Do you believe the implications are necessarily all negative
Video: Gung Ho (1986), Directed by Ron Howard.
As noted in the syllabus, what you turn in for this assignment should be approximately 2-3 pages in length, double spaced, Times New Roman font, with 1 inch margins all around.
After viewing the video, for this assignment, I would like you to reflect on and respond to the following three questions:
1. In what ways do differences in characters’ levels of collectivism vs. individualism influence the working relationships between the Japanese and American workers?
2. Beyond individualism/collectivism, identify and describe how differences on any two other cultural dimensions influence the working relationships between the Japanese and American workers. Feel free to focus on any dimensions identified by Hofstede, Trompenaar, or the singular cultural groupings, EXCEPT individualism/communitarianism.
3. Read the review of Gung Ho posted by Roger Ebert after its original debut in 1986 (on back of this sheet).Embedded in his review, as well as in the criticisms of others, is the idea that cultural characteristics displayed in Gung Ho are at times notably superficial and exaggerated. Similar criticism has been levied at other films depicting cultural differences as well.
In your opinion, does cultural stereotyping and/or exaggerating cultural differences in cinema or other forms of mass media have serious implications for individuals’ understanding of culture? Do you believe the implications are necessarily all negative, positive, or are there both positive and negative implications? Please feel free to include specific examples.
