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7. Welcome to add your comments/feedback！Thank You～

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7. Welcome to add your comments/feedback！Thank You～

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https://hbr.org/2000/01/communities-of-practice-the-organizational-frontier

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Hyun, Y. (2020). Different cultural conceptualizations underlying intercultural business communication problems between Thais and Koreans. International Journal of Language and Culture, 7(2), 214–250.

Hofstede, G. (2011). Dimensionalizing cultures: The hofstede model in context. Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.9707/2307-0919.1014

Katie, S. (2023). How to Resolve Cultural Conflict: Overcoming Cultural Barriers at the Negotiation Table. Harvard Law School.

https://www.pon.harvard.edu/daily/conflict-resolution/a-cross-cultural-negotiation-example-how-to-overcome-cultural-barriers/

Kirilova, M., & Angouri, J. (2018). You Are Now One of Us – Negotiating ‘Fitting in’ in the Workplace. In A. Creese & A. Blackledge (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Language and Superdiversity (pp. 345–360). London: Routledge.

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1. How does the portrayal of cross-cultural communication in "The Upside" compare to your real-life experiences or observations? Are there any similarities or differences that stand out to you?

2. The film emphasizes the importance of recognizing our shared desires and emotional needs to build meaningful human bonds. In your opinion, what are the key takeaways from "The Upside" that can be applied to real-life situations to foster better cross-cultural communication and relationships?

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4.1 Analysis + Theory application - Community of Practice (CoP)

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4.1 Analysis + Theory application - Community of Practice (CoP)

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Definition of Community of Practice(CoP)

A Community of Practice (Lave & Wenger, 1991; 1998) is a group of people who share a common interest, profession, or expertise and come together to learn from one another, collaborate, and collectively develop their skills and knowledge within that specific area of interest or field. CoPs are distinguished by their informal and frequently self-organizing nature, in which members participate in ongoing discussions, exchange experiences, best practices, and insights, and work together to advance their common knowledge. These groups can encourage a sense of community and cooperation among their members while serving as vital resources for learning, support, and invention (Etienne C. & William M. 2000).

Analysis

Mistrust and Stereotype:

When Dell (Kevin Hart's character) first applies for the job as Philip's caregiver, there is an initial mistrust and misunderstanding between the two due to their different backgrounds. Philip, who is white and wealthy, may have certain stereotypes or preconceived notions about Dell, who is African American and has a criminal record. This reflects the challenge of overcoming stereotypes and building trust in cross-cultural interactions (Katie, 2023).

Shared Learning:

As the film progresses, both Philip and Dell learn from each other. Philip gains exposure to aspects of African American culture, like music and food, through his interactions with Dell. Dell, on the other hand, learns about the world of privilege and sophistication that Philip inhabits. These moments of cultural exchange highlight the potential for mutual learning and growth in cross-cultural relationships (Neeleyl, 2014).

Breaking Down Barriers & Overcoming Prejudice:

The movie indirectly addresses issues of prejudice and discrimination. Through their friendship, Philip and Dell break down cultural and social barriers. They learn to see each other as individuals beyond their racial and economic backgrounds. This transformation demonstrates how personal connection can transcend societal divides and foster a sense of community and understanding (Cross Cultural Relationships - Dealing With Differences., 2018).

As Dell and Philip get to know each other, they challenge not only their own biases but also those of the people around them, including Philip’s employees and Dell’s family. Their friendship serves as a catalyst for change and fosters a more inclusive and accepting community.

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The movie depicts how two main characters come to understand each other through practicing community by learning from and working alongside one another to overcome mistrust, stereotypes, and social barriers, eventually building an inclusive community. Also shown throughout is the malleability of the identities of the main characters, which is demonstrated to change throughout the film in humorous and touching ways. Finally, the eventual transformation from a subordinate employment relationship into a best friend relationship reflects power shifts as a result of breaking down social barriers and stereotypes.

This movie delves deep into human emotions and connections while conveying powerful messages about respect, friendship, and diversity that resonate with us all. Reminding ourselves that, although from different backgrounds and cultures, people share similar desires and emotional needs is crucial when trying to connect with one another and build meaningful human bonds. Rising above any biases that might prevent this is also key to forging these meaningful human bonds.

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Our group chose a movie as our medium for storytelling; movies can serve as both visual and auditory text forms that integrate multiple modalities of representation into their message. Narrative analysis provides a valuable resource for deepening our exploration and appreciation of narrative structure, character dynamics, emotional resonance, and overarching themes in movies - thus giving us a greater understanding and impactful appreciation (Safin, 2018). It allows audiences to become immersed in its storyline, providing an avenue for emotional understanding (Gertsen & Soderberg 2011). Film narratives often comprise numerous elements including dialogue, action sequences, and background music that require careful interpretation in terms of textual analysis. By studying it from various perspectives such as its language use visual appearance or musical notes, this analysis helps reveal its many hidden layers - be they linguistic, visual, or musical in origin - while given its widespread reach, the film holds great societal relevance as an influential medium within popular culture.

"The Upside" addresses cross-cultural communication by showing how individuals from vastly differing backgrounds can overcome their differences to form meaningful relationships based on mutual trust and respect. This serves as an interesting case study in cross-cultural understanding; although set in France, its themes and emotions resonate globally, serving as a useful example for cross-cultural studies as its storyline and characters reflect shared issues among cultures.

To explore intercultural communication thoroughly, specific segments were carefully chosen for analysis. These segments comprise pivotal plot developments, dialogues, or conflicts that vividly demonstrate cultural variances, which lend extra significance to the narrative and provide further insights. Furthermore, choosing such fragments helps analyze characters’ emotional exchange as well as their roles and functions within intercultural communication.

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"The Upside" is an inspiring comedy-drama based on true events which has won multiple awards and garnered widespread public praise. The movie chronicles an extraordinary friendship between two individuals from vastly disparate backgrounds that transcended cultural barriers. Philippe is an educated man living an extravagant lifestyle who initially seems distant and arrogant, while Dell, an impoverished young person discriminated against by his family, has spent time in prison, but remains jobless due to repeated unsuccessful job applications in society. The two characters come from different social classes. Under normal circumstances, it is difficult for their lives to intersect; there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor and it is difficult to break social prejudices. Opposite concepts such as opposite destinies, the strong and the weak, the rich and the poor, and freedom and bondage happen to be set by each of them. Unbeknownst to him, his unorthodox behavior and outspoken nature set him apart and earned him the role of Philip's carer. The dialogue and interactions between the two men, when they are together, are full of humor and emotion, from which we have taken multiple clips, this includes everyday conversations between the two men and the characters' inner monologues, as background and cultural differences lead to issues such as stereotypes and communication barriers arising from the interactions. We have also selected clips from the scene where Dell celebrates Philippe's birthday. Philippe's initial resistance to celebrating his birthday reflects the serious and gloomy person he was before the accident, whereas Dell is a humorous and casual person who tries to change Philippe's attitude and encourages him to celebrate. This episode highlights the cultural differences between the two main characters and their mutual influences, as well as changing identities. As the two spend time together, Philippe longs for a future to rekindle his passion for life, and the initially dashing and laboring Dell's life situation qualitatively changes under the influence of the wise and kind Philippe. The two collide and run together, redeeming each other until they develop a genuine friendship. This dynamic perfectly illustrates how two people from different backgrounds can overcome the obstacles between them to form a trusting relationship.

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Movies offer an effective medium for communicating various social and cultural knowledge; their diverse depiction of real-world practices and issues provides important research value.

In this poster, we will use "The Upside" as our "text" to conduct an in-depth examination from both cross-cultural communication and identity perspectives. After providing background information and outlining why these three scenes have been selected for analysis using these thematic concepts, three specific scenes will be extracted for close scrutiny and carefully scrutinized using our analysis framework. This approach seeks to enhance our understanding of both the challenges and opportunities associated with cross-cultural communications as well as individual identity formation in different cultural environments.

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4.3 Analysis + Theory application - Identify

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4.3 Analysis + Theory application - Identify

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"The Upside" provides an opportunity for discussion of identity, cross-cultural interactions, and societal acceptance. Workplaces, according to Kirilova and Angouri (2018), mimic societal identity dynamics, while Hyun (2020) emphasizes the importance of cultural diversity on intercultural communication. This study examines how the characters in "The Upside" deal with these concerns, bringing insight on the difficulties of identity and cross-cultural interactions in our rapidly changing, multicultural society.

Definition of Identify

Workplace identity is a fluid and collaborative term that is impacted not just by an individual's self-perception but also by how others view them at work. Cameron (2001, cited in Paltridge, 2015) defines identity as ever-changing rather than fixed. Workplace identity changes throughout time as a result of participation in professional settings and responses to social and cultural forces. It is the result of a complex interaction between personal beliefs, roles, and external variables like company culture and cultural conventions. Blommaert's (2005) viewpoint emphasizes the importance of others in developing professional identity. It emphasizes how colleagues, bosses, and subordinates see and label an individual.

Analysis

Phillip's Self-Identity and Cultural Context:
Phillip, a rich quadriplegic, first identifies himself solely by his handicap and social standing. His polished manner and education bolster his sense of self-identity, matching upper-class society norms. The film shows a cosmetic transformation in Phillip's identity when he meets Dell, an ex-convict from a completely different upbringing. However, in keeping with Hyun's (2020) assessment, this shift appears to be superficial and lacks a thorough examination of the complexity of intercultural communication.

Dell's Self-Identity and Cultural Context:

Dell, who comes from a working-class family, sees himself as battling with previous sins and the struggle of reintegration. His casual, hilarious communication style represents his life experiences-shaped self-identity. The film, on the other hand, simplifies Dell's transition to Phillip's environment, falling short of presenting the nuanced intercultural communication issues (Hyun, 2020).

Specific scenario analysis：

Phillip's initial aversion to celebrating his birthday mirrors his early identity as a serious and somber guy. Dell, being a humorous guy, decided Phillip should have the party. He was instrumental in persuading Phillip to celebrate it joyfully. Phillip's identity is changing. This scene shows workplace identity's malleability indirectly.

Conclusion

"The Upside" investigates the shifting identities of individuals and the potential effects of cross-cultural conversation. Both individuals interact with people from varied social and cultural backgrounds, leading to a very predictable and formulaic mutual recognition and understanding. The film, however, emphasizes a simplified and feel-good tale, downplaying the true obstacles of negotiating and redefining one's identity in the context of cultural variety.

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4.2 Analysis + Theory application - Power/Distance

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4.2 Analysis + Theory application - Power/Distance

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Definition of Power(P) / Distance(D)

Power(P)/Distance(D) refers to the strength of a society’s social hierarchy. A high power distance setting means that a specific culture accepts the inequality in power differences (Scollon, 2005). Hofstede (2011) indicated that a high power distance culture encourages bureaucracy and support rank and authority. A low power distance within a culture means that they support a flat organizational structure with decentralized decision-making responsibilities. Low power distance cultures prefer a participative management style. The power distance statistic is a judgment of satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the hierarchy based on the subject’s place within it. Power/Distance contributes to cultural norms, while cultural norms are shaped by our perceptions and general acceptance of power inequality in organizations and society.

Analysis

Phillip, a white tycoon, and Dell, a recently released, good-for-nothing black gangster, are in different classes. Under normal circumstances, it would be very difficult for their lives to intersect, and what lies between them is a huge gap between the rich and the poor with unbreakable social prejudices, the unity of opposites of misery and good fortune, the powerful and the powerless, affluence and poverty, freedom and bondage - these are precisely the settings for each of the two men. Dell comes to look after the disabled Phillip as a carer and becomes Phillip's resident employer, therefore, in terms of social attribute differences, the initial relationship between Phillip and Dell is assessed as (+P, +D).

However, according to Clearly Cultural (2019), applied changes in power/distance include assessing hierarchies and how social relationships change over time. In the course of their relationship, Phillip, who has already despaired of the future, rekindles his passion for life; at the same time, under the subtle influence of Phillip who is wise and kind, Dell, who used to be a good-for-nothing, has undergone a qualitative change in his living situation. The two collide, bond, and redeem each other until a sincere friendship develops. As far as the two individuals are concerned, the relationship between them is transformed from one of subordinate employment (+D) to one of close friendship (-D) in the later period.

Conclusion

In this clip, Phillip and Dell's power as well as distance gaps are shown prominently. Power(P)/Distance(D) has become part of cross-cultural measures of values, personality and beliefs, and individuals' assumptions about power and distance influence the relationships and strategies they use in cross-cultural communication (Chiu et al., 2015).