural globalization

• History, power, and global institutions play key roles


What is Culture?

» High Culture• Culture of the elite class• i.e. Opera, ballet, literature

» Low Culture• Culture of the working class• i.e. Folk art, popular theater

» Popular Culture• Culture of common everyday people• i.e. TV, magazine, movies, fashion, music


Anthropologic Definition

» Culture is passed down from generation to generation through symbols .

» Culture allows us to make sense and understand the world.

» Culture allows us to express ourselves. » When you share the system of meaning,

you become part of the culture.


» Culture is not shared by everyone, but contested and negotiated.

» Focus on representations of class, race, gender, sexuality, and nationality in the media.

» Culture as an apparatus of power, system of domination.

» Culture is a site where power relations are negotiated.

» Hegemony : Domination through consent Communication 440/690 Panama

2014

Cultural Studies Definition

Culture as a Site of Contested Meaning

» Culture is used as resource for economic growth in global trade (movies, music, etc.)

» Resource for political movement. » Resource for educating people: literacy,

health campaigns, etc. » Resource for collective resistance and

social change


Globalization Definition

Culture as a Resource

Cultural Identity

» A situated sense of self that is shaped by our cultural experiences and social locations

» How do you define yourself in terms of cultural identity? • Do you have multiple cultural identities?

» How does your cultural identity shape your perspectives, beliefs and relationships with others?

» Is the way you identify culturally related to issues of power?• For example, dominant groups identities are often not as

salient as non-dominant group identities


Positionality

» A term that describes how we are socially positioned in relation to each other.

» One’s social location shaped by differences--race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, and physical abilities• i.e. I’m a woman, of Mexican descent, upper class,

and deaf• i.e. I’m a White American male who is in a

committed relationship with another man, educated, from working class, and non-religious


Standpoint Theory

» Standpoint: A place from which to view and make sense of the world.

» Your positionality gives you a particular standpoint.

» Different realities depending on the position from which to view it.

» People with less power in society often have a fuller and more comprehensive view—both the dominant and marginalized view.


Standpoint Theory and Positionality

» We may see, experience, and understand the world quite differently based on our different standpoints and positionalities .

» Knowledge about ourselves and others is situated and partial.

» Knowledge is always and inevitably connected to power.

» Oppositional standpoints can be formed to challenge and contest the status quo.


Ethnocentrism

» Ethno: group or nation» Idea that one’s own group’s way of thinking,

being and acting is superior to others. » Ethnocentrism can result in dehumanization,

prejudices, discrimination, conflict, and violence.


Intercultural Praxis

» Praxis: Action & Reflection » A process of critical analysis, reflection, and

action for effective intercultural communication in the context of globalization.

» To raise our awareness, increase our critical analysis, and develop our socially responsible action.

» There are six ports of entry: Inquiry, Framing, Positioning, Dialogue, Reflection, and Action.


Intercultural Praxis



Summary

» In this session, we addressed:» 3 Definitions of culture:

- Culture as shared meaning- Culture as contested meaning- Culture as resource

» Key concepts- Positionality- Standpoint theory- Ethnocentrism

» Intercultural praxis


Documents

Intercultural Communication: The Basics Session 1: Opening the Conversation Communication 440/690 Panama 2014