London Summer 2019

BY RACHEL NIGH | PURDUE UNIVERSITY | COM 303 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

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Take Aways

Over the last two months, my mindset has really evolved from the constant comparison between what we do in the US and this is what they do in the UK in almost every situation. My ethnocentrism when I first arrived was not terrible but it was by no means great. I tried to prepare as much as possible, but no level of preparation can prepare you for a long term entry into a new culture. In the beginning, I drew comparisons saying “this is the way WE do it in the US” and “THEY do this in the UK”. I compared the restaurants, grocery stores, public transport, work environments the list goes on. At the end of the program, I made a mindset change to a more culturally relative state. I stopped thinking of the US as a “WE” and the UK as a “THEY”. I started to see myself in both worlds and realizing both ways are different but neither is better than the other.

I think the biggest behavior of English culture I am going to take home with me to the US is mindfulness of the environment I am in. I came to realize throughout my program that the English are more mindful of the world around them. Specifically, in public, they are much more considerate of others. Main English examples of this type of behavior can be referenced in the ways their dogs and children behave themselves. Every child I met in the UK were taught the mindset that you must be more visual of your surroundings. English children did this by not crying or throwing a full-on temper tantrum in public as often as American children. English dogs were the same by not being as loud by barking and are much more obedient to their owners. I aim to develop that type of behavior further as a stereotypical “loud American” I want to have the same level of situational awareness the English do.

I am excited to leave behind the London cost of things. I think this an obvious given as a college student, but the price of a major international city without a regular income is not pleasant. It was difficult every time I would go to order a drink or get a bite to eat the process of converting the GBP to the USD was slightly painful. As a Hoosier, I don’t come from a major metropolitan area with a high cost of living so it is nice to return to low prices where my money is able to be stretched. I will enjoy going to get a Den Pop again for only $0.65 or maybe even for free on Fridays.

I think my biggest take away from this experience is the need for cultural diversity. Throughout both the class and living in London I was able to meet so many people from all over the world. I had the opportunity to hear their stories and realize the importance of the experiences they have had from where they come from. If not for this program I would have never had the opportunity to create friendships with individuals from Siberia, Russia, Auckland, New Zeland, and Algiers, Algeria. This program yes develops someone as a student and an employee but it also widens the cultural horizons in many minds. Without coming here I would not have the opportunity to learn about and experience so many different cultures.

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Marriage

Marriage in the United States mainstream wedding traditions that take place when couples get married consist of:

Attire “Something old, something new, / Something borrowed, something blue” and the bride wearing a white dress with flowers and the groom wearing a suit or tuxedo.

The bridal shower before the wedding, and is usually thrown by the bride's chosen maid of honor.

A ceremony sometimes held in a place of worship filled with vows, ceremonial kisses, bridesmaids and groomsmen.

The reception where the wedding cake is served to guests. There is dancing and drinking with the throwing of the bouquet and the garter.

Honeymoons where the newlyweds usually leave on a trip to a destination of their choice. As they leave the reception, guests throw rice as they head on their Honeymoon.

Protestantism makes up 48% of the United States so Marriage and specifically the wedding culture is dominant from Christian values. I am a Methodist Christian and my weddings practices in my culture are very similar to the US dominate wedding culture practices.

Most United States wedding customs stem from Europe. Yet there are some differences in the wedding procedures in the UK and the US.

The UK has ‘hen dos’ and ‘stag parties’ before the big day. In the UK they don’t have bachelor and bachelorette parties. Instead, they are called ‘hen dos’ (for women) and ‘stag parties’ (for men)

Wedding ceremonies tend to start much earlier in the day. The British commonly have their ceremonies around at midday or one o’clock. This allows for the British to have more time for drinking.

Lots of people get married in religious venues even if they don’t go for the rest of the year. In the UK it is the location (not the person) who is licensed to legally perform a marriage, unlike the US. So couples have to be in a licensed venue. This means that lots of people who are not religious will have their ceremony in a church.

The wedding meal is known as the ‘wedding breakfast’ contrary to the US dominant culture’s ‘reception dinners’. This is the name given to the meal (normally late afternoon/early evening) after the ceremony.

The best man’s speech is more embarrassing anecdotes than the US tradition of sentimental stories. British best man’s speeches are all about unearthing those embarrassing school/stag night anecdotes for maximum humiliation.

In the dominant wedding cultures in both the US and UK are heteronormative values are reflected in both practices. Same-sex marriage only has become legal in the UK in 2014 and the US 2015 so the wedding traditions still consist of very gender-specific roles throughout the wedding traditional practices. These heteronormative traditions occur from the Bridal Shower to the throwing of the bouquet and garter. Another cultural norm that occurs in both the UK and US wedding traditions is Protestantism this can be seen with the UK laws requiring weddings in licensed venues (most often protestant churches) or US law requiring a licensed person (often times protestant religious leaders). Cultural norms of heterosexuality and Christianity are two extremely prevalent ideals reflected in US & UK wedding culture.

As of now, I am not sure if I want to get married. I have not been able to see marriage in my future as a twenty-year-old college student. I am not saying that I don’t believe marriage is never in the cards for me but as of now its not a concept on the table. I think since marriage isn’t something I want to participate in I can not firmly say whether I would choose in-group or out-group practices. If I were required to give an answer though, I guess I would say that I think I would be a part of the out-group. I say this just because I am very frugal with money and in both UK and US dominant wedding culture weddings have become extremely expensive rituals. I would choose the low-cost option and think about the other things those funds could be put towards. I would make the decision to ignore the societal expectations to spend a lot of money on a one-day event

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British Museum

I choose the artwork piece titled “Free” by Owusu-Ankomah. I choose this contemporary piece of artwork because it gave me a deeper insight into African history and culture. The acrylic on canvas painting was created just recently in 2006. The painting “Free” was commissioned to be painted by an African artist, Owusu-Ankomah, originally from Ghana to mark the Bicentenary of the Atlantic Slave Trade in 2007. Owusu-Ankomah is popularly renowned for his bold canvases, a combination of traditional Akan known for cloth printing adinkra symbols together with strong-bodied, male figures to create unique and exciting artwork. The artist’s traditional and modern symbols used represent adinkrahene, which means greatness, charisma, and leadership.

Upon further research into the Atlantic Slave trade, I gained insight, the slave trade regularly used the triangular trade route and its Middle Passage and existed from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Estimates by a historian Patrick Manning are that about 12 million slaves entered the Atlantic trade, but about 1.5 million died on board ship. About 10.5 million slaves arrived in the Americas. Besides the slaves who died on the Middle Passage, more Africans likely died during the slave raids in Africa and forced marches to ports. Manning estimates that 4 million died inside Africa after capture, and many more died young.

Owusu-Ankomah’s representation over 200 years later is to show that Africans are not to be thought of as weak peoples that were exploited in the 300 years the slave trade took place. Africans are to be seen as people of strength and power. Owusu-Ankomah’s idea was that this painting was supposed to emulate and be viewed similar to other statues that represent strength and power such as the Statue of Liberty and Christ the Redeemer. Owusu-Ankomah’s contemporary artwork is demonstrating through the use of traditional symbols and an underlying muscular man after 200 years of terror and torture their culture and strength have not wavered or weaken.

I was able to gain a deeper cultural understanding of what specifically Western and Central African nations have faced for over three centuries as Europeans terrorized their nations. As a political science major, I have gained knowledge of what the US had as a direct impact of hurt on these slaves, but I didn’t understand how deep the traditions that were taken from these countries and tribes were. Their society was not the only thing ruined but their culture and traditions were taken away from them too.

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What it means to be a Hoosier

A microculture I am apart of is being a Hoosier since birth, more specifically a central Indiana Hoosier. The exact definition according to Dictionary.com is “Hoosier [ hoo-zher ] noun a native or inhabitant of Indiana (used as a nickname). The origin of how this nickname was created and mainstreamed is a little bit more difficult and historians have not been able to conclusively agree upon one answer. I didn’t realize how I valued or realized my membership to this microculture until coming to the UK and living here. Most people when I tell them where I am from they have no clue where Indiana is, to begin with, or if they know where it is they know nothing about it. I have grown up in central Indiana my entire life, so have my both my parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents. Hoosier values are deeply rooted into my family’s values and cultures.

Often times, Hoosiers can be stereotyped as obese, uneducated, farm folk, or improper I mean watch the show Parks & Recreation where they highlight all of these things about Hoosiers. These things yes do exist in Indiana I will not deny that, but not every Indiana resident has all those traits. We are more than the stereotypes and the values we have are well said by John Gregg, a Democratic candidate,“To hold ‘Hoosier values’ means to respect hard work, personal responsibility and faith. These values draw the Indiana community together, from church on Sunday morning until the basketball court on Friday night”. This is the essence of the local people: Hoosiers. This definition does not sum up all Hoosier values because although we belong to the same Microculture doesn’t mean we are the exact same. We do have some common phrases and characteristics such as:

To you, a tenderloin is not an expensive cut of beef, but a big, salty, breaded, & fried piece of pork served on a bun with a pickle.

You say things like catty-corner and know what it means.

You have no problem spelling or pronouncing Terre Haute …

You know what the phrases “this is May” and “the greatest spectacle in racing” mean

Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.

You end your sentences with prepositions, as in 'Where's it at?' or 'Where's he going to?'

I would expect if I found a Hoosier in England today we would connect significantly more than if we were at home on a day to day basis. We have a commonality that binds us together in a sometimes scary and unfamiliar place. We could talk about the major differences that England holds compared to the “Big City” of Indianapolis. We may not become best pals right off the bat but we would have an instant bond and connection to one another. I think the biggest miscommunication with my English counterparts is explaining the vast size of the US. It is hard to explain barely any Hoosiers uses public transportation and on average their commute to work is over 15 miles. Hoosier microculture and the Londoner microcultures are very different but both hold values that are important and should be appreciated for what they are.

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Highgate Cemetry

I did a decent amount of research prior to coming to Highgate Cemetry and the person I chose to highlight that was buried in Highgate Cemetery is Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren (1946-2010). Mclaren wore many hats throughout his life as an impresario (music manager), visual artist, performer, musician, clothes designer, and boutique owner. What makes McLaren so notable is the way he combines all these hats he wore in an inventive and provocative way Britain and the world had never seen before. McLaren is best known for being a promoter and manager of bands such as the Sex Pistols and New York Dolls. His work as a manager was not the biggest impact he made on British Culture. I personally think the largest impact he made on British culture was when he realized there needed to be a new protest style in the 1970s. He was one of the main people that founded and initiated the punk movement in the boutique he founded SEX. This movement had a significant impact on not only on British culture but global culture. His part in founding the punk movement lead him to the New York Dolls by designing clothes for them and then going on to do the same for the Sex Pistols. The clothes designing turned into eventually becoming their full-time advisor. Malcolm McLaren's use of provocativeness and the ability to cause uproar and change are unlike another impact on British culture. He recognized societies need to be heard in the early 1970s and he figured out a way people want to demonstrate that by being more provocative than British culture had ever seen. On his grave, McLaren writes “Better a spectacular failure, than a benign success” this quote exemplifies what McLaren tried and did his entire life, be spectacular in the biggest ways possible.I think in today's climate having the will and the ability to be able to push the boundaries and break cultural boundaries so something we are constantly trying to do. Without people like McLaren, today's British and global culture wouldn't have been able to have the guts to push the boundaries of cultural expectations as strongly as we are now.

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Blog Post #1 28.05.19

Ethnocentrism is defined as believing that one’s native culture is the standard by which other cultures are observed and judged.

Ethnocentrism is a problem we struggle A LOT with as Americans. We often times in our both public and private education systems are taught the US does just about everything the best. This issue also stems from the issue of travel and access to other cultures. The vastness of the US leads to less international travel contrary to other parts of the world. The workplace culture of less time off in the US compared to other countries is another contributing lack of knowledge of cultures around the world. In a nutshell, ethnocentrism is a problem seen in Americans more often due to a few contributing factors such as lack of education, international travel, and leave time from work.

An example of Ethnocentrism I have personally experienced since arriving in the UK is paying in restaurants. My credit card is chip only so I have to insert my card every time I use it. Most people in the UK have contactless credit cards and it makes it really easy for them to pay. Every time I go anywhere I have to show my ID and sign a receipt. I have become frustrated with the whole UK process and began to think “if only they did what we do in the US.” this toxic mentality is something I have been trying to get out of my head. I have to remember that this is just the way they do it and it is not “bad”, it is just “different”.

Cultural Relativism is defined as the view that no culture is superior to any other culture, all cultural beliefs are equally valid, and truth itself is relative, depending on the cultural environment.

Cultural Relativism is an extremely progressive way of thinking and very difficult to naturally have. It is something that often times actively has to be done to remove the thoughts that have been pushed onto one in the society and culture they originate from.

An example of cultural relativism I have come to realize is the way laundry is done here in the UK is equally as valid as the way the laundry is done in the US. The style the UK and US do their laundry does not mean one country has a superior way of doing it. The UK laundry culture is more environmentally friendly and conscious of the energy used in the washing process, taking about 3 hours on average per load. The US culture is more efficiency orientated and are conscious of doing things as quick as possible, taking about 30 minutes on average per load. These cultures may have different values but it does not mean that one philosophy is better than the other. The UK and US both have equally true and valid ways of cleaning their clothes.

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V & A Blog Post 23.05.19

Invisible Cities by Harry Woodgate (2018) shows many different cultural groups interacting in his “City of Monsters” in one painting together. There are different ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation groups. In the painting, they are all being free “monsters” able to express who they really are inside. The artist aims to explore queer identity, individuality, and morality. The use of many bright colors and over twenty different figures set a precedent of when unique individuals from many cultures come together collectively art takes on a whole new meaning. This painting, in particular, exemplifies Franz Boss’s theory of cultural relativism. Boss’s theory states that no culture is superior to any other culture, all cultural beliefs are equally valid, and truth itself is relative, depending on the cultural environment. Harry exemplifies Cultural Relativism in Invisible Cities as all the different type of monsters from the two-headed brown man to a bearded redhead hair woman come together to show all monsters are equal in the eyes of each other. The most interesting aspect I found in this exhibit is Harry Woodgate is a current UK art student at the University of Hertfordshire. They were selected out of art students all across the nation to be featured in the V & A. I found these students work to be one of the most culturally relevant pieces in the entirety of the museum. This painting sets the tone that the next generation of artists, Millennials to Generation Z, are more accepting and welcoming of a multitude of cultural groups.