INTERSECTIONALITY!

Not Far Enough

As I look back on my experiences in education with the Lens that I have developed I analyze attempts in my education to explain these varied topics.

Possibly the only instances that I can remmber... "Social Studies" and "Geography"...

How do you deconstruct culture and reconstruct a scenario so that you can better interact in scenario?

Developing a background in cultural instances through Literature, Film and Fiction.

Protagonist struggle through...

Individual vs Individuation

The reader must understand...

Empathy of context vs empathizing a scenario.

Disappointment that through the interview with friend from high school, I knew verry little about the incorporation of culture with such a rich group of individuals around me.

Classes and Schools do not take advantage of this proximity...

A Deeper Look

Why even study this intersection of culture and communications?

For me studying the intersection of culture and communications has helped in multiple aspects of research and class.

For example West African Film and Fiction has been a key class that highlights the disparity in communications among differing cultures  Whether the protagonist of the film or novel travels abroad or a foreigner struggles to fit into the dynamic diaspora, they must overcome their differences in cultural background to make it successfully through the society


The experience of understanding the foundational aspect of culture, a group of individuals that work towards a common goal. In this venture to accomplish the shared goal, individuals of a community establish a set of beliefs and values that ultimately guide their actions.

With this definition it is understandable why there are so many "cultures". Whether they be sub genres or categorically large - as they are based often on religions or location, these "cultures" differ and are alike in many ways.

Ultimately, the one of the best and earliest plans to promote an understanding of cultural differences is to incorporate the study of cultural film and literature as part of primary education.

Incorporating Intercultural studies and lessons through Film and Literature.

Though it is imperative to build a generation of individuals that understand the importance of culture through travel and cultural activities  essentially the monetary concerns of these programs often inhibits students from these experiences. Thus, adding cultural film (no necessarily the films above) to the curriculum of students in college and high school levels will increase the individuals global awareness.

Looking back on my experiences...

Clark Atlanta Art Galleries

Clark Atlanta Exhibition

The art galleries at Clark Atlanta were very interesting. Allowing me to use the lens that I have developed thus far. My favorite part of the tour was the expansive panles along the walls which though physically separated represented the collective nature of history and culture of African art and Black artist.

The "Art of the Negro" murals were painted consist of six canvas panels they specifically images of black Americans' cultural past. Referring to his motive for painting the murals,  The sixth panel illustrates the "Muses". The tour tells us that these panels symbolize the involuntary marriage of African and European cultures. This image directly realtes to the model about incorporation of different cultures. Visually the audience can see how the forceful nature of incorporation.

Visual Aids

Communications Model

This model demonstrates the process a message must go through from person to person. This model is affective towards developing a lens because it demonstrates how a message can me misinterpreted and the process all messages must be decoded through. In the realm of intercultural communications many more factors are placed in this diagram. Where certain aspects of culture determine how the message is received.

Specifically this model is important to developing my lens because when understanding this sequence I know how to send a message or idea to someone and stop at certain checkpoints to make sure that my message has been completely received and how to check myself along the way.

This also reflects on the fact that in the business world many factors such as dress, behavior demenor portray certain symbols and types of noise which can change the way the message is recieved as well as promote certain stereotypes which exacerbate the issue of noise and the problem with sending a "clear message."

Self Centered vs Other -Centered

This specific model demonstrates how a person can incorporate or even deny acceptance of a persons culture. Illustrating the extremes of being either self-centered where the individual is denying any difference in culture or becoming defensive about change or the opposite incorporating the other cultures into their actions and life.

This model demonstrates how certain people perceive interactions with culture. This is an interesting tool in developing the intercultural lens because is allows the individual to asses how they have reacted towards a specific encounter with culture. 

Article - Reassessment of IVC

Using Individualism and Collectivism to compare Cultures -- a critique of the validity and measurement of the constructs: Comment on Oyserman et al. (2002)

The article assesses the validity of the study of collectivisms vs individualism.

Identifying the limitations of research on individualism and collectivism, the author looks at how often nations are looked at as cultures. This is both important to understanding misconceptions of culture as well as developing my lens so that I can fully assess the culture of a person rather than their country, which though they are connected are different.

This makes me reflect on my assumptions of culture in terms of an entire country. Often many people, including myself, have assumed that because someone is from a specific place they ascribe to a certain culture and ultimately beliefs. However this is what the article fights, noting that the individual does have some function in the make up of their beliefs values and behaviors as well as society (collective) and ultimately focuses om the notion of autonomy.

Intercultural Communications for Business and Stereotypes

The article on intercultural communications for business demonstrates the importance of understanding differences in cultures and symbols as they can change the very message you are sending.

Defining perception as a "cognitive process in which we attach meaning to objects, symbols  people, and behavior in order to make sense of them" the article went into detail about how people misconceive many Japanese customs as they are not "normal" to many of the American Business practices.

Going into detail about the process of receiving messages and stimuli through cognative processes in which we stimultaneously attach meaning, demonstrates both the process of understanding a message as well as how people can actually misinterpret a clear message.

Specifically this is important in developing my active lens because it demonstrates how to affectively asess the way a culture interprets certain signs such as bowing. In the past I have been informed of many Japanese cultures that look to the many examples used in the article, however when show the film of funerals and wedding ceremonies of African cultures I was completely perplexed. Yet I was able to step back with my lens and actively look at the intricacies of things that would seem outlandish to me.