WINTER 2026
COMM 371
Introduce Yourself
Hello Everyone,
My name is Andrew Michael White. Although, White is my mothers maiden name (I officially changed it when I joined the military at 18). I did not want a last name which I had not been raised to be reflected on my military service/uniforms, my given being Smith. Each of these names has multiple linguistic origins, and can be interpreted in many ways… all this is to say I have chosen that my name either means “Valiant man who is like God” or “Striking man who is like God”. Andrew derives from the Greek word for ‘man’, Michael is Hebrew for ‘who is like God’ and White/Smith are Anglo-Saxon/Old English terms meaning ‘valiant & striking’ respectively.
At one point in my life I did not appreciate my name and had to do quite the digging to come to terms with that which I had been given. As such, I translated my name so I could better grasp my possible connection to it. I am not necessarily a religious person, and do not subscribe to any specific God-head; however, I do appreciate the higher power from which we are derived, and have come to embrace a small detail which I can not control. I am Andrew.
I am a writer, poet & author. This course will contribute to my academic, personal & professional life by giving me a broader comprehension of how to reach people on a deeper level. If I am being completely honest, after reading through Module 1 and its materials, I think this will come mostly by raising my awareness of my own cultural identity & background. As a pale-skin of a caucus lineage, raised through the 90’s in San Diego, I embrace multi-cultural settings and more so thrive in them. My realization in this moment is that I do not truly know where I come from. My family is dispersed through history as nomads, farmers & blue collar workers, unfortunately leaving little by way of heritage and less in direct descent.
I have read quite a few books in the last year… but the one I am currently reading (I’m in Ch. 3) has grasped the most of my intrigue; S. or The Ship of Theseus by J. J. Abrahams & Doug Dorst is a mind-bending “mystery” about an author named Straka. I was recommended this book by my English Literature professor; with little to no knowledge of the details, I dove in. Without giving away too many details (one because it's intentionally written as a mystery and two because I don’t know much yet) this book, so far, is about a man that has been kidnapped by a bunch of pirates and who seemingly does not remember who he himself is. It is written in such a way as to keep the reader behind a veil and to drip-feed bits of information so as to entice further investigation.
Happy Holidays & Enjoy the Winter Break!
M2 Discussion
Why do some people in the United States prefer not to talk about history?
For context, I am a white male born in San Diego, CA (first generation American & Veteran), in 1989.
Some people in the United States prefer not to discuss history, for the same reason they prefer not to speak about politics or religion, they have no stake in it or no care to partake; furthermore… this goes for humans, not just those in the United States. Or, they know that decisions in history that they empowered were disgraceful and are themselves too weak to take ownership of their place in the timeline.
If we at this institution truly cared about history, treaties and so forth we wouldn't just have a plaque with a land acknowledgement on it… we would give the land back to the natives. SDSU would cease to exist in Mission Valley, but we don’t actually care, we like to say we do. I am the worst, as I think it is implausible to persecute a generation from which their culture was slavery & injustice. Persecution must occur instantaneously or the lesson is not learned and history repeats. This is not just a conversation of skintone, this is historically human. Humans of all races have been cultural oppressors since time immortal (I’m not saying it's right, that's just how it goes). What I do think is new is that America was founded on this idea of freedom & liberty FOR ALL while simultaneously oppressing the masses. These two concepts are in conflict and we are now facing the repercussions of answering for the transgressions.
What views of social reality and intercultural communication does this attitude encourage?
I think the conversation that is regarded as historical, is still misconstrued & weaponized, whether by the power hungry or the marginalized. When an argument suits us we wear it. I don’t think anyone actually wants to learn & grow from history, I think we all just want to complain about how it was, is and will be… rather than acting appropriately in each-and-every instance of our individual lives to ensure a harmonious present moment together.
M2 Reading Activity
We should pay attention to historical context when describing current social unrest & protests as most often they are in direct correlation with each other. I personally consider all of written history as altered history (or changed in order to serve particular ideological goals) as it has been written by the victor and as such is reflective of how they remember/choose to tell the story. I am most confused because I thought we all knew this and yet we are having to discuss it in a 300 level university course. The concept of absent history is baffling as well… are we really so naive as to think all of history as having been recorded or maintained. We know that humans through the act of war have decimated cultures throughout time. Many historical governments had whole institutions & departments contrived for the destruction of cultures outside their own, what are we really talking about here. Are we so detached in this western hemisphere that we forget the privilege of discourse that we are afforded to engage in? What is of the most concern to me is that of any hidden history, those hidden from or forgotten by the mainstream representations of past events. This concept to me is that of a more sinister approach and one that is intentional in its design. When an individual, group or organization goes out of the way to hide & suppress representation, this is when I feel we are being truly oppressive.
M3 Discussion
Why is it problematic to describe yourself as colorblind?
Race is a scam implemented by the institutionalization of “civilization”, defined by a morally inept & culturally deprived generation of white supremacists that were on a conquest of avowed manifest destiny. “Physical differences don’t make race. What makes race are the laws and practices that affect life chances & opportunities based on those differences.” (Ep. 3, 3:25) The conversation has not changed, it has simply evolved. Where science was once used to manipulate data and facilitate a self-serving bias, it is now utilized to show we are more different & akin than we can ever imagine. Different in that within our own “races” there is typically more genetic variation than across the perceived groups we designate, and that in essence we are all truly akin of the same planet, simply raised within different culture & geography.
This is where the problem becomes if you describe yourself as colorblind. If we do not recognize that we come from different places in time & history, we fail to listen to one another. We forget to learn about each other's cultures. We do not recognize the differences that our lives have shared and the mosaic we are creating. In my previous post I stated something along the lines of “I am a white man”. This is descriptor ascribed to me by society, that I often feel the need to share to clear the air and give people the mental space to receive what I may say with a certain air of privilege; as I have not been burdened with many of the trials attributed to race theory, so how could I fully know or comprehend anything of the matter. In my own words however, I am a pale-skin red-neck wearing my soul on my feet. And from this life of “privilege” I have faced many struggles, none greater or lesser than any other, and yet I have faced them.
M3 Reading Activity
Personal Identity Worksheet
Name: Andrew White
Three adjectives to describe yourself:
Persistent
Accountable
Blunt
Favorite music: Live.
One skill you are proud of: Penmanship.
Favorite movie: They Live directed by John Carpenter
Favorite book: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
Favorite food: Himalayan.
Favorite hobby: Gaming.
Favorite color: Purple.
Personal motto: I woke up again.
Number of siblings: 5 (Mothers), Unknown (Fathers)
Birth order: First born overall.
Social Identity Worksheet
Race: N/A
Ethnicity: N/A
Socio-economic status: Lower-middleclass (not quite impoverished anymore)
Gender: N/A
Sex: Male
Sexual orientation: Fuck around and find out.
National origin: United States
First language: English
Physical, emotional, developmental disability: I’m a submarine veteran.
Age: 36 years in this body.
Religious or spiritual affiliation: I woke up again.
Identities you think about most often: socioeconomic, first language, age.
Identities you think about least often: race, ethnicity, gender.
Your own identities you would like to learn more about: socioeconomic.
Identities that have the strongest effect on how you perceive yourself: first language, national origin.
Identities that have the greatest effect on how others perceive you: race, sex, age.
Why is it important to critically reflect on our identities?
It is important to critically reflect on our own identities as this can define how we or others perceive our position within society. “How an individual’s identity develops depends partly on the relative position or location of the identity within the societal hierarchy.” (Martin, pg. 169) Although this “relative position” is perceived it still bears weight upon our individual identity and interactions with others. It is also important to note that from some paradigms these identities can change over time, and that most often it is in some form of self or cultural preservation. “The social forces that give rise to particular identities are never stable but are always changing. Therefore, the critical perspective insists on the dynamic nature of identities.” (Martin, pg. 167) This does not always mean that we will remove or add a particular identity, but sometimes that we recognize an identity that is not yet acknowledged and that we are in the process of defining.
What is the value in completing activities like this?
One of the values in completing an activity like this is that of Major & Minor Identity Development, “a sense of belonging to a dominant or nondominant group.” (Martin, pg. 172 & 170) Now this “dominant” group (Major) does not always need to have the largest population, this has more to do with the relative dominance of power the group has. In order to better understand where marginalized groups are affected, we must recognize that these dynamics exist. “Historically, whites have been the normative (dominant) group in the United States and, as such, have benefited from privileges that go along with belonging to the dominant group.” (Martin, pg. 183) This is a prime example of how “dominant” groups are privileged within the context of their own existence. Systematic oppression perpetuates these concepts by ignoring the identities with which a population associates. Recognition of these inequities is not enough, change must happen apart from the implementation of systemic oppression, we must stop allowing this cancer to fester.
M5 Discussion
Why do people have such strong reactions to language policies, as in the “English only” issue?
People have strong reactions to language policies such as the “English Only” policy because of the inherent history that is tied with such concepts. To be clear these borders & boundaries that we are discussing are separated by millennia of cultural segregation and bloody wars that were fought in regards to these inherently tied beliefs. It’s almost as if we are choosing to forget history and how we arrived here. My point being, that even across native English speakers (and I’m almost positive it happens in every culture tied to a language) this idea that we choose to not listen and understand someone and would rather argue some fallacy that we are creating is apparent everywhere… not just across language barriers. There are 6 types of fallacies that are engaged in conversation when there isn’t enough time to develop good arguments and when there isn’t enough evidence to support good arguments; ad hominem, non-sequitur, bandwagon, false authority, either/or and the slippery slope. This whole concept of “speak English you’re in America now” is a prime example of each of these concepts as they can be applied in their own ways. If we are to truly move on from our past and enter into an age of Aquarius we must learn to avoid fallac arguments that bear no weight in reality. Whether someone speaks with grammatically correct syntax or sentence structure should not be a reference for intelligence or knowledge, but rather as a means to understand each other across cultural boundaries.
M5 Reading Activity
How would this video be received today? How could a show like this promote unhealthy stereotypes about particular national identities?
This feels like a leading line of questioning. First off, this is a show about a multi-cultural adult ESL Class in Britain in the 1970’s, that alone seems like a major step from the reality they were living in just a couple decades before. Although the characters are "stereotyped" it is not done in a malicious way, it is done because these people are meant to represent immigrants and their trials of learning a new (mostly radically complicated) language. Is it so hard to believe that simple stereotypes are often true… Why are we lying to ourselves? And furthermore, so long as we are willing to engage with an individual regardless of their cultural background, heritage, or linguistic upbringing we are doing ourselves the service of removing stereotypes from an individual. All Californians are flakes. This is a commonly known stereotype and for the majority it is true, this does not mean every Californian resident or local is a flake, merely that our history shows a collective direction of acting in such a way.
I think the only “unhealthy stereotypes” that would be promoted by this show would only be received by those seeking to create difference, which is an issue rooted in the individual. To me this show represents a vast melting pot of people from different cultures all collectively deciding to assimilate their language within a community that they now reside. This does not represent the dismantling or eradication of each of these individual cultures themselves. In other words, people who want problems find problems, stop looking for irrelevant arguments and focus on the beauty of these characters seeking to learn something new, in this case being a language that is not natively their own.
M6 Discussion
Explain why it is important to understand cultural spaces in intercultural communication.
There are many different context clues that one must become aware of if they are to adequately communicate interculturally especially through nonverbal means. Recognizing the cultural space we are currently within and from which we come are important factors in understanding how our own nonverbal communication is interpreted and in how we comprehend the nonverbal communication of others. According to Martin & Nakayama (2018) verbal communication is learned more explicitly through rules & meanings of language whereas nonverbal communication is learned through a more implicit socialization process (pg. 263). These are the “context clues” that I alluded to.
How has the Internet affected cross-cultural non-verbal communication and cultural spaces?
These concepts have been nearly completely eradicated when moving into the online space. The difficulty with translating cross-cultural non-verbal communication becomes ten fold, and furthermore I think that expectancy violation theory plays a major role. Martin & Nakayama (2018) explain, “because nonverbal communication occurs at a subconscious level, our negative or positive feelings toward someone may be due to the fact that they violated our expectations—without our realizing it (Burgoon, 1995; Floyd, Ramirez, & Burgoon, 2008).” (Pg. 265) When applying this idea to the online space I think our expectations are violated regularly, which can have a positive or negative effect in the real-world. Either our expectations are violated and we feel attacked and we revert to our known cultural spaces, or they challenge our expectations in such a way that in some sense we are converted into this new line of thinking/acting, leading us to abandon what we once felt was home.
M6 Reading Activity
I was drawn to the differences between what silence represents across eastern & western cultures. More specifically the respective positive & negative perspectives that either embraces. Within an eastern perspective silence is often received in a positive manner, as it conveys respect, dignity & often introspection which are all ideals of such cultures. “In Lao Tzu’s opinion, human language is limited and cannot reveal and explain the laws and rules in the world completely. The way plays its part in a silent way, so the relation between human beings and nature cannot be fulfilled or established by language…” (Quan, 2015) However, in a western perspective silence is frequently a sign of anger, disgust or outright shunning creating a feeling that one must always input or output information in order to be heard and represented positively. A second study I found was directly from a Chinese University that looked at nonverbal communication through practices of silence, gift-giving & cooking together between local & international students that had formed friendships through language & cultural barriers. “The participants in this study deliberately used silence as a means to regulate, prevent conflict escalation, and maintain emotional dignity…” (Anjun, Wang, Fu & Ye, 2025) This wasn’t necessarily what either student populations had done within their respective cultural spaces but within this new setting they had created a shared “Third Culture” within which they could understand each other's differences & similarities. The subtle difference in many contexts when discussing nonverbal communication almost has to be a discussion revolving around the subconscious, as how could any of us be expected to intentionally comprehend that which we do naturally, without any prior initiative to do so.
M8 Discussion
Charles O'Rear's 1998 photograph of the Sonoma County Hillside off Highway 121, dubbed "Bliss" by Microsoft Corporation, is possibly the first photograph that the entire world had the opportunity to see simultaneously and with extensive exposure to. Before social media and the mass-algorithmic determination of information dissemination, those of us privileged enough were graced with this image. Whether it be through school computer labs, family computers in the living room, or a workstation that we were just promoted to; each of us had some form of interaction with this image, even if it were just in passing... it's nearly impossible to avoid. Windows XP was released in 2001 at the turn of the century and just after the dust had settled from the international scare that was Y2K. On some level this was the first major turning point in personal computing as it became popular culture to have some sort of processing power at home, and Microsoft Corporation offered a competitive price point coupled with friendly & accessible graphic user interfaces. This image represents that shared adventure we all feel when initially discovering this new frontier that is computing and the internet.
I was around 11 while all of this was occurring, so for me this image represents the unknown. I was a highly influenceable child and ready to digest anything I could get my hands on... the computer was a portal of information to walk through and create within. Although we didn't necessarily always have the most up-to-date/best hardware in terms of our family computer, from the time I can remember, my family and communities have always been privileged with technology. I can almost guarantee that I saw this image within the first week of its release, if not sooner... and as the studies have shown there may be a billion people who experienced something similar.
M8 Reading Activity
I didn’t rewatch the Harry Potter franchise or record any specific numbers of representation… I don’t have streaming services or cable. I did grow up reading the books and watching most of the movie franchise as it was released. Alternatively, I watched an excessive amount of content on YouTube regarding the apparent lack of character diversity that has been recently addressed by mass media; from reaction videos to full on video essays dissecting the topic. I however, similarly to a niche outspoken community online, disagree with this popular narrative that has been pressured into the Harry Potter universe.
Specifically, in the idea that Harry Potter lacks representation. I understand that the story itself transcends generations and that the current communal outlook is much different as opposed to when the story was created & released. When looking at the demographics and specific statistics in regards to its inception, Harry Potter accurately reflects the population within which J.K. Rowling depicted the story to take place. Although the naming conventions & stereotypes utilized may be a bit on the nose, such as the “poor” Weasley family, or the “gaudy” Malfoy’s… or maybe Cho Chang (at least she is Harry’s first love interest?). Overall, I think an effort can be seen in attempting to break popular culture's ideals with characters such as Neville Longbottom (the unsuspecting hero), Sirius Black (the misunderstood antagonist), or even Hermione Granger (who at the time was one of few strong leading-role female protagonists).
Ultimately, the shift in popular culture and the power of media's influence on identity formation and intercultural communication can be seen in the withstanding conversations regarding Harry Potter’s initial installments. Over time the media has shifted its narrative and as such so must things like the Harry Potter series, which in most cases causes more harm than good. As then someone like J.K. Rowling is left trying to appease the market whom she is apparently selling, regardless of the fact the story is not derived from a very culturally diverse population. This being said it is a testament to the reality we live and the fact we are just now, currently, present in this moment, becoming more diverse in our understanding. Literally we are living through the moment in which the world is becoming a global population and we are experiencing the tension that arises when such histories collide. A large concern being placed in “How am I represented?” rather than “What do I represent?” has created friction in places where it is sometimes unnecessary; unfortunately the media & public feed on these narratives of division, so we feast.
M9 Discussion
I think the most difficult aspect of adapting to a new country (much less culture) is in discovering yourself through the experience. Not only challenging & supporting the beliefs of those before you, but discovering how you want to adapt. Whether it be by assimilation or separation, the fine lines that distinguish who we each are, create a space for us to become more self-aware. When discussing cultural hybridity Martin & Nakayama (2018) explain that, ““different societies are taking different approaches.” (Pg. 216) When reading a bit between the lines what I gathered from this is that in some contexts each type of cultural adaptation has their benefits & downfalls, how an immediate community handles them is of a more nuanced topic. Whether this be by force, historical animosity or shared understanding of difference is the means by which each is interpreted with embracing arms or disdain. “In some families, individual members choose different paths of relating to the larger culture. This can cause tensions when children want to assimilate and parents prefer a more integrative mode....children raised in the same house could have very different attitudes toward adaptation & religion.” (Martin & Nakayama, 2018, Pg. 317) I think this is an important perspective that must also be incorporated into the conversation on a very deep level… even within families cultural differences arise. This is not just a skin color, or redlining issue; this is a very deep rooted human condition that each of us must traverse with tender care all while being willing to challenge that which is laid before us, even when it so easily conforms to our own perspectives & beliefs.
M11 Discussion
Has online communication facilitated the development of intercultural relationships in your experience? Why, or why not?
In my experience online communication has facilitated the development of intercultural relationships as it has opened up new lines of communication and media that allow for a broad range and wide-reaching community. “Just as there are cultural differences in notions of friendship, there are also differences in how relationships develop over time.” (Martin & Nakayama, 2018, Pg. 389) Although it has been previously researched & catalogued that these ‘notions of friendship’ are vast across cultural borders; however I believe the advent of online communication has begun the deterioration of the ‘differences in how relationships develop’. “These technologies present us with enormous opportunities to communicate and develop relationships with people who are very different from us.” (Martin & Nakayama, 2018, Pg. 394). In essence, although the internet contains a plethora of forums and online chatrooms that perpetuate separation & stereotypes amongst cultures, I believe that it connects us in an exponentially positive way in comparison.
“We tend to hold negative stereotypes about people from different countries, different racial backgrounds and different ethnic backgrounds.” (Intercultural Relationships 1 4:00)
M11 Reading Activity
This video exemplifies the benefits and challenges of intercultural relationships through sharing stories of intercultural relationships that have brought people closer together because of the differences, but further have increased the understanding that we are all the same. Our lives may be of different context, we all experience struggles & tribulations. Martin & Nakayama explain, “The benefits of such relationships include: (1) acquiring knowledge and skills, (2) breaking stereotypes, and (3) forming intercultural alliances…These are examples of relational learning—learning that comes from a particular relationship but generalizes to other contexts (Crossman & Bordia, 2011).” (2018, Pg. 378) Although this video was specifically about intercultural ‘dating’ relationships many of the themes & experiences are translatable to platonic relationships as well. “By definition, [intercultural relationships] are characterized by cultural differences in communication style, values, and perceptions… the challenge can be to discover and build on the similarities—common interests, activities, beliefs, or goals.” (Martin & Nakayama, 2018, Pg. 379) Through these differences we are able to grow & learn things that we may have never conceived could apply to our experiences. From the vast majority of the stories shared in the video most of the degrading & racially charged issues come from those outside of the relationship or family with which it is involved, as such these perspectives are simply invalid & intentionally dedicated to creating separation amongst humankind.
M12 Discussion
What are some of the general suggestions for dealing with one of the different types of intercultural conflict and why do you think they might work?
Some of the general suggestions for dealing with the different types of intercultural conflict include:
Stay centered and do not polarize.
Maintain contact.
Recognize the existence of different styles.
Identify your preferred style.
Be creative and expand your style repertoire.
Recognize the importance of conflict context.
Be willing to forgive.
Although these suggestions are broad, and context is key, they can be very effective when dealing with intercultural conflict. Martin & Nakayama share that, “how someone chooses to deal with conflict in any situation depends on the type of conflict and the relationship she or he has with the other person (Cai & Fink, 2002; Ting-Toomey & Oetzel, 2013).” (2018, Pg. 422). In most cases these conflict resolution styles will work simply because of the desire to create a dialogue with one another. “Dialogue differs from conversation in that it assumes the transformative power of speaking and being understood; it involves listening and speaking, not to persuade, but to clarify—even to clarify and truly understand an opposing viewpoint.” (Martin & Nakayama, 2018, Pg. 438). This perspective & approach are important for resolving intercultural conflict as it creates the space for those of differing views to comprehend & understand one another without directly pressuring change in the other. Rather than demanding change this type of dialogue gives each party an opportunity to reflect on all positions of belief.
“A conflict of interest describes a situation in which people have incompatible preferences for a course of action or plan to pursue.” (Martin & Nakayama, 2018, Pg. 424)
M12 Reading Activity
A dialectical perspective can be applied to the intercultural conflict situation described as multiple opposing world-views are clashing and need some level of moderation. An understanding and some form of agreement must be met in order to alleviate the tension. It may be perceived that Ali is strictly speaking of religious reasons, as for his concern, but this does not seem to be the case. In actuality he recognizes that his roommate Bob may have a drinking problem and is concerned for his well-being. Furthermore, Bob’s family has a history of alcohol problems, so the concerns are warranted. Although Ali is focused on his studies and family affairs he seems to desire some form of connection with friends and neighbors, he simply has personal perspectives that turn him off from the status quo concept of “partying & drinking” to engage in such relationships. I would recommend the two determine some form of agreement around the use of the shared space; something along the lines, no guests during the school week and studying on the weekends will be done outside of the dorm (i.e. at a local coffee shop/library/etc.). Also, it seems that some of the cultural conflicts can be mitigated as neither is necessarily trying to indoctrinate the other into their culture, but rather implementing some form of respect that can be reciprocated between the two differing perspectives.
Self Reflective Paper
During this class, I recognized that a significant issue in society is that we are all negotiating the discovery of ourselves and each other through the medium of intercultural living. This social problem is also connected to issues that were raised by Martin & Nakayama (2018) such as the idea that, “ cross-cultural psychologist Alan Roland (1988) has identified as three universal aspects of identity present in all individuals: (1) an individualized identity, (2) a familial identity, and (3) a spiritual identity. Cultural groups usually emphasize one or two of these dimensions and downplay the other(s).” Due to these concerns, it is important that we study intercultural communication because of imperatives such as Self-Awareness, demographic, economic, environmental, technological, peace & ethical. The study of intercultural communication is important for the “awareness it raises in our own cultural identity & background” (Martin & NAkayama, 2018). Similarly as the world around us becomes increasingly diverse, intercultural communication will be crucial to the continued peace amongst us all.
Personally, I feel that two of the most important building blocks of Intercultural Communication are Culture itself, and how power is maintained & promoted without such studies. Introduced by Martin and Nakayama (2018) “culture influences communication, and vice versa…those people in power, consciously or unconsciously, create and maintain communication systems that reflect, reinforce, and promote their own ways of thinking and communicating.” These building blocks are also connected to the social issue I introduced earlier as it becomes a more difficult task to negotiate who we are within the bigger picture as power & culture intersect.
At the beginning of this class, I did not realize how much this issue is connected to culture, power & communication. Especially after completing the Application Paper for the final module and really diving deep into how these concepts become applicable through mediated depictions of everyday life. Now I understand that they are connected through structures of interpersonal & intrapersonal communication; some of which are volatile and others embracing.
The chapter that I found myself referencing the most often was chapter 5. Two concepts that stood out to me the most are Identity & Face Negotiation Theory. Although they are not the same, they have a close relationship to one another. If Identity Negotiation Theory is about discovering ourselves through social & personal experience. Face Negotiation Theory is how we accomplish this, and whether it is done with good intention or ill-will. Initially, I did not realize the benefit of seeing this concept in this way because I didn’t have any specific tangible experience of it; that was until I was reminded of American History X and how its story represents these concepts on the most extreme of stages. I also recognize that this concept helps us understand ourselves and each other in a more impactful and open-minded way.
Our readings have highlighted the importance of considering the multifaceted nature of the human experience during intercultural interactions which I intend to do in similar scenarios in the future and that, “people can identify with a multitude of groups: gender, age, religion, nationality, to name only a few” (Martin & Nakayama, 2018). From this experience, I have learned that to be an ally is to listen & empower each & everyone. To be an ally is not to speak for any other experience other than our own.
This class has highlighted that I need to develop further knowledge in the concept of Stuart Hall’s (1980) encoding/decoding model when discussing the consumption & resistance to stereotypes that may be perpetuated by popular culture and cultural texts. To address this, I intend to invest closer personal attention to “encoding—or the construction of textual meaning by popular culture institutions—within specific social contexts. Decoding—the interpretation of the text’s meaning by receivers—is performed by various audiences in different social contexts, whose members have different interests at stake. In this way, the meaning(s) of various popular culture texts can be seen as negotiated throughout the communication process.” (Martin & Nakayama, 2018)
Bad Actors Creating Seams in the Scene: Hate Is Baggage
Racially-fueled criminal violence is irrationally justified through cultural & geographic misrepresentations of “the other.” I'm not going to get into how we are all humans cut of the same grain… or that the concept of race specifically was created by a morally inept set of social bureaucrats that had a skewed perspective of reality with a foundational belief in “white” control & superiority… or how racial tension & execution has stemmed as far back as modern & ancient history can record: Egypt’s enslaving of the Israelites, the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Hitler & the Nazi holocausting of the Jewish people, the Rawandan genocide, the Institution of Slavery; I won’t continue. Identity Negotiation Theory (INT) created by Stella Ting-Toomey (2015) posits that an individual is composed of “multifaceted identities [each of which incorporates] group membership, relational roles & individual self-reflexive implications.” Discovering, much less explaining, our identity is extremely nuanced as the spectrum of experience has an exponential potential for the variation of lives lived. We may share some labels with our family & peers, such as ethnic, professional or cultural ties; however, it is never the same experience for each of us. American History X is a film written by David McKenna and directed by Tony Kaye. It follows the story of two brothers, Derek & Danny Vinyard, as the death of their father leads them down a brutal path of racism, identity politics, empowering transformation & ultimate demise. Although the story ends in race-fueled murder, the depictions of hate & separation expressed in the film are representative of scenarios experienced by humans from all walks of life. We will examine INT to analyze the overarching themes of violence & racism that are present in the film American History X. More specifically Derek’s development & transformation from murderous neo-Nazi to embracing of all, as prison reform and personal connection with a man of African-American descent change his perspectives, as he recognizes that “hate is baggage” and we are all truly more alike than we know.
It has been 40 years since Stella Ting-Toomey introduced the framework for Identity Negotiation Theory (INT). Over that time it has seen much refining & improvement as she and her peers have continued to engage with & dissect the concept. At its core, INT is a merging of the ideas that we must manage our self/other perception alongside group-membership & individuated identity. It was created as a means to understand how individuals negotiate identity through respect & belonging between groups, inter/intrapersonally & within themselves. Martin & Nakayama (2018) explain how “[INT] emphasizes that identities are negotiated, co-created, reinforced, and challenged through communication with others; they emerge when messages are exchanged between persons (Hecht, Warren, Jung, & Krieger, 2005; Ting-Toomey 2005)” (Pg. 164). To the extent that we can be so physically alarmed by threats to our identity that it sometimes leads to violent actions. When discussing intercultural & intergroup conflict, a rigid sense of identity (or lack of ambiguity tolerance) can reinforce stereotypes & radical group think. “[At the micro-level], both intrapersonal and interpersonal factors intersect and influence individuals and their communicative behaviors. Interpersonal factors include self-construals of their personal and social identities and how they see others, attributions, and conflict emotions. Interpersonal factors include anxiety, security, relationships, and physical settings in which interpersonal experiences and interactions take place” (Dorjee & Ting-Toomey, 2020). Understanding how identity is negotiated through communication provides a powerful foundation for analyzing how concepts of hate & brutal dichotomies appear in American History X.
The film plot takes place in LA County between 1990-1998. However, the main through-line covers a 24-hour period in 1998; Derek is released from a 3-year prison sentence for 2 counts of voluntary manslaughter. On the same day, his younger brother Danny is tasked with writing a new final paper (in-one day) if he wants to pass his last class and graduate high-school. Violence fueled by racism and the ways in which it can tear families apart is the main focus of the film. At the beginning of the film Derek can be seen as the conclusive depiction of hate & terror. His neo-Nazi beliefs coupled with an extremist perspective have created a monster that is thirsty for bloodshed. It was not always like this however. There is a scene in which the family is sitting at the breakfast table before their father’s death, who is speaking violent hate speech directly to a young & impressionable Derek. At this moment Derek is at a crossroads, his own beliefs and understanding of Affirmative Action at odds with those of his fathers, creating the seeds for an identity conflict. Flash forward to his life in prison and another turning point can be seen. His new found beliefs of hate & segregation are contradicted and in fact in-group tension causes more harm to him than any other. These moments, along with many others in the film, set the stage for a deeper analysis of how Identity Negotiation Theory helps explain Derek’s identity development & transformation; from caring, thoughtful & open-minded to murderous neo-Nazi and back again.
Although his actions are reprehensible, deserving condemnation, Derek’s experience is an extreme view of what happens when identity security is threatened. “Individuals in all cultures or ethnic groups have the basic motivation needs for identity security, inclusion, predictability, connection, and consistency on both group-based and person-based identity levels. However, too much emotional security will lead to tight ethnocentrism and, on the converse side, too much emotional insecurity (or vulnerability) will lead to fear of outgroups or strangers” (Ting-Toomey, 2015). Another scene that depicts such ‘tight ethnocentrism’ is one in which Derek can be seen delivering a hate-fueled speech to a group of neo-Nazi antagonists in front of a Chinese owned & operated grocery store. He exclaims that these are, in his words, ‘illegal immigrants’ along with others that are “greedy, indolent criminals looking for a free pass…being rewarded with jobs and welfare checks” (McKenna, 1998). This leads to direct acts of violence as Derek and the others storm the front doors and enact despicable acts against those inside. Upon entering prison Derek discovers that those he thought were his allys (namely white supremecists) are the only to humiliate him through sexual acts of dominance & fear, again conflicting with his sense of identity. Meanwhile, through his prison house duties of attending the laundry he meets a peer from an unexpected ethnic background, Lamont, who offers identity support. They exchange stories & laugh, they argue about sports, they discover a camaraderie that bridges any perceived boundaries of difference. This relationship alters what Derek believed in a profound way. Allowing him to rediscover & change his own identity, through empowerment, not one which had been pressured into him by his direct uniformed community and the society at large. I have seen this movie 3-4 times throughout my life, the first of which I was 12 years old. Let me tell you that it impacted my life in the most powerful of ways then, just as it has each time since. Every time I have watched it, I see deeper into the complexities of the narrative. After going into it once more with the lens that INT brings brought the greatest insights that I have ever had while watching it. Identity security, conflict & change are negotiated through challenges & consequences that we all must face if we are to develop & transform.
Identity Negotiation Theory shows us that a rigid sense of identity can reinforce stereotypes & radical group think which can lead to radical & extreme acts of violence. This can be seen in the Tony Kaye film American History X where the main character, Derek, is faced with an identity crisis after his father is murdered. What follows is a destructive path of self-discovery as he negotiates his identity. Ambiguity tolerance offers an opportunity for identity transformation through relational support & vulnerability in inter/intracultural situations. Understanding identity negotiation can empower the reduction of conflict, and the embracing of peace between all peoples. It is in the way that we see ourselves that we feel others.
