1. Intercultural Communication: The Basics
Session 1: Opening the Conversation
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

2. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Objectives
Move from passive recipients to active participants of intercultural communication
Introduce challenges and opportunities of intercultural communication in the context of globalization
Define culture
Understand how social location and standpoint shape perspective and experience
Introduce intercultural praxis
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

3. Intercultural Communication in the Context of Globalization
Globalization changes in intercultural communication engagement
Do you have examples of this?
Technology connects lives in a global economy
How do you experience this?
Gap between haves and have-nots is widening.
Is this evident where you live?
Is this evident in Panama?
Intercultural communication takes place in a context of political, economic, and cultural globalization
History, power, and global institutions play key roles
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

4. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
What is Culture?
High Culture
Culture of the elite class
i.e. Opera, ballet, literature
Low Culture
Culture of the working class
i.e. Folk art, popular theater
Popular Culture
Culture of common everyday people
i.e. TV, magazine, movies, fashion, music
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

5. Anthropologic Definition
Culture is passed down from generation to generation through symbols .
Culture allows us to make sense and understand the world.
Culture allows us to express ourselves.
When you share the system of meaning, you become part of the culture.
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

6. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Culture as a Site of Contested Meaning
Cultural Studies Definition
Culture is not shared by everyone, but contested and negotiated.
Focus on representations of class, race, gender, sexuality, and nationality in the media.
Culture as an apparatus of power, system of domination.
Culture is a site where power relations are negotiated.
Hegemony : Domination through consent
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

7. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Culture as a Resource
Globalization Definition
Culture is used as resource for economic growth in global trade (movies, music, etc.)
Resource for political movement.
Resource for educating people: literacy, health campaigns, etc.
Resource for collective resistance and social change
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

8. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Cultural Identity
A situated sense of self that is shaped by our cultural experiences and social locations
How do you define yourself in terms of cultural identity?
Do you have multiple cultural identities?
How does your cultural identity shape your perspectives, beliefs and relationships with others?
Is the way you identify culturally related to issues of power?
For example, dominant groups identities are often not as salient as non-dominant group identities
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

9. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Positionality
A term that describes how we are socially positioned in relation to each other.
One’s social location shaped by differences--race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, and physical abilities
i.e. I’m a woman, of Mexican descent, upper class, and deaf
i.e. I’m a White American male who is in a committed relationship with another man, educated, from working class, and non-religious
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

10. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Standpoint Theory
Standpoint: A place from which to view and make sense of the world.
Your positionality gives you a particular standpoint.
Different realities depending on the position from which to view it.
People with less power in society often have a fuller and more comprehensive view—both the dominant and marginalized view.
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

11. Standpoint Theory and Positionality
We may see, experience, and understand the world quite differently based on our different standpoints and positionalities .
Knowledge about ourselves and others is situated and partial.
Knowledge is always and inevitably connected to power.
Oppositional standpoints can be formed to challenge and contest the status quo.
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

12. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Ethnocentrism
Ethno: group or nation
Idea that one’s own group’s way of thinking, being and acting is superior to others.
Ethnocentrism can result in dehumanization, prejudices, discrimination, conflict, and violence.
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

13. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Intercultural Praxis
Praxis: Action & Reflection
A process of critical analysis, reflection, and action for effective intercultural communication in the context of globalization.
To raise our awareness, increase our critical analysis, and develop our socially responsible action.
There are six ports of entry: Inquiry, Framing, Positioning, Dialogue, Reflection, and Action.
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

14. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Intercultural Praxis
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014

15. Communication 440/690 Panama 2013

16. Communication 440/690 Panama 2014
Summary
In this session, we addressed:
3 Definitions of culture:
Culture as shared meaning
Culture as contested meaning
Culture as resource
Key concepts
Positionality
Standpoint theory
Ethnocentrism
Intercultural praxis
Communication 440/690 Panama 2014