Culture and Communication Issues in Fawlty Towers: A Comprehensive Analysis

Running head: CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION ISSUES: FAWLTY TOWERS
CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION ISSUES: FAWLTY TOWERS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION ISSUES: FAWLTY TOWERS
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Background..................................................................................................................................2
Aim..............................................................................................................................................2
Scope............................................................................................................................................2
Summary and Observation..............................................................................................................3
Summary of the video clip...........................................................................................................3
Observation..................................................................................................................................3
Table............................................................................................................................................4
Analysis...........................................................................................................................................5
Highlighted cultural aspects in scenario......................................................................................5
Cultural self-awareness................................................................................................................5
Cultural intelligence among characters.......................................................................................6
Cultural Difference issues............................................................................................................6
Recommendations............................................................................................................................7
Summary and Conclusions..............................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

2CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION ISSUES: FAWLTY TOWERS
Introduction
Background
The focus of the report is the essential analysis of various aspects that are connected
significantly with cultural capabilities. A chosen video has been utilized for better evaluation and
analysis of the subject. Cultural self-awareness, intelligence and capabilities can greatly
contribute towards the development of better cultural understanding. These concepts have been
analyzed through referring to the video chosen. The prospects of these three aspects towards
developing safe spaces for positive cultural interactions are assessed in the study. Cultural
capability refers to the ability of people to interpret and understand the cultural perspectives of
people from different cultures. Culturally safe spaces are places, whether social, mental or
emotional where free interactions between diverse people can take place. The significance of
cultural capability and safe spaces will be systematically analyzed for gathering better
implications.
Aim
The study aims to provide a systematic evaluation, analysis and discussion of whether the
characters, contexts and places shown in the video are safe or unsafe. Moreover, the study aims
to provide recommendations in regards to how the situations or interactions shown in the video
can be improved.
Scope
The video clip that is being considered for the study is from the series Fawlty Towers.
The part of the scene depicts handling of complaints mostly involving a young receptionist, a
waiter from Barcelona and Mrs. Richards.

3CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION ISSUES: FAWLTY TOWERS
Summary and Observation
Summary of the video clip
The video that is being referred to is from the show Fawlty Towers, exactly in episode 1
of season 2. The scene starts with a busy reception at the Fawlty towers hotel with two
receptionists catering to the customers that are checking in and out. The scenario changes when
the younger receptionist is interacting with a customer named Mr. Thurston when another
customer named Mrs. Richards interrupts her for change. After being allowed by Mr. Thurston
she provides her with the change but she interrupts her again shortly and disturbs her flow of
work. A mild confusion ensues and the receptionist calls the Spanish bell boy to help Mrs.
Richards. However, a language problem affects them as the bell boy communicates with Mrs.
Richards in Spanish and she is unable to state her demands properly and further adds to the
confusion due to her inconsiderate nature. She keeps on uttering what she tries to figure out from
interacting with Mrs. Richards. The receptionist has to interrupt them in the end and the situation
goes out of hands and utter confusion prevails.
Observation
The observations that were made in the video point towards the very low cultural
understanding of Mrs. Richards and the Spanish bell boy. There is a serious cultural safety issue
in the video as there is a very less scope of any meaningful cultural communications. It can be
said that there is no significant scope for the creation of any culturally safe space. The physical
factors that are depicted in the video are in place in the video seem to be safe. However, the main
problem with the video is in regard to the people and the kind of communication that is taking
place among the participants in the video. The communication factors are ineffective as well as
the outlook of the people in the video. Mrs. Richards is restless and does not make any attempt to