Usually I’m calling out films for perpetuating stereotypes about other cultures, but movies also can be a gift–a window offering deep insights into other cultures. In fact, in studying Comparative Literature as an undergrad at Indiana University, the arts (literature, visual arts, film, music, dance, etc.) were all evaluated via the lens of the society that created them.
The trick is in identifying which films to watch, and setting up criteria for evaluation.
Lucky for all of us, Cindy King, cross-cultural and social media skills for international business expert has made the process easier.
True to fashion, Cindy has provided an overview of how to select films, a link to an interesting grid on how to evaluate films by Ellen Summerfield, an intercultural film specialist, and, true to Cindy’s ever amazing thoroughness in approaching her subject, specific movie suggestions for movies on 10 different areas of cross-cultural communications, from seeing life through a different lens, to movies on adapting to different cultures.
This is a great one to share with family, too. Dillon and I loved watching Offside, about the struggle of women soccer fans in Iran, where they are banned from entering stadiums for sporting events. It’s PG, in Persian with subtitles, but in watching it at home, together, even at 8 we were able to discuss and process it together as the movie progressed.
What have you seen lately? What would you recommend?
photo credit flickr Slices of Light
here’s a great list of the 50 most racist movies (that you didn’t know were racist) found via a link on Angry Asian Man Blog (http://blog.angryasianman.com/2010/01/50-most-racist-movies-you-didnt-think.html). Here’s the link to the list (just click the numbers on the right to flip through them. http://best.complex.com/lists/The-50-Most-Racist-Movies/the-love-guru