Globalization and the rapid changes in technology have made the world a global village where people from different cultures interact freely with each other. However, such interaction depends on the people’s level of sensitivity towards other cultural groups. The growing need to come together prompts people to come together resulting in communication and thus the communication should be constructive and devoid of breakdowns and misunderstandings. Therefore, to effectively communicate across cultures requires a person to understand the differences in cultures to avoid intercultural conflict. This paper seeks to discuss culture and co-culture using the 1991 film, Mississippi Masala, which features cross-cultural relationships.
How Individuals Create Co-Cultures in a Multicultural Society A co-culture is defined as a group within a larger culture whose beliefs, values, or behaviors set it apart and with which it shares various similarities. Co-cultures thrive with a culture, which may comprise many subsets. Individuals thus create co-cultures through stereotyping, which might either be positive or negative. Stereotypes entail the information that an individual gathers about a certain group of people then takes the knowledge and generalizes it and makes negative evaluations regarding that group. Further, co-culture is created through identity whereby stories are tied to similar experiences that give individuals a sense of belonging. Co-culture is isolated using parameters, such as religion, language, region, education, ethnicity, socio-economic level, lifestyle choice, politico-social affiliation, gender, and age. In Mississippi Masala, the characters are trapped in cross-cultural romance through which ethnicity, region, and age create a co-culture. The film portrays the entry of a second group of Asian-Indians into Mississippi, who occupies a middle racial position between Whites and Blacks. Demetrius and Mina have to fight a sense of cultural dislocation, which forms a part of their heritage. The co-cultures within Mississippi Masala share different perceptions within the larger groups although they have their own unique distinctions and perceptions. There is a mix of different races and the religion is primarily Buddhism and Christianity. How Individuals Identify With Co-Cultures in a Multicultural Environment Individuals identify with co-cultures through interaction with family members thus tying them to stories of the past. Such stories are passed down from a generation to the next whereby they are infused with cultural values and beliefs. In a multicultural environment, individuals identify with a co-culture by communicating differently with their dominant culture. They thus work to eliminate stereotypes and building connections. People also identify with co-cultures by avoiding the dominant group by creating separate institutions, such as churches, schools or even working within the Rainbow coalition of businesses. In Mississippi Masala, Mina’s parents refuse to allow their daughter to marry an African. …show more content…
Further, Pontiac refers to Demetrius as kallu, which is derogatory for dark skin. The way Demetrius and his friend, Tyrone speak identifies a co-culture because their language is different and full of profanities. As such, Mona’s family identifies with a different co-culture and does the black community, which is separate from the Indian family, who are seen as outsiders both in Uganda and by Tyrone.
Types of Conflicts in a Multicultural Society
The types of conflict that exist in a multicultural society involve stereotypes, which are often pejorative and usually lead to distorted expectations regarding an individual’s behavior and misinterpretations. However, conflicts may emanate from cultural averages regarding dimensions of values or behavior. Conflict in a multicultural society stems from wrong interpretations of other people’s beliefs, values, and behaviors through the lens of own culture.
Therefore, conflict may be ethnic, generational, educational, or personal. Ethnic, generational, and personal conflict can be seen in Mississippi Masala as Asians are chased out of Uganda and when Mina refuses to heed to the calls of her family to leave Demetrius as well as when Mina’s parents refuse to take Demetrius as their son-in-law. Further, both characters receive hostility from their respective communities concerning their relationships. Role of Cultural or Racial Identity …show more content…
An important part of identity is portrayed in the movie from which in order for an individual to find themselves they have to distance themselves from their cultural selves and thus see themselves as they really are. The identity of both Demetrius and Mina leads to a conflict of their cultures since Mina’s parents do not like Demetrius since he is not Indian while Demetrius’s family and friends are concerned because of how “they” Indians are with “our
How Individuals Create Co-Cultures in a Multicultural Society A co-culture is defined as a group within a larger culture whose beliefs, values, or behaviors set it apart and with which it shares various similarities. Co-cultures thrive with a culture, which may comprise many subsets. Individuals thus create co-cultures through stereotyping, which might either be positive or negative. Stereotypes entail the information that an individual gathers about a certain group of people then takes the knowledge and generalizes it and makes negative evaluations regarding that group. Further, co-culture is created through identity whereby stories are tied to similar experiences that give individuals a sense of belonging. Co-culture is isolated using parameters, such as religion, language, region, education, ethnicity, socio-economic level, lifestyle choice, politico-social affiliation, gender, and age. In Mississippi Masala, the characters are trapped in cross-cultural romance through which ethnicity, region, and age create a co-culture. The film portrays the entry of a second group of Asian-Indians into Mississippi, who occupies a middle racial position between Whites and Blacks. Demetrius and Mina have to fight a sense of cultural dislocation, which forms a part of their heritage. The co-cultures within Mississippi Masala share different perceptions within the larger groups although they have their own unique distinctions and perceptions. There is a mix of different races and the religion is primarily Buddhism and Christianity. How Individuals Identify With Co-Cultures in a Multicultural Environment Individuals identify with co-cultures through interaction with family members thus tying them to stories of the past. Such stories are passed down from a generation to the next whereby they are infused with cultural values and beliefs. In a multicultural environment, individuals identify with a co-culture by communicating differently with their dominant culture. They thus work to eliminate stereotypes and building connections. People also identify with co-cultures by avoiding the dominant group by creating separate institutions, such as churches, schools or even working within the Rainbow coalition of businesses. In Mississippi Masala, Mina’s parents refuse to allow their daughter to marry an African. …show more content…
Further, Pontiac refers to Demetrius as kallu, which is derogatory for dark skin. The way Demetrius and his friend, Tyrone speak identifies a co-culture because their language is different and full of profanities. As such, Mona’s family identifies with a different co-culture and does the black community, which is separate from the Indian family, who are seen as outsiders both in Uganda and by Tyrone.
Types of Conflicts in a Multicultural Society
The types of conflict that exist in a multicultural society involve stereotypes, which are often pejorative and usually lead to distorted expectations regarding an individual’s behavior and misinterpretations. However, conflicts may emanate from cultural averages regarding dimensions of values or behavior. Conflict in a multicultural society stems from wrong interpretations of other people’s beliefs, values, and behaviors through the lens of own culture.
Therefore, conflict may be ethnic, generational, educational, or personal. Ethnic, generational, and personal conflict can be seen in Mississippi Masala as Asians are chased out of Uganda and when Mina refuses to heed to the calls of her family to leave Demetrius as well as when Mina’s parents refuse to take Demetrius as their son-in-law. Further, both characters receive hostility from their respective communities concerning their relationships. Role of Cultural or Racial Identity …show more content…
An important part of identity is portrayed in the movie from which in order for an individual to find themselves they have to distance themselves from their cultural selves and thus see themselves as they really are. The identity of both Demetrius and Mina leads to a conflict of their cultures since Mina’s parents do not like Demetrius since he is not Indian while Demetrius’s family and friends are concerned because of how “they” Indians are with “our