I thought the film that we watched in class about how Hollywood stereotypes Arabs was enlightening. As naïve as it sounds, I had never really considered Arabs as being a group that had been significantly marginalized. In my classes, if there was talk about discrimination, then the African-American or Asian-American experience usually was at the center of the discussion. My interaction with Arabs had also been limited. Growing up in middle school and high school, I had only a few friends from the Middle East. I was fairly good friends with one man in particular, but there did not appear to be anything remarkably different between the two of us. Besides celebrating different holidays, we grappled with and talked about the same issues and problems I imagine a lot of young students did back then. This is part of the reason why I was taken aback at the portrayals of Arabs in movies and how they are stereotyped, despite having watched a few of the movies (like Aladdin) that the film had discussed.
While acknowledging that these stereotypes have existed, however, I would also contend that Hollywood is not entirely to blame for their creation. If somebody wants to make a movie about terrorists or terrorism, then that somebody is not going to cast farmers from the American Mid-West. Nobody would believe that farmer Joe would become upset by the exploitive policies the U.S. government had employed against him and others, and thus would result to hijacking an airplane. It does not make sense why farmer Joe would do such a thing, which is probably the reason why there have been no farmer Joe’s that have hijacked airplanes. If one is going to make a movie about said topic, then there has to be some historical backing behind it otherwise the audience won’t buy the storyline. Unfortunately, there have been some Arabic individuals in groups that have employed such methods in the past, and since Americans are aware of this history, such a plot line is more acceptable to them. I think that if one were to actually ask these people after the movie whether they thought all Arabs were terrorists, one would be hard pressed to find somebody who would make such a ridiculous claim.
Now I know that Arabs have not just been stereotyped as terrorists and that the film mentioned a lot of other qualities that Americans (or Westerners in general) ascribe to Arabs. Spirituality is another characteristics that Hollywood has consistently employed in their portrayal of Arab characters. However what is the basis for this particular stereotype? The fact that theocracies still exist in the Middle East while in most other places of the world they have been done away with, shows that faith does play a large role in many Arabs’ lives. On top of that, the fact that governments in many of these countries compete with fanatical religious groups in terms of how strictly they can follow religious practices and beliefs also speaks to this issue. This is not necessarily wrong in any sense, it is just more foreign to Americans and Westerners who have more secular governments and practices. So, it makes sense why Hollywood would pick up on these facts and translate them into believable characters. Is it wrong to think that all Arabs are this way? Yes, morally and literally. However, stereotypes have to have some sort of basis – the do not just simply fall out of the sky. Also, if people are concerned that there are only negative images of Arabs in American and Western movies (and sometimes other media), then people have to remember that cross-cultural communication is a two-way street. It is a dialogue between two different groups of people. And, as we talked about in class how America wants to reshape its image abroad so that people better understand and appreciate the American life, it only makes sense that Arabic nations should wish to do the same.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Misrepresentation of Arabs in Film
When reading the two articles about Arabs being portrayed as enemies by the government and the misrepresentation of blacks throughout out the media neither concept was new to me since I had learned about them before or seen it happen in real life, as with the portrayal of Arabs as enemies. What did surprise me, was the video about Arabs being vilified throughout the history of American film. This was something that I had been surrounded by my whole life, but I had never noticed it or heard people talk about it. This is a prime example of how representation can lead to misconception if the viewer is not aware they are being show information that is not entirely true. I grew up loving the movie Aladdin, and I never once stopped to think that the movie may have been representing Arabs unfairly; I just liked the movie for its entertainment value. It is true that movies need antagonists to be entertaining and this is most likely the movie industry’s aim when they portray Arabs as bad guys, but it is not fair to always use one cultural group as the enemy. The bad guys in movies do not need to be Arabs in order for the movies to be entertaining. This repeated negative portrayal leads Americans to have a negative view of Arabs in general and view them all as enemies. It may be true that Americans can only understand the Arab world in terms of violence, but the film industry, which has such a large audience, should use their medium to try to change this negative perception rather than reinforce it. The film industry should increase their efforts to make films that show Arabs as protagonists, or at least in a more positive light.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Portrayal of Arabs In Movies
Being an Arab and from the Middle East I thought the readings, video, and discussion were all very interesting. I do think there are a lot of misconceptions about our culture, but I've never actually encountered anyone that thought the extremes are really true, not have I ever been targeted in any way due to my culture.
In regards to the video we watched about the way Arabs are portrayed in movies, I think that it's understandable in an entertainment sense. A point was brought up in class that people don’t want to see the good or nice things because it won't be that entertaining and I totally understand that. Throughout history of movies, Arabs have been portrayed in a negative light. Very few movies show both sides; Arabs are mostly portrayed as bad, dangerous guys. However, the way Arabs are portrayed is not the norm and when their depicted that way over and over again it may lead to misconceptions where the lines between fact and fiction are distorted. And not just for Arabs, this kind of stereotyping can happen with any culture.
This is where stereotyping causes a problem in cultural communication. It can cause misunderstandings and problems when dealing with people of a different culture. Therefore, I don’t think issues like this are always a good idea, even if you think it's simply entertainment because it can be misleading to some people.
In regards to the video we watched about the way Arabs are portrayed in movies, I think that it's understandable in an entertainment sense. A point was brought up in class that people don’t want to see the good or nice things because it won't be that entertaining and I totally understand that. Throughout history of movies, Arabs have been portrayed in a negative light. Very few movies show both sides; Arabs are mostly portrayed as bad, dangerous guys. However, the way Arabs are portrayed is not the norm and when their depicted that way over and over again it may lead to misconceptions where the lines between fact and fiction are distorted. And not just for Arabs, this kind of stereotyping can happen with any culture.
This is where stereotyping causes a problem in cultural communication. It can cause misunderstandings and problems when dealing with people of a different culture. Therefore, I don’t think issues like this are always a good idea, even if you think it's simply entertainment because it can be misleading to some people.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Technology and Iran
I was going to talk about my reactions to the video we watched in class last week, but just before writing this I came across this article in Frontline's Obama's War page: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2009/10/iranian-blogosphere-reacts-to-obamas-peace-prize.html
This article shows the maxim of the Internet's potential as a method of political organization and expression. Only hour's after it was announced that Barack Obama would be awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize, twitters and facebooks around the world--specifically in Iran, exploded with commentary. The article a variety of opinions from Iranians concerning Obama's nomination, but notes that many of the commentary has been negative, citing that it should have been awarded to Neda, the young woman causality of this year's contested elections that became the face of Iran's green movement.
Many political scientists attribute the rise of Democracies around the world to how well democratic sentiments can manifest themselves out of clearly organized social networks, amoung many other factors. However, I do wonder if the youthful dissidents in Iran could use an online forumn to create a politcal organization stronger than what the 2009 election's witnessed. Could twitter be the new South African trade union or early English industrial factory? Only time will tell.
This article shows the maxim of the Internet's potential as a method of political organization and expression. Only hour's after it was announced that Barack Obama would be awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize, twitters and facebooks around the world--specifically in Iran, exploded with commentary. The article a variety of opinions from Iranians concerning Obama's nomination, but notes that many of the commentary has been negative, citing that it should have been awarded to Neda, the young woman causality of this year's contested elections that became the face of Iran's green movement.
Many political scientists attribute the rise of Democracies around the world to how well democratic sentiments can manifest themselves out of clearly organized social networks, amoung many other factors. However, I do wonder if the youthful dissidents in Iran could use an online forumn to create a politcal organization stronger than what the 2009 election's witnessed. Could twitter be the new South African trade union or early English industrial factory? Only time will tell.
My own Experience with World of Warcraft
Reading the article about World of Warcraft last week was particularly interesting to me because I actually used to play the game back in high school and during my first two years of college. Although it has been sometime since I entered that digital domain, I found the major points of Taylor’s cross-cultural analysis truthful and relevant. For example, the whole issue of Chinese farmers is something that is referenced and talked about amongst most of the World of Warcraft players that I played with. Everybody supposedly knew how hordes of Chinese players (that didn’t speak English) would ‘farm gold’ (ceaselessly playing the game to collect in game money either by killing monsters or selling items in the in-game auction house) to sell online for real money. Not only was this process seen as dishonorable, since the point of the game is improving one’s character, but it also furthered a stereotype about Asians in general that is pretty prevalent amongst the online gaming community. Now, although gold ‘farming’ is a real thing (this can be seen by in-game inflation in the prices of items) I never fully realized how prejudiced this label was until I read Taylor’s article.
Another aspect of WoW (World of Warcraft) that Taylor discusses is the concept of age. Here, too, prejudice is widespread. For instance, players that are rather inexperienced or that have high-pitched voices are often referred to as 12-year old boys. While there are plenty of younger players that do play the game (my friend’s brother was only in 7th grade when he started), this age prejudice is employed to belittle any player that appears to be lacking in experience. While this concept of youth was a focus of Taylor’s piece, she does fail to mention how many players that appear to be old are also stereotyped in WoW. We have all heard of the stereotype of the ’40 year old-guy who lives in his parent’s basement’ that is really nerdy, immature, and that hasn’t quite grown up yet because he is so immersed in video games. Some WoW players are often attributed these qualities because they either sound really old or they are seen as taking the game way too seriously. Because these people are so gung-ho about getting new items and participating in 5 hour raids (basically group quests in special zones called dungeons) they are often made fun of and marginalized by the more casual, main stream player.
Another interesting aspect of WoW that I think is worth mentioning is the major in-game rivalry that exists within the game. The main, in-game rivalry that exists is a feature that is built into the very fabric of WoW on PvP servers (on these servers, players can attack each other). This rivalry is between the Alliance and the Horde. When one first starts the game and is creating one’s character, the very first decision one has to make is whether to join the Alliance or Horde. Once that decision has been made, for that particular server, one can not switch sides or create a character on the other side so that one is effectively put into one faction for the entire time that one plays. This fundamental shepherding of players into one camp or the other might not have been enough to create a rivalry if it were not also for the language barrier that exists between the two groups.
Alliance can not talk to Horde, or vice versa, in – game. When a player from a different side speaks, it just shows up as unintelligible speech. As one can imagine, this situation can create a lot of conflict when one actually encounters a player from a different side somewhere in game. Depending on one’s intentions, if one does not want to fight a person from another faction, then he or she might use several emotes (waving, etc.) to show one’s peaceful intentions. If the other person waves back, then often the two people have made a silent pact not to attack each other while they are doing quests or whatever that it is they are doing in that part of the world. Often, however, characters from two different sides are doing the same quest and thus have to kill the same monster, capture the same object, etc. This makes conflict more likely since both parties are seeking the same thing while neither wants to wait for the object to respawn. If the two people were on the same side, then they could form a group and do the quest together. Since that is not an option for people from opposing factions, violence often ensures.
Another aspect of WoW (World of Warcraft) that Taylor discusses is the concept of age. Here, too, prejudice is widespread. For instance, players that are rather inexperienced or that have high-pitched voices are often referred to as 12-year old boys. While there are plenty of younger players that do play the game (my friend’s brother was only in 7th grade when he started), this age prejudice is employed to belittle any player that appears to be lacking in experience. While this concept of youth was a focus of Taylor’s piece, she does fail to mention how many players that appear to be old are also stereotyped in WoW. We have all heard of the stereotype of the ’40 year old-guy who lives in his parent’s basement’ that is really nerdy, immature, and that hasn’t quite grown up yet because he is so immersed in video games. Some WoW players are often attributed these qualities because they either sound really old or they are seen as taking the game way too seriously. Because these people are so gung-ho about getting new items and participating in 5 hour raids (basically group quests in special zones called dungeons) they are often made fun of and marginalized by the more casual, main stream player.
Another interesting aspect of WoW that I think is worth mentioning is the major in-game rivalry that exists within the game. The main, in-game rivalry that exists is a feature that is built into the very fabric of WoW on PvP servers (on these servers, players can attack each other). This rivalry is between the Alliance and the Horde. When one first starts the game and is creating one’s character, the very first decision one has to make is whether to join the Alliance or Horde. Once that decision has been made, for that particular server, one can not switch sides or create a character on the other side so that one is effectively put into one faction for the entire time that one plays. This fundamental shepherding of players into one camp or the other might not have been enough to create a rivalry if it were not also for the language barrier that exists between the two groups.
Alliance can not talk to Horde, or vice versa, in – game. When a player from a different side speaks, it just shows up as unintelligible speech. As one can imagine, this situation can create a lot of conflict when one actually encounters a player from a different side somewhere in game. Depending on one’s intentions, if one does not want to fight a person from another faction, then he or she might use several emotes (waving, etc.) to show one’s peaceful intentions. If the other person waves back, then often the two people have made a silent pact not to attack each other while they are doing quests or whatever that it is they are doing in that part of the world. Often, however, characters from two different sides are doing the same quest and thus have to kill the same monster, capture the same object, etc. This makes conflict more likely since both parties are seeking the same thing while neither wants to wait for the object to respawn. If the two people were on the same side, then they could form a group and do the quest together. Since that is not an option for people from opposing factions, violence often ensures.
Digital, Digital Get Down (My tribute to *NSYNC)
I thought the discussion and Frontline video were really interesting in last Thursday’s class. I generally look at all the technology we have at our fingertips as a good thing. We are able to communicate with people almost anywhere, anytime, and any place. Some people feel that being able to communicate 24/7 is a bad thing, however. It is convenient, but at the same time taking a walk around campus, you will see 75% of the people walking around talking on their cell phones, while 20% are chatting away on facebook chat or emailing. The remaining 5% are probably eating or talking to people in person. However, I feel that the claim that technology has corrupted out youth is a bit far-reaching. Yes, technology is a huge part of our generation, but just because we use broken and abbreviated speech while texting and emailing, does not mean that we are not capable of composing a proper letter or essay.
As far as the in-class Frontline viewing on youth and technology, that was really eye-opening for me. You always hear about the 14 year old kid chatting with the 45 year old man and the unfortunate kidnappings of kids meeting with people on the internet, but this special exposed other things to me about technology. Technology is not the problem, it is how we are using and reacting to it. Technology like myspace, facebook, and IM are tools for communication and connecting with friends. Unfortunately, as frontline exposed, we are using these sites for gathering a heightened number of friends and doing things that make us feel a little naughty, but since it is on the computer, it’s not so bad.
I really feel that parents play a huge part in the way kids approach technology. For instance, that crazy over-bearing mother that constantly was asking her kids what they were doing and asking them for their passwords is not the right way to deal with kids and the internet. It is good to be concerned, but at the same time, I have found that many times when a child has an extremely controlling parent, they tend to be worse off. She only made the problems worse because her kids felt that they had to hide things from her and go to other people’s houses just to use the internet. At the same time, however, I think it is necessary for parents to monitor their children’s use of technology. For example, I don’t think that 13 year-olds should really have cell phones, and I think that having a centrally located computer for the kids is a pretty good idea. This will allow the parent to monitor what the kids are doing and also how much time they are spending on the internet. If the parents are interested in what their children are doing on the computer, not the extent of standing over their shoulders every time they are on the computer, I feel that technology might not be such a big problem for today’s youth.
As far as the in-class Frontline viewing on youth and technology, that was really eye-opening for me. You always hear about the 14 year old kid chatting with the 45 year old man and the unfortunate kidnappings of kids meeting with people on the internet, but this special exposed other things to me about technology. Technology is not the problem, it is how we are using and reacting to it. Technology like myspace, facebook, and IM are tools for communication and connecting with friends. Unfortunately, as frontline exposed, we are using these sites for gathering a heightened number of friends and doing things that make us feel a little naughty, but since it is on the computer, it’s not so bad.
I really feel that parents play a huge part in the way kids approach technology. For instance, that crazy over-bearing mother that constantly was asking her kids what they were doing and asking them for their passwords is not the right way to deal with kids and the internet. It is good to be concerned, but at the same time, I have found that many times when a child has an extremely controlling parent, they tend to be worse off. She only made the problems worse because her kids felt that they had to hide things from her and go to other people’s houses just to use the internet. At the same time, however, I think it is necessary for parents to monitor their children’s use of technology. For example, I don’t think that 13 year-olds should really have cell phones, and I think that having a centrally located computer for the kids is a pretty good idea. This will allow the parent to monitor what the kids are doing and also how much time they are spending on the internet. If the parents are interested in what their children are doing on the computer, not the extent of standing over their shoulders every time they are on the computer, I feel that technology might not be such a big problem for today’s youth.
The Internet: A Black Hole of Distraction
I thought the movie we watched was more entertaining than informative because it portrays the extremes of teen internet usage, many teens use the internet and social networking sites all the time without it negatively effecting their lives. It is amazing how quickly things change in the world of technology because although the movie was only about 2 years old it seemed very outdated. The people in the movie like girl who created a new identity and the anorexic girl used the powers of the internet to create a new self because they were not happy with the way they were. For many people though, the internet is just an extension of who they are in real life and they use it to stay connected to the world and communicate with others in their lives. The internet is an extremely useful tool for communicating with people whether they are old or new friends and whether they are your neighbors or live halfway across the world. The internet could certainly be a dangerous place, as the overprotective mother in the movie fears, if kids used it to talk to random strangers, but the large majority of kids, especially if they are teenagers, are smart enough to realize not to talk to people they don’t know, and especially not to tell them personal details. I think that the older generation today does not realize how in tune teenagers are with the world of the internet, we have grown up using it and so we know how to use it and how to avoid dangers.
I think the most dangerous thing about the internet is not sexual predators lurking in chat rooms, but the great potential for distraction and procrastination that the internet provides. On one hand the internet provides an incredible amount of resources that should make it quick and easy to do research or homework, but this vast mountain of information also provides a million different ways to avoid doing that homework. Facebook is the ultimate example of this. Facebook is a great tool because it allows me to keep in touch with friends and family and see what is going on in their lives, but when it comes time for me to sit down and do work I always find myself going to Facebook or similar sites for a distraction. I have often found myself wasting hours jumping in between these sites, just wasting time and not using the sites for their intended informative purpose. It seems that the internet has instilled a short attention span into many of today teenagers. Now, we not only have trouble focusing on our work, we have trouble focusing on our distractions. When I am procrastinating I often find that I go on Facebook only to get bored after a few minutes so I then go and check my email and then get bored again and will go play a game or go back on Facebook or something similar. Parents should be more worried about this dangerous trend than that of internet predators.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Technology Around The World
I thought the video we watched was very interesting. It raises a number of questions concerning the internet. People can do whatever they want on the internet and information about everything is readily available for everyone. I thought it was fascinating how some people basically lived a double life online. They would be completely different people or characters online. I think that shows how the internet can let people do whatever they want. This also shows that the credibility of people on the internet can never be known for certain which can lead predators and fear of safety.
Another issue brought up in the video was parental control. I think it is understandable for parents to be worried about their kids but I also think there should be a limit to it and some things should be left private. When I was in high school our computer was in the TV room of our house, a common area where everyone was coming and going. I know a lot of parents who do that. However, I think wanting the passwords or your kids Facebook or emails is going too far.
In response to the cultural differences of online use, I think some aspects differ but for the most part people use it for similar reasons. I'm from the Middle East and people back home are addicted to Facebook as much as people here in the US. So, despite where you are I think if you use technology you're utilizing it for the same reasons and the problems people face are the same.
Another issue brought up in the video was parental control. I think it is understandable for parents to be worried about their kids but I also think there should be a limit to it and some things should be left private. When I was in high school our computer was in the TV room of our house, a common area where everyone was coming and going. I know a lot of parents who do that. However, I think wanting the passwords or your kids Facebook or emails is going too far.
In response to the cultural differences of online use, I think some aspects differ but for the most part people use it for similar reasons. I'm from the Middle East and people back home are addicted to Facebook as much as people here in the US. So, despite where you are I think if you use technology you're utilizing it for the same reasons and the problems people face are the same.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Analysis Question #2
Issues dealing with nuclear power are very sensitive in today's world. In order to plan their negotiations the US needs to consider, their opponent's way of talking, language, and nonverbal communications. I think the most important thing when dealing with people of a different culture is respect. Obviously Iran does not want to be shown as a lesser nation. Consequently, you need to understand their customs and ways of thinking not only to avoid disrespecting them but in order to better get through to them. Not all people respond well to threats. Therefore, one must take into consideration a more conversational negotiation. While to those who may view that as a sign of weakness, you should then resort to threats or a more firm confrontation.
Language is always an issue when is comes to politics. When addressing a particular country, should you do it in their language? I don’t think that would be necessary but that is when translation and interpretations come into play. They should make sure that their speech is translated the way they want it to be. Otherwise it can mean a different thing than they want it to.
Nonverbal communication is as important as verbal communication. This may include silence, eye contact, as well as facial expressions. The way you address people is important because it can mean different things to different people and therefore may cause misunderstandings. You don’t want people to think your dangerous when you're really not. The textbook gives a good example of this in politics. During the Gulf War, the US secretary of state met with Iraqi officials and calmly told them they would attack them. The Iraqis took his calmness for fear and thought they wouldn’t do it. They were wrong. I believe that is the perfect example of misunderstanding nonverbal communication. And since Iraq and Iran have similar cultures they may have the same interpretations. As a result, they should be careful as to not give their opponents the wrong impression.
Language is always an issue when is comes to politics. When addressing a particular country, should you do it in their language? I don’t think that would be necessary but that is when translation and interpretations come into play. They should make sure that their speech is translated the way they want it to be. Otherwise it can mean a different thing than they want it to.
Nonverbal communication is as important as verbal communication. This may include silence, eye contact, as well as facial expressions. The way you address people is important because it can mean different things to different people and therefore may cause misunderstandings. You don’t want people to think your dangerous when you're really not. The textbook gives a good example of this in politics. During the Gulf War, the US secretary of state met with Iraqi officials and calmly told them they would attack them. The Iraqis took his calmness for fear and thought they wouldn’t do it. They were wrong. I believe that is the perfect example of misunderstanding nonverbal communication. And since Iraq and Iran have similar cultures they may have the same interpretations. As a result, they should be careful as to not give their opponents the wrong impression.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Analysis Questions #2
Respect and accommodation are key when negotiating with Iranians. First, setting is of high-importance, a lavish meeting room, with coffee and tea in abundance would first communicate a respect and a genuine concern for the diplomats well being. These types of amenities would be offered to any diplomat in Iran, so showing great hospitality would ease the tensions of the negotiations.
Secondly, make sure not to launch directly into negotiations and business. Iran’s would enjoy some personal context, so make genuine small talk. Though Iran is a very modern country, it is a still considered polychromic in many aspects, so practice patience in your negotiations. There might be many asides and digressions, but ultimately there will be substantial discourse.
Finally, do not use high-pressure tactics. Power leverage might make a Western business man fold, the Persian people will not stand for such an insult. Negotiate on an equal plain, respectfully, and more progress will be made.
Secondly, make sure not to launch directly into negotiations and business. Iran’s would enjoy some personal context, so make genuine small talk. Though Iran is a very modern country, it is a still considered polychromic in many aspects, so practice patience in your negotiations. There might be many asides and digressions, but ultimately there will be substantial discourse.
Finally, do not use high-pressure tactics. Power leverage might make a Western business man fold, the Persian people will not stand for such an insult. Negotiate on an equal plain, respectfully, and more progress will be made.
Blissfully Polychronic
Before matriculating into the American University to study international relations and foreign affairs, I was going to be an artist. I was sure of it. I was the president of both the poetry and art clubs in my high school, and spent most of my time outside of the classroom recording music by myself or with my friends. How I ended up an International Relations major is another story altogether, but my frustrations with polychronic and monochronic time, in retrospect, probably played a large role in this transition.
"Art can't handle deadlines!" is something my senior art adviser would hear me say constantly when I would show up empty handed for class. Though an easy excuse for a lazy painter, I still believe it to be true. When I was creating more art and music, my life was blissfully polychronic, and what motivated my work was not a looming deadline, but pure muse. I gritted my teeth less, and slept much better during this time. However, as my school urged me to expedite my creative process in order to make application deadlines for various collegiate fine arts programs, I found myself questions my passion for it more and more. They were bending me into monochronic rigidity, and it disturbed me.
I did end up getting together a portfolio, and was accepted to some of the most prestigious fine arts programs in the country, but I knew from the process that making art my career was not a wise decision. Though I miss being able to paint as much, I do not resent or hate art, and believe that giving my creativity a deadline would have just made me loathe it.
Although I do grit my teeth, wrinkle my forehead, and get much less sleep than is healthy or normal, the study of International Relations--for all its miserable monochronic-ness--has become a new passion. Although I find myself slipping into a former polychronic self and scribbling away a night that would be much better spent studying, or blogging, I am perfectly happy in that moment. That was the trade-off, and I am glad it worked out.
"Art can't handle deadlines!" is something my senior art adviser would hear me say constantly when I would show up empty handed for class. Though an easy excuse for a lazy painter, I still believe it to be true. When I was creating more art and music, my life was blissfully polychronic, and what motivated my work was not a looming deadline, but pure muse. I gritted my teeth less, and slept much better during this time. However, as my school urged me to expedite my creative process in order to make application deadlines for various collegiate fine arts programs, I found myself questions my passion for it more and more. They were bending me into monochronic rigidity, and it disturbed me.
I did end up getting together a portfolio, and was accepted to some of the most prestigious fine arts programs in the country, but I knew from the process that making art my career was not a wise decision. Though I miss being able to paint as much, I do not resent or hate art, and believe that giving my creativity a deadline would have just made me loathe it.
Although I do grit my teeth, wrinkle my forehead, and get much less sleep than is healthy or normal, the study of International Relations--for all its miserable monochronic-ness--has become a new passion. Although I find myself slipping into a former polychronic self and scribbling away a night that would be much better spent studying, or blogging, I am perfectly happy in that moment. That was the trade-off, and I am glad it worked out.
Analysis Question #2: Some Advice for American Diplomats
Although I don’t know the specifics of Iranian culture, I can advise the State Department on general techniques for communicating with the Iranians. The most important thing is to know that communication is deeply connected to culture, whether it be regional, ethnic, religious, etc. Any diplomat who is going to meet with the Iranians should be well informed about Iranian history and culture, and of course have a mastery of the language, not just in vocabulary and grammar, but in idioms and other nuances of the language that don’t translate exactly.
Nonverbal codes are also just as important as actually speaking their language. The diplomats should find out if Iran is a contact or noncontact culture, which will dictate how the diplomats should approach and greet the Iranians. If they are a noncontact culture, for example, the U.S. diplomats should be sure not too stand too close when speaking and not to touch the other person. The diplomats should also be aware of how Iranians feel about eye contact and act accordingly. It is possible that the Americans may have to avoid most eye contact to show the Iranians respect. Also, the diplomats must be cautious with their gestures, because many gestures are not universal, and something as simple as a “thumbs up” could be something different (and possibly even offensive) in the Iranian culture. One thing they should be able to rely on is the use of universal facial expressions that show happiness, fear, disgust, etc. Since these expressions are almost always universal, diplomats should be able to trust their instincts when reading these expressions. Finally, the diplomats should be aware of whether Iran generally uses monochronic or polychronic time. If the Iranians use polychronic time, the Americans should not count on the Iranians to be on time or keep appointments and they should be flexible if meetings need to be rescheduled. For the American diplomats it is most important that they are always aware that verbal and nonverbal language is not universal language and they must be careful and respectful when talking to the Iranian representatives.
Incompatibility of Monochronic and Polychronic Time
I found Hall’s discussion of polychronic and monochronic time and its effects on bureaucracies to be the most interesting part of this particular piece because of its economic and political ramifications. As a student of international relations, I am constantly concerned with issues dealing with development, governance, etc. While I had always been aware of how cultural differences affected a state’s ability to adapt to capitalistic and democratic norms, I was unaware of these differences in how time was perceived. As Hell mentions, these differences in time perception affect (at least) how bureaucracies deal with constituent concerns, how centralized bureaucracies are, and how employees within the bureaucracy see the ‘bigger picture’ behind their work. Although Hall also talks about how these differences are not ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in terms of efficiency and governance, he does admit that monochronic time and polychronic time are incompatible. Given that the current international political and economic structure is dominated by ideas that were largely spread by monochronic cultures, one might be able to begin to see why some states or particular cultures have had trouble adapting.
Hall, included in his discussion of how polychronic and monochronic time do not mix, also talks about how foreigners have trouble dealing with these differences in time perception. While he provides his own personal anecdote in which he is thrust into the fast-paced and jam-packed schedule in Japan, I have been fortunate enough to have experienced the effects of living in a polychronic culture. One winter break I had the wonderful opportunity of staying with a family friend in Kuwait. Upon arrival into the country, I had to show that I had indeed been invited by someone within the country, so that I could make my way past the airport. Luckily enough for me, this family friend had some connections within the airport so despite the fact that she had lost her passport and visa a week earlier, I was able to accompany her out of the airport in a relatively timely manner. I was unaware of how lucky I was until after we had gotten into the car and she told me some of the horror stories of other people who had been stranded at the airport for days while waiting for approval to enter the country. It turns out that because of her close relationship to some one within the bureaucracy, my approval was streamlined. In this way, Kuwait’s polychronic culture actually worked in my favor.
My luck ran out after this incident, however, as my friend later informed me that our planned trip across parts of the Middle East had to be cancelled. When I pressed her for the reason why, she told me that she was still waiting for the American Embassy to issue her a new passport, which in turn was holding up her ability to get a new Kuwaiti visa. Without these two documents, neither of us would be able to legally re-enter the country. American monochronic culture had left us at the mercy of some pre-determined schedule in which my friend would have to wait for the embassy to process her request. At the time I was unaware of how different cultures perceived time. Now, however, the ease that I got into the country and the difficulty that my friend had dealing with the U.S. embassy makes much more sense to me after reading Hall’s article.
Hall, included in his discussion of how polychronic and monochronic time do not mix, also talks about how foreigners have trouble dealing with these differences in time perception. While he provides his own personal anecdote in which he is thrust into the fast-paced and jam-packed schedule in Japan, I have been fortunate enough to have experienced the effects of living in a polychronic culture. One winter break I had the wonderful opportunity of staying with a family friend in Kuwait. Upon arrival into the country, I had to show that I had indeed been invited by someone within the country, so that I could make my way past the airport. Luckily enough for me, this family friend had some connections within the airport so despite the fact that she had lost her passport and visa a week earlier, I was able to accompany her out of the airport in a relatively timely manner. I was unaware of how lucky I was until after we had gotten into the car and she told me some of the horror stories of other people who had been stranded at the airport for days while waiting for approval to enter the country. It turns out that because of her close relationship to some one within the bureaucracy, my approval was streamlined. In this way, Kuwait’s polychronic culture actually worked in my favor.
My luck ran out after this incident, however, as my friend later informed me that our planned trip across parts of the Middle East had to be cancelled. When I pressed her for the reason why, she told me that she was still waiting for the American Embassy to issue her a new passport, which in turn was holding up her ability to get a new Kuwaiti visa. Without these two documents, neither of us would be able to legally re-enter the country. American monochronic culture had left us at the mercy of some pre-determined schedule in which my friend would have to wait for the embassy to process her request. At the time I was unaware of how different cultures perceived time. Now, however, the ease that I got into the country and the difficulty that my friend had dealing with the U.S. embassy makes much more sense to me after reading Hall’s article.
Using Non-Verbal Communication
Non-verbal communication is perhaps one of the most important forms of communication that is necessary to understand. It requires more interpretation than verbal communication, and sometimes expresses thing that we do not or cannot outwardly express. Non-verbal communication also is perceived and used differently in different parts of the world. For instance, someone used the example that while in the Middle East, an American female student waved her hand to a male teacher. In America, a hand wave is used as a greeting, but in the Middle East, a hand wave is a beckoning gesture that the American student did not intend to imply.
Personally, I am a very quiet and reserved person. I could just have received a thousand dollars in a sweepstakes or I could have just gotten a really terrible haircut, and act the same way in either case. I’d generally say how I feel, but would not express physical emotion. I also tend to have a “pissed-off” look on my face, as I am told. I’m usually not pissed off, I guess that is just the way my face looks. However, to other people, it looks like I am angry about something even when I am not. I have to be aware of how other people perceive my non-verbal communication. However, my non-verbal communication seems to leak out when I am frustrated. I work at a restaurant, and sometimes the customers can be really difficult and ignorant. Usually I am very pleasant to the customers, but for some reason when I would go to seat them at a table and they would complain that they would like to move to another table in another server’s section, I had a really hard time hiding my frustration. I know that by the look on my face and my use of silence, they knew that they were being difficult.
It is important to always be aware of how we are being perceived by the people around us. Depending on what part of the world you are from, different gestures can be deemed unacceptable or vice versa. By using facial expressions or inserting silence into a conversation, we can imply things that are meant to be perceived without actually having to say the words. However, this can also have a negative effect and could cause some trouble.
Personally, I am a very quiet and reserved person. I could just have received a thousand dollars in a sweepstakes or I could have just gotten a really terrible haircut, and act the same way in either case. I’d generally say how I feel, but would not express physical emotion. I also tend to have a “pissed-off” look on my face, as I am told. I’m usually not pissed off, I guess that is just the way my face looks. However, to other people, it looks like I am angry about something even when I am not. I have to be aware of how other people perceive my non-verbal communication. However, my non-verbal communication seems to leak out when I am frustrated. I work at a restaurant, and sometimes the customers can be really difficult and ignorant. Usually I am very pleasant to the customers, but for some reason when I would go to seat them at a table and they would complain that they would like to move to another table in another server’s section, I had a really hard time hiding my frustration. I know that by the look on my face and my use of silence, they knew that they were being difficult.
It is important to always be aware of how we are being perceived by the people around us. Depending on what part of the world you are from, different gestures can be deemed unacceptable or vice versa. By using facial expressions or inserting silence into a conversation, we can imply things that are meant to be perceived without actually having to say the words. However, this can also have a negative effect and could cause some trouble.
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Importance of Understanding Nonverbal Communication
I believe nonverbal communication is very important in expressing yourself and is as important as verbal communication. I thought the class activity was both interesting and funny. No one could tell their story without nonverbal cues. I felt their stories were much more effective with nonverbal communication because these behaviors reinforce their ideas. Therefore, nonverbal communication is important for general communication and getting you ideas and thoughts through to people.
Different societies have different ways of nonverbal communication. Like we discussed in class, cultures have various ways of communicating and expressing themselves. As a result, it is important to understand the ways of a differing culture when you know you're going to interact with them because it could lead to misunderstandings. For example, the kissing when greeting like mentioned in class, or the wave by Judith in the textbook, can cause awkward situations which could have been avoided.
I also think that when you spend a significant amount of time in a certain country or with certain people you will start to adopt their behavior and nonverbal cues. For example, I have been studying in the US for two years and there are certain actions or manners that I was not comfortable with but have become accustom to with time.
Different societies have different ways of nonverbal communication. Like we discussed in class, cultures have various ways of communicating and expressing themselves. As a result, it is important to understand the ways of a differing culture when you know you're going to interact with them because it could lead to misunderstandings. For example, the kissing when greeting like mentioned in class, or the wave by Judith in the textbook, can cause awkward situations which could have been avoided.
I also think that when you spend a significant amount of time in a certain country or with certain people you will start to adopt their behavior and nonverbal cues. For example, I have been studying in the US for two years and there are certain actions or manners that I was not comfortable with but have become accustom to with time.
The World of Time Is Not So Black and White
When thinking about monochronic and polychronic time I don’t think the two concepts are as black and white as Hall makes them seem. Many people would say that the US is ruled by monochronic time, but I think it is impossible to pin down the US as being one or the other because both of these concepts of time are used often. Monochronic time is certainly dominant in the business world because we put a value on time and thus have to have every moment of time scheduled so that we don’t waste any. On the other hand, many Americans are polychronic (according to Hall’s definition) because they often do many things at once. A businessman may be in a meeting while simultaneously writing a report and checking his stocks online. Outside of the business world many Americans operate in polychronic time, having idea of things they want to get done, but not necessarily having a specific time or order in which they must do them.
Another interesting point that Hall makes is the monochronic time is considered masculine and polychronic time is considered feminine. I think in many ways this is an unfair oversimplification. Monochronic time may be associated with males because they dominate the business world, but in reality everyone uses both monochronic and polychronic time. For example, I am a female, but because I am a student I feel that a lot of my time is run by monochronic time. I often become obsessive about budgeting my time and I frequently make order lists of things I have to do and when I will do them so that I know I will have time for everything. On the other hand, I also incorporate polychronic time into my life because I usually will put my family or friends before a task. If I had some kind of serious family problem I would certainly attend to that before worrying about missing a class or not doing an assignment. All in all I think Hall’s piece does a good job in showing that there are different ways of looking at time, but that he over generalizes in saying that certain cultures are either on or the other, and not both.
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