Intercultural Communication Analysis

This assignment examines a video titled 'Black White Woman, Part 1,' focusing on how a lack of cultural self-awareness can lead to unsafe spaces in intercultural communication. The analysis explores Tiffany's behavior, highlighting her misguided attempts to fit in with John's Black friends and family. It emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding diverse cultures to foster positive and inclusive environments.

Running head: CULTURE 1
CULTURE
Student Name
Institution

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1.0. Introduction
1.1. Background of the study
Culture entails beliefs, behaviours, values and norms practiced by an individual, group,
organization or community. Knowing our culture is key in shaping type and manner of
communication. However, knowing other cultures is key in bringing understanding, harmony
and peace during intercultural communication set up. In studying culture, one comes across
particular concepts that will enable a deeper understanding of approaches to intercultural
communication. For example, cultural self-awareness involves knowing own culture and using it
during interactions. Similarly, cultural intelligence is a measure of an individual’s capability to
effectively perform tasks in multicultural contexts.
1.2. Aim
The aim of this report is to show how lack of cultural self-awareness, intelligence and
capability can create unsafe space. This will be achieved through an analysis of a video, Black
white woman part 1. Safe spaces in multi-cultural set ups are created when everyone in the
society is allowed to part of an activity or project. Unsafe spaces occur when people are unable
to adapt to cultural diversities (Lierena-Quinn, 2013). Further, the report will recommend
improvements to be made for sustaining safe work spaces.
1.3. Scope
This report will specifically focus on the hit series, black white woman part 1, episode 1,
scene 1 and 2.. The story revolves around John and Tiffany. During the initial stages of their

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relationship, John is excited about how Tiffany is keen on learning his indigenous culture.
However, he later realizes that she has taken this ambition too far. This clip has been used in this
analysis because it depicts cultural self-awareness, intelligence and capability. Therefore, this
report provides an analysis of black white woman and how it depicts unsafe space.
2.0. Summary and Observations
2.1. Summary of the Video clip
The television show I have watched: Black White Woman [Motion Picture] directed by
Riley, S.
Cultural awareness and intelligence entails knowing critical aspects of a particular culture
and using them to maintain a healthy work space. In a work set up, people have responsibilities
and roles that make us engage with people from other cultures. The following is a description of
a show I watched and my assessment based on cultural awareness, capability and intelligence.
I watched part 1 of the video. It starts with John telling his friend about his new woman,
Tiffany. He tells him the way she is a keeper and loves his culture. Then, John calls Tiffany to
come meet his friend. Tiffany comes in a jovial mood. John introduces her to Charlie. However,
she does not greet Charlie to acknowledge the introduction made by her boyfriend (Riley, 2014).
Instead she asks John why he has been calling her for long yet he knows that she is cooking.
From Charlie’s facial expression, one can see that he is surprised by how Tiffany is acting.
It gets more surprising to Charlie when Tiffany tells John that the food is not going to
cook itself. Then John tells her to go back and continue cooking (Riley, 2014). She holds his
cheeks and shakes them while laughing then she goes back to the kitchen.

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The next scene shows us when people are in a barbeque party. John is enjoying drinks
with two friends. Then Tiffany comes and hugs him from behind. From the look on John’s two
friends, this is inappropriate. After, Tiffany notices a person sitting on a bench alone staring in
their direction. She confronts him and asks him his names, where he is from and what he is doing
in this party. The person tells her that he is John’s cousin (Riley, 2014). Before he could finish
his statement, Tiffany offers him a ‘high five’ but he does not seem to understand. Then she hugs
him. From his face, it is clear that he is uncomfortable with the hug.
2.2. Observations
Being unaware of cultural aspects heighten conflicts in multicultural discussions. For
example, it can make members collide with each other frequently. Therefore, if one is
aggressive, it can hurt members feelings through meaning words and a conflict will occur when
this person reacts to the words. There are four main types of space in communication; intimate,
personal, social and public (Collectve, 2014). The type of space defines relationship and attitude
between parties in the communication. However, different cultures have different perception of
what is allowed-or not allowed, in communication.
From the video, one can notice when something that is out of own culture has been done.
For example, Charlie acts surprised when Tiffany does not greet him after being introduced to
each other. Similarly, John’s cousin looks uncomfortable when hugging Tiffany. Also, John’s
mother walks away when Tiffany keeps on referring to her in a loud voice. This means that there
is a way their culture perceives interpersonal communication and space that Tiffany does not
seem to understand.

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3.0. Analysis
This section provides an analysis of how unsafe space was created intercultural
communication. Cultural capability and awareness measures how much one is aware of the
aspects of another culture (Vertino, 2014). This way, it becomes easy for one to act and relate in
multicultural communication contexts. Tiffany thinks that she knows how black women relate
(Musaraj, 2013). Unfortunately, her actions end up offending people since she does not the black
community culture. The following are aspects of unsafe space noted in the video.
3.1. Empathy
Admittedly, empathy is acquired through personal development. It requires self-
awareness, introspection and cultural intelligence (Collectve, 2014). Tiffany has misinformed
knowledge on the culture of black people. This offends people around her. Since they do not
want to be involved in quarrel with her, they walk away from her.
3.2. Intercultural communication
This type of communication involves exchange of information between people from
different cultural background. For effective intercultural communication to occur there has to be
a safe space (Musaraj, 2013). Evidently, from the video, Tiffany and John’s culture differ. For
example, Charlie is surprised when Tiffany does not bother to talk to him after being introduced
to each other by John. This shows that people from the black community value greetings and
have expectations regarding the manner in which this should happen.

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3.3. Awareness of body language
Every culture has unique set of facial expressions and gestures. For example, in
America, scratching of the head means confusion (Collectve, 2014). In Africa, it means that
somebody is thinking hard. From the video, Tiffany offers John’s cousin a ‘high five’. From his
body language, one can see that he does not understand the meaning of this type of greeting.
Eventually, he becomes withdrawn from the conversation because there seems to be a
misunderstanding.
3.4. Culture Shock
Culture shock occur when there are feelings of distress, confusion or depression resulting
from adjusting to a different culture (Hedges, 2015). When people are involved in a set up where
they are forced to experience new and unfamiliar cultural practices and norms, they undergo a
culture shock. Form the video reviewed, two of John’s friends act surprised when Tiffany openly
hugs and teases him. This shows that the black community culture does not allow for such
behavior in public places. Clearly, Tiffany does not understand how couples from the black
community are supposed to behave in public.
4.0. Recommendations
Admittedly, creating safe spaces is a dialogic concept. Meaning, people feel included or
excluded based on a range of communication activities within a particular space. Therefore, this
section provides recommendations based on Tiffany’s behavior in the video.

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 Intercultural communication should take place in a supportive climate. Being aware of
other’s culture and using this knowledge to ensure that communication remains positive.
However, lack of this can lead to a defensive climate in communication that is
susceptible to conflicts.
 It is important to use descriptive speech during communication. This enables the listeners
to view the information being provided as genuine and focused on solving problems.
 It is important to practice empathy during intercultural communication. Instead of
spending efforts to make others change their beliefs, people should understand how to fit
others’ values with others’. Apart from bringing spontaneous communication, this also
brings respect and legitimacy of others’ opinions.
The above recommendations are not only limited to be applied in social intercultural
communication contexts. Rather, they can be used in the workplace to help learn how to interact
with colleagues from different cultures. If applied, they can increase one’s cultural self-
awareness, capability, and intelligence. Consequently, one can achieve safe space and
possibilities of conflicts.
5.0. Summary and conclusion
In conclusion, this report provided an analysis of move, black white woman, part 1.
The purpose for this was to establish how lack of cultural self-awareness, intelligence, and
capability create unsafe space. This was depicted through examples from the video, scene 1 and
2. Tiffany thought that she was blending in with John’s friends and families through behaving
like a black woman. However, it was noted that her wrong knowledge on black people’s culture
offended people hence making them avoid interacting with her. Therefore, the report

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recommends that people should practice empathy during intercultural communication to enhance
a supportive environment.

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6.0. References
Collectve, R. (2014). A safe space: Towards a reconceptualization. Antipode, 1346-1365.
Hedges, K. (2015, June 5). How To Manage Conflict. Retrieved October 10, 2016, from Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com
Lierena-Quinn, R. (2013). A safe space to speak above the silence. Culture, Medicine &
Psychiatry, 340-346.
Musaraj, A. (2013). Intercultural and Religious Communications in the Balkans. Academicus
International Scientific Journal, 25-36.
Riley, S. (Director). (2014). Black White Woman [Motion Picture].
Vertino, K. (2014). Effective Interpersonal Communication. The Online Journal of Issues in
Nursing , 5-10.