What is Communication?
Communication refers to a two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which participants not only exchange information and ideas but also create and share meaning. It is where sending, giving or exchanging information takes place between individuals through verbal or nonverbal means like speech, writing, signs or behavior. As the old saying goes, communication is key, which clearly shows that communication is very important. Through communication, we get to know the information we are looking for and if we do not understand, we can ask questions and explanations will be given in return. Our verbal ability also enables us to learn from the past and to benefit from the experience of others.
Communication is divided into non-verbal communication and verbal communication. Non-verbal communication is the act of speaking without using words. For instance, facial gestures (smiling, frowning), body language (arms crossed, legs shaking resembling nervousness), eye contact and the impression you give to others with your appearance (dressing, body image). Body language is considered equally as important as the language of words. It can often provide more information than verbal comments. Posture, facial expressions, hand gestures, and body position all communicate and deliver messages in powerful ways.
On the other hand, verbal communication is the act of speaking by using words. The examples of this include in different forms of language such as written, voice and sign language. Information written in words can be published, copied and translated into different languages to allow distribution to all places around the world. Vocal information can be recorded and done the same way. As more communication channels open up and more words are written, the interaction between countries is also greatly increased. Both non-verbal and verbal communication is used on a daily basis.
What is Intercultural Communication?
Intercultural communication is defined as the communication among people from different cultural backgrounds. It is a form of global communication. It involves a wide range of communication among people around the world. Intercultural communication would happen because the ever growing of the world’s population increases the contacts within the areas of business, education, mass media, entertainment, tourism and immigration among countries. It seeks to understand how people from different countries and cultures behave, communicate and perceive the world around them. It focuses on languages, social attributes, thought patterns and the different cultures. It helps contribute to some fields of study like anthropology, communication, cultural studies and psychology.
Other than that, intercultural communication is referred to as the base for international business. Some executives that are working on the international stage will take intercultural training to ease the communication with people from other parts of the world and increase the productivity and efficiency. Intercultural communication principles help to guide the process of exchanging information and ideas across cultural boundaries with the hope to preserve mutual respect and minimize confusion, antagonism and misunderstandings. If you do not clearly understand one’s culture, you may behave in a way that that particular culture views as offensive, causing misunderstandings between cultures.
Movie review : Outsourced
The movie that I am doing a review on is Outsourced. It is directed by John Jeffcoat and released on 12 September 2006. It is a modern day comedy of cross-cultural conflict and romance. The movie Outsourced, winner of an Audience Award at Cinequest Film Festival 2007, tells of a novelty product company who relocates their call center department from Seattle, Washington to India. It is filmed partly in Seattle, but mostly in India. It evolves around American and Indian culture.
In the movie, you can see the characters dealing with the issue of outsourcing through the exploration of the differences between American and Indian culture. In tackling the current trend of outsourcing, Outsourced not only captures the spirits of a new India, but also of a newly globalized world and of the importance of cross-cultural understanding. It also does a wonderful job of presenting the beauty of India and the cultural faux pas of many Americans traveling to such different and exotic cultures and experiencing culture shocks.
During a Q&A session with the director, writers and actors of the movie, John Jeffcoat, being the director and co-writer stated that he had spent quite some time in Nepal and India during his student years. Therefore, here goes a little inspiration of the movie. The cultural shocks and experiences the main character goes through in the movie were largely based on John’s own experiences during his time abroad.
The movie is praised of being affectionate and accurate in presenting the Indian characters and offering a few insights into Indian culture. It also handles the outsourcing issue well. Other than that, it would have been very easy for the filmmakers to fall back into stereotypes while penning and shooting this movie. Instead, they did a very impressive job of capturing a good and realistic snapshot of what India like without trying to cause any misunderstandings. However, some audiences think it is making fun of both American and Indian cultures and showing disrespect towards the Indians.
All people have varied culture. Each culture gives them an identity, which makes them unique and different from people of other cultures. We need to learn to understand and respect our own culture, as well as cultures from all parts of the world. In Outsourced, you will see people growing respect towards one culture to another and learning to adapt in a new culture. After watching this movie, I have more appreciation on my own culture and other cultures.
Plot of the Movie
Todd, working as a Seattle-based customer service manager for Western Novelties that sells American-themed products like patriotic gewgaws and novelties finds out that his entire department has been outsourced to India. He is then sent by his boss, David to go to Gharapuri, India to train his replacement, Puro. He has no choice but to travel to India reluctantly as if he quits, he will lose his stock options that he has been asking for months. He only hopes to whip the Indian customer-service center into shape and then returns back as fast as possible.
Upon arriving, he fails to spot the driver sent to welcome him because the taxi driver misspells his name as “Mr. Toad” instead of “Mr. Todd”. As with no basic knowledge of the language or the culture of India, Todd experiences culture shock. He is confused from catching a train to hiring a taxi. He wildly over tips a beggar woman at the airport. He finds himself riding in one of those three-wheeled open-air taxis. He makes the mistake of eating street food. He encounters new definitions of the acceptable (on a crowded bus, a young boy politely stands up to offer Todd his seat, then sits back down on his lap).
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He is met by his trainee, Puro at the train station who greets him: “You are Mister Toad? I sent the car but you were not there!” Todd has to deal with everyone calling him “Mr. Toad” as they hear it wrong and mispronounce it. Because of Indians’ emphasis on family ties and social obligations, Puro is surprised that Todd lives alone and rarely visits his own mother. He then insists that Todd stays at his house, which is much lonely than the prearranged hotel room. Welcomed warmly and showered some personal questions by Puro’s mother, Aunty Ji makes Todd feel uncomfortable. That is also when Todd finds out why eating using left hand is considered unclean.
The call centre in India
The next morning, Todd is horrified by what he sees when he reaches the office. The call centre looks like a concrete-block storage hut and it is still under construction. Puro assures that everything is “state-of-the-art”, including the computers and digital phone lines. Inside, Puro oversees 12 or 15 employees struggling with customer complaints. Todd then starts to train the Indian workers to efficiently handle orders while sounding as American as possible. The local people that Todd deals with on a daily basis find they need to adjust to Todd's American way of running a call center. During the training, one of the employees, Asha points out to Todd that he needs to know more about India. She then turns out to be his teacher teaching him Indian culture.
Asha Bhatwadekar (Played by Ayesha Dharker)
Todd is instructed to remain there until the call center timer is below six minutes a call and it currently stands at 12:17. After meeting his department, he gets the sinking feeling that he is going to be there a more while. On the other hand, Puro, the manager that he is training is eager to make the call center successful. He is extremely motivated, as he will make 500,000 rupees as the new manager and that is around $11,000, enough for him to raise his dream bride's dowry.
Where Todd meets the American
One day, having a meat withdrawal attack, Todd takes a taxi for 4000 rupees to a city that advertises a restaurant similar to McDonald’s named Mac Donnells. He is disappointed when he finds out that they do not serve beef, only vegan burgers. However, during that trip, he meets a fellow American. The American shares his experiences with Todd and advises him: “I was resisting India. Once I gave in, I did much better.” Todd returns with this in his mind.
Holi Celebration
Another day, he fails to see a note pinned to his door when he heads out to the office writing “Mr. Toad, do not go out today.” It is Holi, a celebration of colors that day. He runs into Puro on the street, who tries to save him and his sparkling clean white shirt from the colors but fails miserably. Initially freaked out and has no idea what is happening, Todd soon joins in the celebration and throws colored powders and water balloons with the locals. He then takes a dip in the village lake and the enchantment flashing on his face is clear as he looks around.
The turning point in the movie, through his team of quirky Indian call center workers, including his friendly replacement, Puro and the outspoken Asha, Todd soon realizes that he too has a lot to learn, not only about India and America but also about himself. He changes the way he is doing things at the call-center. He stops trying to push western ways onto the employees and relaxes the rules. He asks them what would make working in the call center a more positive experience and they answer sitting on desks, wearing Indian clothing instead of western, bringing photos of their families to decorate their spaces with, which he allows. One night, they make him do some Indian dances from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
With the assistance of the new Assistant Manager, Asha, he eventually learns about India’s rhythms and customs like Devi Maa Kali, Bhagwan Shri Shankar, reveling in Holi festival, common lingo, the importance of cows, and eating at Mac Donnel's. He also comes to understand Indians’ comfort with images of Kali, the Hindu goddess of creation, preservation and destruction. Todd learns that change can be negative, positive or simply neutral and what matters is how one reacts and thinks of it. He also learns some generous things like giving away leftover food to the poor people working next to the place where he is staying. He later discovers that being outsourced may be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Opening his mind also leads to opening of his heart to Asha. Both Todd and Asha find themselves increasingly attracted to each other. During the business trip, they fall for each other. Asha confesses to Todd that she was promised in an arranged marriage at the age of four. They are not supposed to be falling in love as she is promised to an Indian. Todd promises Asha not to tell anyone about their relationship. Todd later comes to understand what is meant by ‘Holiday in Goa’, meaning that before a lifelong arranged marriage, one trip to Goa is permitted.
As soon as the call center is operating at a satisfactory rate, Todd’s boss, David comes to town and checks the progress. Due to a neighboring farm's irrigation system, their call centre is flooded. Todd asks the entire staff to move to the roof. David thinks that it will not work to what Todd replies him that it may be impossible in the US, but not in India. They succeed however. David informs Todd that the company is now going to be outsourced to China as it is cheaper. All the employees have lost their jobs and he expects Todd to, once again, travel to China and train his replacement. Todd turns the offer down and recommends Puro for the job and help restore his stature within his family and fiancé. Todd returns to Seattle after that. In the closing scene, Todd's phone rings with Asha's special ringtone and he smiles as he reaches for it.
Cultural Aspects in the Movie
There is a mix of culture in the movie; however, it focuses more on Indian culture. I am going to talk about the outpouring of Indian culture shown in the movie, Outsourced.
a) Indians eating with right hand
Although there is an invention of forks, spoons, knives and chopsticks, Indians insist on eating with their hands. In India, eating is perceived as being a sensual activity. The idea is that one should be able to enjoy the process of eating with as many of the senses as possible like taste, smell, sight, and touch. Any Indians will say that Indian food tastes best when eaten with the fingers. Before and after the meals, they will wash their hands thoroughly to ensure the cleanliness. Having long fingernails in India is considered unhygienic.
The cardinal rule of dining is to always use the right hand when eating or receiving food and not the left. The left hand is considered unclean and eating with it is frowned upon. It is only used when passing a dish to someone else. However, for those who are left-handed, its vice-versa. These manners of eating are applicable only while eating Indian food while for other cuisines, most Indians use fork and spoons to eat.
Therefore, that explains why Aunty Ji and Puro would have such reactions when they see Todd eating with his left hand. They have no idea how to explain to Todd when Todd asks them why it is not possible to eat with left hand.
b) Cows, sacred animal
In Hinduism, cow is respected as a sacred animal; it is allowed to roam unharmed. You can see cows roaming the streets in towns and cities in India, grazing unmindfully on the roadside grass verges and munching away vegetables thrown out by street sellers. Stray and homeless cows are also supported by temples, especially in southern India.
As opposed to the West, where the cow is widely considered as nothing better than walking hamburgers, in India, the cow is believed to be a symbol of the earth because it gives so much yet asks nothing in return. Since the cow is thought to be God's useful gift to humans, consuming beef or veal is considered sacrilegious for Hindus. Selling beef is banned in many Indian cities. Therefore, there is no beef on the McDonalds' menu in India, as Hindus do not eat beef. In the movie, as Todd does not know about this, he thinks that there would be beef selling in Mac Donnells, so that he can get rid of his withdrawal of no beef when he is in India.
c) Holi, celebration of colors
Holi is called as 'The Festival of Colours'. This festival is known originally as ‘Holika’. It has been mentioned in very early religious works such as Jaimini’s Purvamimamsa-sutras and Kathaka-grhya-sutras and believed to have existed several centuries ago before Christ. It was at first actually a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was the deity worshipped by them.
Holi is the Hindu festival that welcomes the Spring and celebrates the new life and energy of the season. It is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month, which usually falls in the later part of February or March. People celebrate the festival by smearing each other with paint, and throwing colored powder and water around in an atmosphere of great good humor.
d) Kali, Goddess of Destruction
Kali is the Goddess of Destruction and Dissolution in Hinduism. She is an Indian deity
often regarded as a dark, black and fierce goddess of death and as the destructive "Power of Eternal Time". She is known for destroying ignorance.
often regarded as a dark, black and fierce goddess of death and as the destructive "Power of Eternal Time". She is known for destroying ignorance.
However, the Goddess Kali is fearsome in appearance. She has wild eyes, a protruding tongue, and she wields a bloody sword. Other than that, she also holds the severed head of a demon and wears a belt of severed heads.
She helps those who strive for knowledge of God. She represents a multi-faceted Great Goddess responsible for all of life from conception to death. Her worship consists of fertility festivals as well as sacrifices (animal and human) and her initiations expand one's consciousness by many means. In the movie, Todd tells Kali to destroy something, so that he can understand why is meant by "Sometimes it is good to destroy. Then things can start again." It turns out that the ferry they are riding is broken down, leading to the start of relationship between Todd and Asha.
e) Arranged marriages
Although love marriages are accepted in India, it is not the norm and Indians still keep to the tradition of arranged marriages in this modern era. In Indian society, an arranged marriage is seen as an act of love. Since marriage is one of the most important decisions a person will ever make and because divorce is not accepted among most Indians, it is imperative that the marriage choice is carefully thought out and planned.
The family, usually the parents will look for certain traits in a marriage partner. Some desirable traits looked for in both male and female are matching levels of education, matching cultures, close parental cities, matching religions, and matching vegetarians/non-vegetarians just to name a few. Children are normally promised to an arranged marriage even before their puberty by their parents.
While to the people raised in the west, this might sound odd and strange, like Todd when he is first told by Asha about her arranged marriage, as they are familiar with love marriages.
1 comments:
I would like to visit the town we see the actors moving around in "Gharapuri." There is a tower, or obelisk, in the town we see Josh Hamilton walking by. Is there a real Gharapuri, which is not Gharapuri Island, or was this place just movie-believe?
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