Focus on the less visible aspects of cultural difference

Visible vs. invisible aspects
of a culture

We can distinguish between rather visible aspects of a culture (e.g. architecture, food, beverages, art, literature, music) and invisible aspects (e.g. importance of hierarchies, decision making processes, organization of group work, learning styles, time management, communication style). We have a bias to overestimate the importance of the visible aspects – since we can see them. Taking the iceberg metaphor, visible aspects are above the surface, invisible aspects below the surface.

For any film the challenge must be to focus on making visible the usually invisible aspects of culture. Some visible aspects may be presented (e.g. in the introduction or at the end of the film), but the focus is on the aspects below the surface.

Techniques include:

• value/behavioral differences
  present a difference in cultural values and behaviours as compared to your own culture: e.g. organizing the relationship professor-student, making decisions in working groups, preparing for exams, criticizing subordinates and interns
• key cultural concepts
  explain a culture specific concept (e.g. ‘guanxi’ or ‘mianzi’ in China, ‘jeitinho’ in Brazil, ‘janteloven’ or ‘lagom’ in Scandinavia…)
• socio-historical background
  present socio-historical background information that helps to understand cultural values/behaviours or culture specific concepts (e.g. an important historic event)
• easy-to-see differences
  present visible aspects to transport a feeling for the foreign culture (e.g. cultural customs, eating conventions, greeting style)  [no focus here!]