#comm3550

[cecehensley-blog]

week 3 prompt 1

Pick a concept from the chapter 14 reading on cross cultural communication and PR that you have seen exemplified during our time here so far. Perhaps at a cafe you’ve witnessed differences in how space is used (Proxemics). Maybe on a weekend trip you’ve seen ways that people from some countries view time differently than we tend to (Chronemics). Or perhaps you have seen a really clever ad that bridges cultural/linguistic boundaries. Post a photo or video, and explain how it illustrates the concept you choose.

Among the many differences between American and German cultures is out attitude towards food and drink. According to Guth, “For many public relations practitioners, cuisine is the reward for mastering the subtleties of cross cultural communication” (Guth, 434). I have included a picture of McDonalds as a sort of connection between the two cultures, but from here the attitudes change drastically. The German diet is typically full of very heavy and hearty foods designed to fill you up and make you “fat and happy”, while in America the current trend is healthy, vegan, and light food options. In Germany, a typical snack is something like bratwurst or currywurst, which in my experience are always served with fries and mayo; all of which are not super healthy options. (The entire thing is kind of ironic because the level of obesity in America far surpasses that of any other country when our focus is on healthy foods). Although the contents of our diets are extremely different, the real difference comes with portion size, and the manner in which our food is served.

In America, everything is gigantic, while in Germany the opposite is true. When I visited McDonalds I ordered an chicken sandwich meal where I received my sandwich, fries, and a drink. Typically, at an American McDonalds the sheer amount of french fries that comes with a meal is enough to feed two people, but in Germany the fries that came with a meal are equivalent to the American size small, the perfect amount to supplement the meal. This remains pretty standard when it comes to sizing of food and drinks in Germany, everything is much smaller/ promotional to what we should actually be eating. When I go to a restaurant I don’t feel like I need to take a to-go box every-time I have a meal. `

Another trend I have noticed is the fact that in Germany, ice is not typically included in drinks unless you order a cocktail. This is a huge contrast to America because most of the times when you order a drink half of it is actually ice. Maybe this is why we offer free refills, and they don’t? When I ordered my drink at McDonalds I expected a super cold and refreshing cola with a bunch of crunchy ice at the bottom, but the ice in my drink melted before I could even finish my drink.

Another slight cultural difference is that here in Germany you have to pay for every single thing you want, this includes water and condiments. Although it doesn’t seem like a big thing it is definitely something I have noticed. In America if we go to Chickfila and ask for fifteen ranches, twelve water refills, and a couple of mints it will not cost us a thing, but here in Germany I am pretty sure I would have to take out a small loan to have more than two bottles of water at dinner.

The final difference comes to the service of the food in Germany. In America, it is essentially a requirement for customers to tip wait staff, even if they have done a terrible job. In Germany and other places in Europe it is completely fine to tip .5 euro, or nothing at all. In fact it is considered rude to tip generously because they see it as an insult to their work.

[pheebz-abroadingermany-blog]

Prompt 1 (extended): Pick a concept from the chapter 14 reading on cross-cultural communication and PR that you have seen exemplified during our time here so far. Perhaps at a cafe you've witnessed differences in how space is used (Proxemics). Maybe on a weekend trip you've seen ways that people from some countries view time differently than we tend to (Chronemics). Or perhaps you've seen a really clever ad that bridges cultural/linguistic boundaries. Post a photo or video, and explain how it captures or illustrates the concept you choose. 

This picture is of the closed DM by our hotel. I took it as I walked towards REWE only to find out that it was closed as well. One thing that I have noticed that Germany takes to heart are their national holidays. Unlike the United States, most, if not all stores close on national holidays. While we have been in Germany there have been two national holidays. The first, Ascension Day, occurred while we were in Stuttgart. The second, Whit Monday, happened yesterday. Yesterday, many of us found it frustrating when we could not go into our local REWE due to the holiday and as well as the fact that it was closed the day prior too. Although I frown upon Walmart and other stores being open on Christmas, having limited stores open on national holidays is a major cultural difference between Germany and the United States.

In Germany, some things have more importance to people than they do in the United States. In the United States, which has a capitalistic economy, we are known for assigning money with time. It is more important for stores to stay open during major holidays than it is here in Germany. For instance,“cultures have difference attitudes about time.” (Guth 431). This is known as Chronemics. Like was said in class, money is time and time is money. Americans place such an importance on how we address time that enjoying holidays is not seen in the same way as it is in Germany. Surprisingly, the United States is placed in the middle of 31 different countries when it comes to the amount of importance placed on time.

I believe that Germany places a higher importance on the ideas and celebration of holidays than people in the United States do. In the United States, Christmas is seen as a holiday where many companies make a majority of their year’s profit. I believe that for corporations in America it is more important to make money than it is to take time off to observe a holiday. More than half of the population in Germany is made up of Christians meanwhile in the United States there tends to be more diverse amounts of different religions. It is helpful to understand “religious conventions and traditions of a culture” in order to understand why a specific country decides to place such importance on national holidays (Guth 433). I have noticed other differences as well including how Germans eat, what they eat, placement of wedding rings and personal space differences, but I think that the differences in how holidays are addressed maybe one of the more interesting ones to point out.

[lesterj28-blog]

COMM 3550

Week 3 Prompt 1 (extended): Pick a concept from the chapter 14 reading on cross-cultural communication and PR that you have seen exemplified during our time here so far. Perhaps at a cafe you've witnessed differences in how space is used (Proxemics). Maybe on a weekend trip you've seen ways that people from some countries view time differently than we tend to (Chronemics). Or perhaps you've seen a really clever ad that bridges cultural/linguistic boundaries. Post a photo or video, and explain how it captures or illustrates the concept you choose. 

One concept that really stood out to me while reading chapter 14 of the readings was chronemics, or the concept of time. While time itself seems like such a concrete and natural part of life, it is quite interesting to consider that different cultures have different attitudes about time. On page 431 of the G&M text, different national attitudes towards time are ranked on a scale of slow and flexible to rapid and time-oriented. The United States ranks in the middle of the pack, while Switzerland takes the prize of the most timely nation and Mexico claims the title of country that moves at the slowest pace. This concept of chronemics has been seemingly unavoidable no matter where I go abroad, as I cannot stop focusing on how time in these European countries is so much different than in the United States.

I first noticed how time was treated differently overseas when walking through the city of Stuttgart on our first day in Germany. It was a Monday, yet the city was filled with people casually lounging about and taking in the beautiful outside weather. Many people where enjoying time laying out in grassy areas while others sat outside their storefront breathing in fresh air and calmly awaiting potential customers. This relaxed feel was unlike anything I had seen in the United States. Our capitalist society focuses very much on the phrase “Time is money” and wastes little time relaxing instead of working long hours anxiously waiting until they are able to leave and go home.

The feel in Berlin is very much the same. While Berlin is a larger city than Stuttgart, things still seem to move at a slower pace than they do in the states. Germans do take appointments seriously and do not expect to wait on anyone. Our tour guides have very rarely been late to our tours, and the few times they have been seem to be because of miscommunications. They are also very timely about their train stops. When the train says it will be there in 10 minutes, it means it. And they leave very promptly (believe me I have experienced that the hard way numerous times). However, the Germans here in Berlin still seem to make time for leisure to spend in the outdoors. Their work shifts seem shorter than those of Americans and in the small amount of time we have been here I have already noticed the Germans observe several holidays. Sundays are also recognized as a day of rest and most businesses are closed so that their employees have time to relax. The extent to which stores are closed on Sundays in Germany would shock most Americans, as we cannot imagine not being able to go to a grocery store because a day of rest is being observed. Because Germans value their free time much more than Americans, they are able to spend much more time outdoors and seem more active and happier as a result.

Even on my weekend excursion to Prague, I witnessed chronemics much like those of Stuttgart and Berlin. The picture I posted above is of a family enjoying a nice meal on a dinner cruise in the city of Prague. The cruise was three hours long and allowed everyone to relax, eat, and talk amongst themselves. I am considered to be a slow eater among my friends at home, but I cant say that I had ever dedicated three hours to a meal in my life before that dinner cruise. When we ate lunch earlier in the day, I noticed how those around us who had been eating when we entered the restaurant were still there when we were leaving. We had to waive down the waiter for our check. Those in Prague, as well as Stuttgart and Berlin, dedicate vast amounts of their time to eating. They do not go to a restaurant simply to eat and leave, but actually sit down and talk with those whom they are with for quite some time. In Prague and Stuttgart, and Berlin to a lesser extent, people do not seem nearly as concerned about rushing as they do in the U.S. I admire this quality that I have witnessed in the cities I have explored. If Americans treated time more like those I have encountered here in Europe, I believe the United States would have happier and more active citizens. I am certainly glad that I took the opportunity to study abroad so my eyes could be opened to the different ways in which different cultures view time, and what they choose to do in their free time.

[arhindeutschland-blog]

Prompt 1 (extended): Pick a concept from the chapter 14 reading on cross-cultural communication and PR that you have seen exemplified during our time here so far. Perhaps at a cafe you've witnessed differences in how space is used (Proxemics). Maybe on a weekend trip you've seen ways that people from some countries view time differently than we tend to (Chronemics). Or perhaps you've seen a really clever ad that bridges cultural/linguistic boundaries. Post a photo or video, and explain how it captures or illustrates the concept you choose.

pictured above; French Cathedral cir. 1705

Germany, previously known as the “Holy Roman Empire,” has long struggled over their perception of religion. In the 18th century, the "nation-state" was divided into thousands of smaller kingdoms which were not united by a central religion. Philosopher and historian, Voltaire, is quoted during this time as observing that, “the Holy Roman Empire is neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire," yet, “Holy” remained in the name of the land until 1806. Skipping ahead to the early 1900s, Germany's government systems through the end of World War II were secular and some, such as the Nazi Regime, even discouraged religious practices. With a history such as Germany, how do we expect German culture to perceive religion in the present day? How does German culture communicate these perceptions?

pictured above; Census Map - Unaffliliated with Religion (Ergebnissen des Zensus 2011)

In present-day Paris, there are a total of 197 places of worship in city-center. Compare that to Berlin’s measly 11 (Berlinfo.com). Berlin, and Germany as a whole, has a culture that is less focused on religion compared with other nations. The percentage of German citizens who say they are unaffiliated with any religion is 35.4% as compared to only 24% in the United States. Those who lived in East Germany were subject to socialist ideology throughout the Cold War which discouraged faith and encouraged concrete physical community in areas such as sports. Even still today, we can see the striking regional religious differences in the map above showing those claiming to be “non-religious”.

Fun Fact: The Kirchensteuer, or Church Tax, has existed in Germany since 1827. All members of a church must pay a government tax to that church in the form of a paycheck deduction. In a 2015 poll, 84% of Germans said they disapprove of this tax model. This may contribute to German’s sour mood towards religion. (Der Tagesspiegel)

pictured above; Sign at Bus Stop Defaced by AfD supporter 

More recently, Germany has seen some changes to their cultural perception of religion. Culture is defined in Chapter 14 as, “behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought”. Regarding behavioral patterns, it has been publicized that over 200,000 Germans left the Catholic Church last year (christiantoday.com). Along with that, Germany has seen the dramatic rise of power of the AfD, which stands for Alternative for Germany. This organization is a far-right political party which was founded in 2013 and now is the 2nd most popular party in Germany (thelocal.de). The sign above stating “Muslims Not Welcome” shows the effects of this rise to power.  The party’s platform centralizes on blaming Muslim immigrants for the majority of Europe’s problems. AfD and its members’ rejection of other religions and sects of people shows a rejection of globalization – “the growing economic interdependence of the world’s people” (Chapter 14). The audacity of party leaders leads members to show their support for the party in more “vocal” ways, which explains the sign which reads, “AfD Territory” on the back.

Overall, Germany’s unique historical situation has shaped it’s culture’s struggle with faith. As you venture through Berlin, you see less religious icons and more “technological marvels”, such as the Berlin TV tower seen towering over a church steeple in the first image. Recently, German culture has reflected less church attendance and more anti-Islamic rhetoric as the world moves through the uncharted waters of the 21st century.

[beccaingermany-blog]

Week 2: Blog Post 1 Comm 3550

Prompt: 

While we are at the Farmer Producer Association market/tasting, look/listen for stories, examples, artifacts, and practices that represent the ethical views of the organization. What values are represented through this tour experience? BESH only produces their own content, they do not rely on an external agency. Is this a values position, or a cost-saving measure? Remember to post photo(s)/video to illustrate your post. 

………..

According to Guth & Marsh, “Ethics are value in action” (161).  BESH exemplifies this statement in their business practices, company values, and on their guided tours. At the beginning of the tour, we watched a video about how BESH operates. They founded four different local producer groups in four different climatic parts of the world. This is known as “The Seeds of Hope”.  The farms are all family owned and are very far from major industrial cities. BESH is very serious about making sure their partners on the small farms receive reasonable prices for their products that are above normal market price. It would be easy to give the farmers a lower price but because of the companies’ high ethical values they sacrifice a little money for fair treatment. The market is also an example of the company’s values. BESH seeks to fill the market with mostly organic foods that align with the company’s organic products. 

From the beginning of the tour is was clear that the company did its own marketing. The founder, Rudolf Bühler, spoke to us before the guide. He explained that the company found it best to do its own marketing in house so that they could control the message that was sent out to the public. He showed us the office and the computers that company members used to create content. This is a values position. It is important to BESH that the public recognizes that the company seeks to provide healthy and organic spices while helping small businesses. The guide and and Bühler both communicate multiple times that they care about their customers and the famers that grow their seeds. They also showed that the care about visitors like us by providing lunch and giving CeCe a free pig button. Their high ethical values are apparent in every aspect of their business. From the actual founder to the tour guide, we were treated like highly valued visitors and that is the same way they treat their farmers and customers. 

[pailzingis]

COMM 3550 - WEEK 3 - PROMPT 2 - BMW FACTORY

The BMW Motorcycle factory was an experience that gave so much insight behind the scenes into the production of BMW motorcycles. It’s hard to imagine that our group was on the property for over two hours and still was no where near seeing enough to fully grasp the size  of the full production that goes on. We were not allowed to take pictures during the museum itself but their was a few interesting things inside the main building that relate to the Zerfass reading as well as play right into internal/external stakeholders.

Internally, BMW did a great job promoting the ideas of ‘fans’ and ‘community throughout their entire presentation to us. Obviously, the biggest component of internal stake holders is keeping them happy once their involved in your organization. Their are many types of internal stakeholders but these exhibits specifically focused on them at a fan level.

On an external level (our group being one of the external public groups) their tour did a very good job of promoting their products. Something that I noticed was that they not only gave us very up-close access to many products but they also pushed the most advanced and coolest tech that they were producing. Something like this will obviously drive up the consumers want to purchase their products. 

Something our tour guide also continuously stressed throughout the experience was how safe BMW was and how they did everything according to and by the customer. This plays on both an external and internal level. Internally, stakeholders know that their relationship with BMW is important and that BMW is going to do by their wishes. Externally, this shows how much BMW cares for it’s consumers and this should let you know what exactly you are getting into.

[tayloraiken-blog]

I spy graffiti.

Prompt 3 (extended): At Teufelsberg this week you will see a huge amount of graffiti. It’s a cultural phenomenon here - highly skilled artists have been allowed to paint the walls of this defunct spy station. Some murals have lasted years, while others are painted over from one week to the next. As Ledingham tells us, “Public relations is best defined and practiced as the active attempt to restore and maintain a sense of community.” How is this graffiti a function of community building/maintenance? How might this space be different in the U.S.? Would the owners of this property or the federal government be likely to allow this long-term graffiti haven to continue untouched by anyone who isn’t part of the community? Post a selection of murals to illustrate your post.

Teufelsberg is a must-see for anyone, in my opinion.  Before visiting, I was a tad apprehensive about whether or not I would be interested in a former, now deserted German spy facility.  But, I believe that was the absolute coolest experience of any that I had in Berlin.  While exploring the buildings and random areas around the site, I kept feeling as though I was almost in a different world.  The noise level was minimal, no running water or electricity, and the feel of the organization was completely laid back.  This was especially evident within the graffiti spaces. 

The charm of Teufelsberg is due to the sense of community the entire place creates, but specifically in regards to the artwork known as graffiti painted throughout the organization. Artists are allowed to visit the site and paint depictions of a cause, belief and random feelings or thoughts. They have the freedom to create a message of any kind without fear of judgment or critique.  It is purely a place of open speech and creativity.  Providing this opportunity for people is an awesome way of building and maintaing a community.  Graffiti artists have the chance to gather, share opinions and grow off of one another.  I believe this strengthens the organization and gives everyone a reason to keep pushing forward to up-keeping the site. 

This space would differ in the United States for various reasons.  For one, I do not think artists would be allowed to paint certain representations, such as, half naked women, phrases alluding to drug usage, or negative military-related portrayals.  Also, there would most likely be regulations implemented to ensure no one crosses a line.  For example, artists may only be allowed to paint a certain amount of square inches or possibly their design could have to be approved before the actual painting went onto the wall.  Furthermore, I can imagine the artists being charged a hefty sum of money to “rent” a space, along with being penalized for any rule breaking, whether the penalty is monetary or in another form.

Keeping the graffiti haven flourishing and private to those only a part of the direct community cannot be easily accomplished by the owners or federal government. One reason I believe this to be true is because of something my tour guide mentioned when he saw me taking a picture of one of the artists in the midst of a paining session.  He asked that no photographs be taken for obvious reasons.  Later I understood what he meant by that general statement.  The majority of those artists, possibly him included are local graffiti artists who “may or may not” display their work on the sides of train cars.  Meaning, if their work were seen and recognized by government personnel, they could potentially be fined and imprisoned for a very long period of time.  This would be extremely harmful to the growth of the organization and overall respect for artist’s creations. 

[izzybelledavis-blog]

3550 Post 10: Americans Are Phat

Prompt 1: How can cultural stereotypes hinder cross-cultural or international public relations? How is culture a factor in managing international PR? Find a person not from the U.S. (on the street or at a restaurant… somewhere outside the hotel) and ask them for one stereotype about people from the U.S.; ask their permission to audio or video record them answering the question - post the audio/video here. Open by explaining you’re students and it’s a class project, people are usually okay with it. A script I’ve found effective: “Entschuldigung, sprechen Sie Englisch? I am a student from the U.S. trying to learn about how people view the U.S. May I record you answering a question for me?”

Just through the process of asking this prompt to strangers on the streets of a foreign country and even being in Germany in general, I’ve found that there are certain American stereotypes that we never take that seriously until we have to face them abroad. The guy that I asked about an American stereotype quickly responded with “burgers”, which I thought was ironic considering that back home it’s Memorial Day and that’s all I’ve seen on social media (and yes, I want one now too). 

To better understand and clarify, he agreed that fast food in general is what he meant. This was expected and laughable but also pretty scary and sad to think about when it comes to how that may hinder cross-cultural relations. Fast food is typically linked to obesity and laziness, which is not a good stereotype to be associated with. This could hinder personal relationships, business relationships and even just every day moments where first impressions are all that is really taken into account. 

Throughout personal experiences and those that I have seen in my time abroad, I’ve noticed a lot of people pointing out the difference in our American-ness to the way that things are said/done in Europe. This is not necessarily always a bad thing, but these stereotypes and first impressions go a long way and especially in international PR it is important to recognize this because with communication barriers there is an even slimmer chance at really be given a second chance. It is important to recognize your surroundings and these stereotypes that you hold, given your cultural background, and make sure that your cross-cultural relations are not affected by this unless in a positive manner.