Christian Boehm/ Cultural Identity Vido

Mikayla Pate Video

Question!

Hey guys!

Sorry to be a pain and ask but I narrated my powerpoint and the audio and everything works fine until i try to upload it on here or on Youtube? I have a mac, can anyone help me out with any information on what I can do to fix it? Thanks!

Kim

CAPs Blog #1-Kate Nevanen

Finding out who you are and who you want to be is a hard, ongoing process. 

Identity is defined as, “The concept of who we are. Characteristics of identity may be understood differently depending on the perspectives that people take” (Martin/Nakayama, 170). Identity can be seen from three different perspectives, social science, interpretive and critical. The social science perspective means our identity is created by ourselves as well as my others, meaning we are made up of multiple identities. The interpretive perspective is close to the same idea but is more centered on the idea that our identities are always changing and evolving through our communication with others. The critical perspective is the most dynamic in that identity is found or shaped around society. Depending on the perspective which you see identity there are many factors or components that make up everyone’s unique identity.

Although there are many different aspects that go into identity, the international article I read is specifically about someone’s sexual identity. From BCC News I came across an article about a Hong Kong tycoon and his daughter. Why this is big news is because this is regarding an important person’s family in Hong Kong. A tycoon is defined as “A business person of great wealth and power,” (Dictionary.com). Last week Mr. Chao, property and shipping tycoon, doubled his original offer of $65 million to any man in Hong Kong who would ‘woo’ his daughter. His daughter, 33, married her long term partner in 2012 in France. Homosexuality is not illegal in Hong Kong but it does not recognize same sex unions. A letter that Ms. Chao has sent to her father has also been published in local magazines explaining her dad’s insensitivity and explaining her stance. "As your daughter, I would want nothing more than to make you happy. But in terms of relationships, your expectations of me and the reality of who I am are not coherent"(BCCNews). Ms. Chao went on to say that it is not that there are no ideal men in Hong Kong; it is just that they and that type of relationship is not for her. After her now almost two year marriage, Mr. Chao is still claiming that his daughter is single and looking for a guy who will “turn his homosexual daughter straight” (redpepper.com).

I chose this story because I think it is something that our country is currently discussing and changing in as well. Our thoughts, feelings, and laws on sexuality have changed dramatically throughout the years and will continue to change. It shows a lot about Ms. Chao’s self-identity that she was able to go against her cultural norms or even family norms and marry her longtime partner. Our sexual identity effects how we live our life, from who we hang out with to what we read and so on. By marrying her partner and communicating about it with the public shows that she firmly believed she is following her right path and doing nothing wrong. I think if more outreaches like Mr. Chao’s occur in Hong Kong there could really be a breakthrough in recognition of homosexuality, common to the United States. This issue also touches on the concept of gender identity. It tells us a lot about Hong Kong’s culture that it is a typical custom for fathers to offer money and chose who their daughter marries. To be a woman in this country means you are controlled or identified by the male presence in your life. Ms. Chao clearly stands up against gender norms for her country, and identifies herself with herself as well as another female figure. Although she grew up and was taught that she should be feminine, quiet, fragile and polite she is able to pull apart from this and create herself, her own identity. Lastly, Ms. Chao shows a sense of familial identity by sending this letter to her father. Familial identity is defined as, “the sense of self as always connected to family and other,” (Martin/Nakayama, 172). Despite what her father has done and said she will always feel a connection with him because they are family. “It would mean the world to me if you could just not be so terrified of her, and treat her like a normal, dignified human being" (BCCNews) Ms. Chao wants to connect her two family identity’s or loved ones together, her father and her partner.

We are moving together as a country when it comes to same sex marriage and this article shows that across the world their culture is also. From Ms. Chao we can learn that it is important that once you know your identity in each aspect of your life, voice it. Do not be shaped by what others wish you to be, but to be yourself. Being a supporter of same sex marriage I think moving forward when it comes to this topic we need to open our eyes and realize that not everyone’s identities are or have to be similar to our own. Find yourself, be yourself and most importantly, accept others.

This url will take you to the BCC website where you can hear audio of Ms. Chao speaking on the matter.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-25940522

References

"Hong Kong Tycoon's Daughter Defends Sexuality in Letter." BBC News. BBC, 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.

"Tycoon." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.

Martin, Judith N., and Thomas K. Nakayama. "Chapter Five-Identity." Intercultural Communication in Contexts. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. N. pag. Print.

"Billionaire Offers £80m To Anyone Who Can Turn Lesbian Daughter Straight." Red Pepper Breaking News Uganda News Gossip News Technology Museveni Besigye OPM Cranes. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.

Hannah Kelley Cultural Identity Video

Dani Wingard Video

Kim's Cultural Identity Video

CAPS 1- Dani Wingard

Identity is about who we are and who others think we are. We communicate our identity to others and we learn who we are through communication. It is through communication that we begin to understand ourselves and form our society (Martin & Nakayama, 2013). The social science perspective emphasizes identity created by self. It is about being an individualized, familial, and spiritual self. The interpretive perspective is about identity that is formed by communication with others. It emphasizes avowal and ascribed dimensions (Martin & Nakayama, 2013). The critical perspective is identity formed by social and historical forces. It emphasizes the conflicts of developing ones identity. The interpretive and critical perspectives both focus on the dynamic nature of identities. Sexual identity refers to one's identification with various categories of sexuality (Martin & Nakayama, 2013). The Iranian president states, "In Iran, we don't have homosexuals, like in your country." These are the types of people that make people confused on who they are and what their sexual identity is.

The Supreme Court in India has refused to review the gay sex ban. The law states that a same-sex relationship is an "unnatural offense" and punishable by a 10-year jail term. The protestors in India are trying to argue that a same-sex relationship between adults should not be considered a crime. In December the government asked the courts to review the ban because it "violated the principle of equality." The article states that this law has never been used to prosecute or arrest gays, but used by police to harass gay people. I believe that people can't control who they are and who they're destined to be. If someone is gay we should just let them be gay. We can't change them. I think that our world is the reason behind one's confusion with their sexual identity because we try to tell them they can't be who they are, basically. We say that gay marriage is illegal, same-sex relationship is illegal. It's all illegal when in reality it's just human beings who love each other. 

Intercultural communication focuses on how cultural groups differ from one another. So how homosexuals differ from heterosexuals. I think that our world can become more competent with homosexuals if we start by treating them as human beings. Yes homosexuality goes against many religious beliefs, but those people have no idea what's going on in that person's head. We can try to understand them and who they are or why they are the way they are. It's all in the perceptions that influence how we communicate and handle conflict between cultures. Our world needs to take a step back and consider what it would be like to be confused about our own sexual identity. We have to put ourselves into their shoes to try to understand. "Culture is the shifting tensions between the shared and the unshared. For example American culture has changed from master/slave to white only/black only to anti war/black power and so on. (Lee, page 89)" Why can't American culture shift from homosexuals being banned to allowing them to get married like everyone else?

References

"India Supreme Court Refuses to Review Gay Sex Ban." BBC News. BBC, 28 Jan. 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013). Intercultural Communication in Contexts (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Hannah Kelley Blog Post #1

People often find themselves asking the question: Who am I?  This is a difficult question to grasp, as there are many different components that make up who we are.  Our identities, which are highly dependent on how we view our world, shape who we are and affect how we behave in our society.  There are different approaches to identity that highlight specific characteristics: Social Science, Interpretive, and Critical (Martin & Nakayama, 2013).  The Social Science approach focuses on identities being created by self and groups, the Interpretive approach focuses on the creation of identity by communicating with others, and the Critical approach focuses on identity shaped through social structures (Martin & Nakayama, 2013).  All of these approaches aid in providing a deeper meaning to the concept of identity. 

  Nothing so starkly depicts the differences in American and Russian culture than the conflict surrounding the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.  Tensions with Sochi officials and the rest of the world began mounting in late 2013 when the gay propaganda law was passed.  This law bans the distribution of gay rights material to minors (CBC News, 2013).  Since then, there have been many outbreaks and attacks targeting gays.  Recently, the Mayor of Sochi made a statement that claimed “there are no gay people in his town” (CTV News, 2014, para. 1).  Many were taken aback by the Mayor’s comments and wish to be left alone.  The statement that was released depicts the lack of freedom that Russians are facing.  This is completely opposite of the First Amendment here in the United States, which grants all citizens the right of free speech. There is an underlying concern about how to keep fans and athletes safe while attending the Olympics (CBC News, 2013).  Many fear that they will be criticized for supporting gay rights, something that is condemned in Russia.  The Canadian Olympic Committee has reassured them “that the new anti-gay law will not affect Olympic attendees” (CBC News, 2013, para.7).  There are socio-cultural identities that are at play in this conflict.  Sexual identity is the biggest socio-cultural identity to focus on.  In Russia, peoples’ sexual identity is being discriminated against.  Russian culture is very suppressive of sexual identity that does not align with heteronormativity.  Ethnic identity is also relevant.  Many citizens are sensitive to their ethnic group membership and have trouble identifying with being Russian because of the political instability that has occurred in the country since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.  These two socio-cultural identities can inform our understanding of the conflict in Russia. 

Retrieved from CBC News

Retrieved from CBC News

  Your identity makes you who you are and not all people will agree with the socio-cultural identities that you identify with.  In order for intercultural communication to move forward one must recognize that communication is ever-changing and different cultures have different ways of expressing themselves and their identities. 

 CBC News. (2013, July 26). Should Olympians fear Russia’s anti-gay laws? Retrieved from

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/should-olympians-fear-russia-s-anti-gay-laws-1.1359358

CTV News. (2014, January 27). No gay? No way! Reaction in Sochi to the mayor’s comments. Retrieved from

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sochi/no-gay-no-way-reaction-in-sochi-to-the-mayor-s-comments-1.1658498

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013). Intercultural communication in contexts (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IUwAOVD05s

 

Megan Merrill- CAPS #1

            Martin and Nakayama’s look at the significance and understanding to one’s identity begins with the three following approaches: Social Science, Interpretive, and Critical. The Social Science approach, also known as the functionalist approach), is based on the assumptions that there is a describable, external reality, humans behaviors are predictable, and culture is a variable that can be measured. This approach aims to identify and explain cultural variations in communication and to predict future communications. The second approach is the interpretive approach. This is an approach to intercultural communication that aims to understand and describe human behavior within specific cultural groups based on the assumptions that human experience is subjective, human behavior is creative rather than determined or easily predicated, and culture is created and maintained through communication. The third and final approach perspective is the Critical approach. It is a metatheoretical approach that includes many assumptions of the interpretive approach but that focuses more on macro-contexts, such as the political and social structures that influence communication.

Months of peaceful protesting took a dramatic turn to violence over the past two weeks in Ukraine’s capital. The initial protests began when the country’s President, Viktor Yanukovych, pulled out of a trade deal with the EU last November in favor of a bailout from Russia. However, after months of largely peaceful demonstrations, the government enraged demonstrators by passing an anti-protest law. This change fueled protestors to turn violent, resulting in four deaths of Ukrainian citizens.

National Identity is a key social-cultural identity that is in play throughout the Ukraine protests. This is in reference the to nation’s citizens and one’s status in relation to that nation in which they live. By factoring in national identity into the government vs. citizen issues that are happening within the country of Ukraine, it leads to the citizens identity with there nation at weak point due to their frustration with the government. A second socio-cultural identity that is involved with the conflict is class identity. Like other nations, politics and the people they govern are often time separate into upper and middle-lower class. The groups of protestors are creating a sense of belonging because they share similar economic, occupational, and/or social statuses; the same applies to the Ukrainian government.

The socio-cultural identities at play within the Ukraine conflict provide an excellent example of how they are present within every aspect of culture and communication. The idea the class and nationality groups the citizens prove that communication between these groups happen by the cultures that define who we are. From this application, we can learn that country and national identity play a large role into one’s culture and how they shape one’s life into their future.

Reference:

Ukraine 'to scrap' anti-protest law. (2013, 01 27). BBC News Europe. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25922342

IACCINO, L. (Photographer). (2014, 01 27). [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ukraine-conflict-five-things-you-should-know-1433985

Rylee Terry CAPS 1

         We are constantly being asked who we are…then you have to stop and think about what that question even means; what you like to do, who do you want to be, what do you value, or how do you describe yourself? Since the beginning of your life, you are supposed to define yourself, usually with age coming first and then your individual characteristics. All of these characteristics add up to be your own identity. Identity is the concept of who we are, (Martin & Nakayama, 2013). Along with identity comes the three perspectives including: social science, interpretive, and critical.

         The article, Untold stories of a Revolution by Julie Knaga reflected on the 2011 clashes between the pro- and anti-government groups in Cairo. These protests became violent and deadly and in turn President Mubarak stepped down from power after almost 30 years, (Knaga, 2014). Photographer, Brian Driscoll, went back to Cairo recently to get insight civilians who were captured and taken to military prison. Civillian, Dr. R, who was kept in the military prison for 26 days shed some like on the human right abuses. Driscoll was able to capture pictures of ones who were detained and used those to tell his story of experience (pictured right). Pictured in the scarf, Mohana, 23, was an assistant medic at hospitals during street protests and pictured below is Shireen, 25, an accountant, who was seized in Tahrir Square by SCAF, (Knaga, 2014). Driscoll did make mention that people were so afraid to get caught of him taking their pictures because of what would happen to them again, Driscoll described the experience as “intense”. Within this problem there are two distinct identity groups, the pro- and anti-government but within those lie so many more reasons of why a person has chosen to be for or against their government. From the outside we are just assessing ascription, process by which we are attributing identities to others, (Martin & Nakayma, 2013).

Not only from the chapter readings and this article, but the other posts of this identity problem that is so prevalent has made me reconsider how I view people.  A lot of times they do not have the chance to tell me their identity and explain why they hold the views that they do, I just put together the typical stereotype of what someone looks like and go with that. I believe that everyone at some point or another is guilty for attributing characteristics to others that are false.

References

Knaga, J. (2014, January 25). Untold stories of a revolution. Retrieved from cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013). Intercultural Communication in Contexts (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Mikayla Pate CAPS #1

Ukraine Protests & Identity

The 3 types of identity and intercultural communication are social science, interpretive, and critical. Social Science identities are created by the self by relating to groups.  Interpretive identities are created by communication with others, these types of identities focus and emphasize on avowal and ascribed dimensions. The avowal dimension is the process in which an individual portrays themselves. The ascribed dimension is the process by which others attribute identities to an individual. The Critical identities are shaped through both social and historical forces. This type of identity examines contexts and resistance, attention, and oppression.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/01/25/266145285/ukraine-minister-says-talks-with-protesters-are-futile

This article, titled “Ukraine Minister Says Talks With Protesters Are 'Futile'” was published on January 25, 2014. The article speaks about the protesters in the Ukraine and how they are taking over some Government buildings in West Ukraine. In the Capital City Kiev, protesters took over the City Hall- taking hostage three officers. One officer was released and then hospitalized with stab wounds. The protesters are armed with rocks and firebombs as Police both threaten and warn that they will storm the building. The Police are armed with gas and stun grenades.  The protesters have taken over numerous buildings in over 12 cities all across Western Ukraine since last November.  The protesters are responding to the Government rejecting a treaty with the European Union in exchange for a closer relationship with Moscow. Protesters are angry because Moscow ruled over Ukraine until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The President is responding to these protests by attempting to release prisoners arrested from protests and revise and create new laws that will make nearly all types of protests illegal. 

The different socio-cultural identities that are being associated with these protests are mainly those associated with radical far right groups. The groups that are being involved with these protests are Bratstvo (Brother), Right Sector, and Svoboda (Freedom). The categories of the socio-cultural identities that are being connected to these events include mainly age, ethnicity, and nationality.  The age of the protesters are mainly young, and students are playing a large role in the protests. The popularity of the radical far right groups comes from the young adults and students.  The ethnicity that the protesters are associating themselves with is largely from the Kiev area and Western Ukraine. These areas are populated with Ukrainians and the majority language spoken there is Ukrainian. Even though these are the majority of the protesters it is not to say that those from Eastern and Western Ukraine aren't involved. In the Eastern and Western parts of the nation the main language is Russian and more citizens in that part of the County are supporting the choice to abandon the EU treaty in favor of a better relationship with Moscow. The regional identity is a very strong identity in which these protesters associated themselves with. The ethnicity of the protesters are the ones who associate themselves separately from those in the East and West. These protesters are associating themselves with Ukraine rather than having any Russian or Soviet Union ties. The language used is a big supporter of this. Nationality is a big identity that these protesters are using to identify themselves. This may be the most important identity in which they have- it is the identity that they are fighting to uphold.  The Soviet Union ruled over what is now Ukraine until it’s demise in 1991, then the area gained it’s independence and became Ukraine which consists of 28 blocs. The protesters are associating themselves as Ukrainians and are not wanting to be associated with the Russians. This is a huge part towards the reasons behind the protests. The protesters associating themselves with the above socio-cultural traits and attributes mean that in terms of intercultural communication there is resistance towards developing minority identities (that would be created by creating closer ties with Moscow). The core symbols are things that are shared by the protesters, and by being a part of the protests they are creating a class identity.

Bigg, Claire. "Far-Right Ukrainian Opposition Group Vows 'Guerrilla' War'" RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. N.p., 26 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.

Neuman, Scott. "Ukraine Minister Says Talks With Protesters Are 'Futile'" NPR. NPR, 25 Jan. 2014. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.

"Q&A: Stand-off in Ukraine over EU Agreement." BBC News. BBC, 26 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.