通过电影《刮痧》来谈谈中美文化的差异性

通过电影《刮痧》来谈谈中美文化的差异性 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 1 页 共 10 页 1 Introduction The film “Scraping Therapy” reflects the difference of value and culture views between western society and orient society. China society has been receiving impact of Confucianism for thousands years. Confucianism is known as paying regard to human relationship and ethic. Piety, courtesy and localism are most important ethic. But in Western culture which is more emphasis on individualism, independence and equality. So conflicts in culture and value are unavoidable. These conflicts have shown in the story. In Chinese culture, physical punishment is commonly used by Chinese family. They think this will help to growing up. But in western society it is absolutely forbidden. Any abusing children were viewed as illegal conduct. As to show respect to friends, Da Tong Xu punished his own son physically in front of friends. But this was misinterpreted as violence by his foreign friends. This is a misunderstanding in culture between East and West. In this film, grandpa who had living in China for many years treated his grandson with a widespread treatment in Chinese folk named “Scraping Therapy”. This is a very ancient Chinese medicine therapy, and is handed down from one generation to another which has thousands of years of history in China. In the United States, this is an unfounded treatment. When the child gets sick, hospital is the only correct choice. Scraping Therapy in the story led to great conflict and misunderstanding. There are many other culture and value conflicts performed in the film, such as conflict between Chinese traditional culture and Western industrial civilization, conflict of the education of their children’s daily habits and so forth. How to avoid the tragedy of the story? We must strengthen the East-West cultural exchange and learning, and only with respect to different cultures and inclusive will it be 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 2 页 共 10 页 possible to avoid the culture and values of conflict. 2 Comparison of Chinese and American values based on the movie Chinese and Americans possess different values about success. At the beginning of the movie, XU Da-tong is rewarded as the best designer of video games by the company. When he is requested to make a short speech, he mentions that he would especially extend thanks to his boss and all of his colleagues. This is a typical Chinese speech made after being successful. They attribute their success to other’s help and cooperation. It is what Chinese people usually do on that occasion. In China, relationship plays a critical role in people’s lives. Many Chinese people get ahead with the help of their family background and friends. Therefore, they are used to extending their gratitude to other people even though their success has little to do with some of them. They seldom say that they succeed because of their own ability and hard work. Nevertheless, Americans hold different values in this aspect. Americans are more likely to express pride in themselves and their accomplishment rather than to express pride in their group, company, family or hometown. 3 Family Education Conflict 3.1. Chinese Family Education View In China, when children do something wrong, parents will scold and beat children as a punishment. Chinese family education is famous for strictness. There are Chinese old sayings can show the strictness, such as “to feed without teaching is the father’s fault”, “spare the rod, spoil the son”, just as the words Datong’s father said: “打是亲,骂是 爱(to scold and to beat a naughty boy is due to love)”. It is also common for parents, 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 3 页 共 10 页 especially parents in the rural areas, to leave their children alone at home, Chinese parents are always busy with their jobs or farming, and there is not enough time for them to take care of their children, so they have to leave their children at home. It is not surprising at all in the rural areas to find children lying on the floor with fly flying around them. Nowadays, with the popularization of the television, it is safer and more convenient for parents to leave children at home. 3.2 American Family Education View In America, parents never hit their children for their mistakes .They do not think it will do any help to scold and beat them. It will be more useful to encourage them to stand up again than to scold and beat them, which will only discourage their confidence. And most importantly, it is illegal to beat children. In America, it is also illegal to leave their children alone at home. 3.3 The Reason for Their Different Views The reason for the differences between Chinese parents and American parents is that they each have different role orientation. Chinese parents consider their children as their own property. They think the children are affiliated to them. The children can only grow up under their control. Most of the Chinese parents play the role of arranging children’s fate. This kind of relationship is obviously unfair. However, American parents regard their children as free and independent individuals since their children are born. They put their children in an equal position. They pay much attention to the equal communication and respect children’s ideas and needs. In the process of their children’s growth, they give them guidance and help.1 Hence, Chinese parents have rights to scold and beat the children when they do something wrong and to leave them alone at home, while it is illegal to do such 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 4 页 共 10 页 things in America. 3.4 Family Education Conflict Reflected in Gua Sha In Gua Sha, Datong’s son Denis hit his friend Kunlan’s son Paul, Datong asks Denis to apologize to Paul, but Denis refuses to say sorry to Paul, then Datong hit Denis on the face in front of the public. In Chinese eye, it is perfectly justified to do so because they think they do this for children’s good, and to hit children is to love them and to make them become a useful person. Chinese parents is always educating their own children first when they deal with the quarrel or fight among children, while American parents pay attention to the truth. That’s why Datong first asked Denis to apologize to Paul without finding who is wrong or right. However, in America, parents are just the children’s keepers. They can’t go too far scolding their children, let alone beat them. That’s why Datong’s friend Kunlan is startled when he sees Datong hit Denis on the face. There is another typical plot can embody the different family education views of Chinese and American. When Datong’s father stays at the station, and Jane is at work, Datong has to leave Denis alone at home in order to pick his father home. When Datong is on his way to the police station, he calls Jane. Here is the conversation: Jane: Datong, where are you? I called twice, and no answer. Datong: I was at the police station. Jane: What? What happened? Datong: Dad has a… Jane: Is he ok? Datong: Yes, he’s met up with an emergency. Jane: where is Denis? Is he with you? 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 5 页 共 10 页 Datong: He’s home, I mean he’s sleep. Jane: You mean you left Denis at home all by himself? Datong: Oh, Jesus! You called home. Datong’s father: Datong, you are driving too fast. Isn’t it breaking the law? Datong: Dad, I left Denis alone at home. I’ve already broken the law. From the conversation, it is known that it is illegal to leave children at home. 3.4.1 Different Views of Interpersonal Relationship Dealing with the interpersonal relationship, American culture pays attention to individualism, while Chinese culture pays attention to collectivism. The following statements by Ting-Toomey are very clear: Individualism emphasizes the importance of individual identity over group identity, individual rights over group rights and individual needs over group needs, which gives priority to individual, advocates individual benefits and individual freedom. Americans think that everyone has the freedom to do everything he wants as long as what he does will not interrupt others’ benefit, and he will be responsible for what he does. In the contrast, collectivism attaches importance to “we” identity over the “I” identity, group rights over individual rights and in-group-oriented needs over individual want and desires. Collectivism promotes relational interdependence, in-group harmony, and in-group collaborative spirit. Not harming collective benefit is the precondition of what one does and what one says. When Chinese deal with the relationship of individual benefit and collective benefit, they think more of collective benefit. Sometimes, they will try their best to realize collective benefit at the expense of individual benefit. Chinese are always required to follow rules 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 6 页 共 10 页 docilely and repress themselves. This kind of self-repression makes American scholars think that Chinese culture as I-less culture. Chinese culture emphasizes the full devotion to the collectivity and ignores individuality, while American culture gives a limited devotion to the collectivity. In Gua Sha, when Jane gave birth to Denis at the hospital, Datong did not accompany her at the hospital because he had a meeting at the company. This kind of choice is understandable in China, where collectivity outweighs individuality, but is unacceptable and unforgivable in American society. And this is not only the conflict between collectivism and individualism, but also the conflict in interpersonal relationship view. 3.4.2 Family Conflict Reflected in Gua Sha Family is the most basic element and carrier in the Chinese culture. Chinese family stresses the love of family and the love of consanguinity. They think that dog doesn’t eat dog(虎毒不食子),so when the Children Welfare Bureau accuses Datong of child abuse, he thinks it incredible and ridiculous. He says to his wife Jane, “A father loves his son. That’s the way where it works. Why do I have to prove my love, make up speeches? What the hell are we doing, Jane? It’s turning upside down. Everything is turning upside down!” However, it is acceptable in America, which is a place pays more attention to the truth and evidence. Filial piety is also a very important virtue in Chinese family. In the movie, Datong lies to the judge that he is the one who does Gua Sha to Denis in order to protect his father who is the real one does Gua Sha to Denis. He thinks that if he tells the judge it is his father does Gua Sha to Denis, he sells his own father out, and then he will not be a filial son. However, Americans will never understand the concept of filial piety in Chinese culture. 3.4.3 Family Conflict Reflected in Gua Sha 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 7 页 共 10 页 In Gua Sha, Datong asks his friend as well as boss Kunlan to be his counsel in the hearing, while Kunlan is just a property right lawyer, who knows little about family law. Kunlan suggests Datong to find a professional family law lawyer, but Datong insists on asking him to be his counsel. The only reason is that Kunlan is his friend, and he trusts him. The following is the conversation between Datong and his friend Kunlan: Kunlan: …Family law is a very special land. It’s short time to ask a continuous day of hearing so that you can get someone who is qualified. Datong: John, you know how much I love Denis! You’re best lawyer I know and my best friend. I mean who is ready to help. Kunlan: But I am just a property right lawyer, I knew little about family law. Datong: Denis is my best creation. I have a property right over him, right? They made a mistake, and all that you should do is to point it out and I can take Denis home. I’m counting on you! Take another example, in the second hearing, Kunlan tells the judge that Datong once hit Denis. Kunlan’s attestation lead the case to be taken over by the formal court, Datong is very angry and decides to quit the job, thinking that Kunlan’s behavior betrays friend. Look at the conversation between Datong and his friend as well as boss Kunlan: Datong: I won’t talk to you! Kunlan: I am so sorry. I’m trying to tell you. I couldn’t lie, they knew everything. Datong: I don’t have the time and intonation to hear you to justify your action. I just want to get my son home and get my life back. Kunlan: And that’s why more than ever you need this job! Datong: I consider you as my friend, but you sold me out. How dare you expect me to work 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 8 页 共 10 页 with you again? Kunlan: I just told the truth In China, loyalty to friends is very important, while Americans are more rational. They emphasize the truth and know exactly what they should do. In a word, Chinese friendship focuses on human feelings, American friendship focuses on truth and reason. Conclusion People in different countries develop and maintain their unique cultures. Thus, cultural clashes are bound to exist among people from different cultures in cross-cultural communication, as are shown in the movie. However, people can gracefully bridge the cultural gap through interaction, observation and imitation, which is also presented by the pleasant ending of this movie. This thesis has compared the value differences between Chinese and American, which containing the world outlooks, value systems and modes of thinking. It also analyzes how these differences affect the behavioral patterns of people with different cultural background and bring about obstacles to cross-cultural communication. What’s more, it proposes some suggestions to overcome the obstacles. As globalization is quickening its pace, cross-cultural communication has become part of our daily life. Cultural shock and misunderstanding between people with different cultural background frequently happen. World outlook and value system, as the core of culture, profoundly affect people’s pattern of behavior. A deeper understanding and consciousness of the differences may promote a more effective communication between different cultural backgrounds. 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 9 页 共 10 页 Acknowledgements I would like to thank all those who have offered me help during the one month of writing this thesis. I own my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Li Jingmei, whose expert advice and constant encouragement have been indispensable to the completion of this thesis. She has patiently reading my thesis draft and suggested numerous improvements. Finally, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to those who spend their precious time in reading this thesis. 本 科 毕 业 论 文 第 10 页 共 10 页 Bibliography 1.Antony Appiah, In My Father’s House. London: Oxford University Press. 2008. 2.Arjun Appadurai. Globalization. Durham: Duke University Press. 2000. 3.Liao Binghui. 200 Keywords in Literary and Critical Studies. 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