Gran Torino Analysis

 Gran Torino is a movie that depicts a clash of culture and prejudice. The movie open with Clinton Eastwood starring as Mr. Waltz Kowalski (a War World II veteran) at the funeral of his wife. Mr. Waltz barely has a conducive relationship with his two sons and grandchildren. He is bitter with a lot of things in live like his children (one of which is driving a foreign car even though Mr. Waltz has worked with Fords for years) just interested in his money, granddaughter in his car and that his new neighbors do no take care of their lawn and are not Americans. All these sets up a perfect climate of cultural clash not only with his neighbors but with his children and grandchildren.

            One area of cultural conflict is when could be seen when his neighbor’s daughter (Sue) finally convinced him to come over for a barbeque. While there Mr. Waltz touches the head of a child. It is normal in the American culture to give a pat on someone’s head especially children. He was surprised when he turned around and everyone in the room was staring at him. This is because the Mong people see it as disrespectful to touch another’s head because their culture has it that everyone’s souls rest on their head. Mr. Waltz things this is absurd as he cannot relate with this cultural aspect.

            Another area of cultural difference is when Tao (Sue’s brother) is requested by his family to come and work for Mr. Waltz to atone for his crime of trying to steal Mr. Waltz 1975 Gran Torino. Mr. Waltz who wanted to use the attempted theft of his car by Tao to keep his distance from his foreign neighbors does not understand why Tao’s family want Tao to work for Mr. Waltz for a couple of weeks. According to Tao’s parents, if he does not work to pay for his attempted theft, that will be dishonoring the family name. This is common of the Asian people that doing anything that could dishonor the family name is taboo.

            With regards to pop culture, the way Mr. Waltz, his Italian barber and his construction Irish friend communicate among themselves represents who they are. They do not find any wrong with the style of communication because they all agree that it is normal to talk that way. Tao who is an outsider to this culture had to bring himself to talk in the same way so he can fit in. Mr. Waltz curses throughout the movie which is an exhibition of a culture that he grew up in and the type of friends he has surrounded himself with. Another pop culture seen in this movie is that of gangs. Tao’s cousins are in a gang and they are using peer persuade and even go as far as intimidating Tao to join the gang. It was against this backdrop that Tao tried stealing Mr. Waltz 1975 Gran Torino to prove himself. This eventually led to main plots on which the entire movie is built on.

            In my opinion, the conclusion of the movie cannot not be the only true way to resolve a conflict. This is because if every cultural conflict was to be settle with the death of anyone, this will not be seen solving that main problem. In the same way, that Mr. Waltz got to understand Tao, Sue and their family and culture, if he gave that second chance to Tao cousins, may be that would have a difference. The priest stated that he has been trying to reach out to this gang. Mr. Waltz would have used that opportunity to work with the priest and reach out to the gang. Also, when he made the decision to go and confront the gang, he should have involved the police. Conflict is usually based on perception. How the opposing parties perceive each other. Like Nwogbaga et al (2015) put it, “the emergence, escalation, de-escalation, resolution, and management of conflicts and crisis all depend on the information sent and received, how they are interpreted, and how they are perceived accordingly” (p.33). I think Mr. Waltz missed an opportunity to engage Tao’s cousins when he failed to involve the priest and the police. Reaching out to the gang and dialoguing with them is always the way out. Using violence as a response to violence only creates more violence.

            This is not my first time watching Gran Torino. However, I have never succeeded in completing the movie. This movie puts into context the essence and importance of intercultural communication. I do not identify myself with a particular character the entire movie but there are instances that I relate with them. I have had to do things when I was younger because of peer pressure and the desire to fit in.  However, if I was to pick a character, who represents me, it will be Tao. Tao has a shy personality, has a good heart and just needed someone to direct him and give him some focus. I was almost the same way when I moved to the US. There were a lot of things I did not know about the American culture and all I wanted to do was fit in so I should be an outsider.

Historical Examination

Individuals grabble with different identities as they choose which groups values their different identities. Per Bloomaert (2015) “people define their “identity” in relation to a multitude of different niches and by orienting to a multitude of “centers” of normative order” (p.154). It is possible for our identities to change over time as our values changes. For instance, some people move from being atheist to Christians while others become more environmentally inclined with an increase knowledge of global warming. When choosing what to write about for this paper, my accent was no doubt at the top of the list, as a day rarely goes by without someone either complementing or criticizing it.

            Unlike some identities that people adopt over time, I had no control over my accent neither did I choose to have the accent. Cameroon is a former British and French colony and I grew up in a predominantly French speaking region. Apart from French and English, I speak pidgin English and my local dialect. Given that most people I grew up around speak almost the way I do, it has never crossed my mind that someday I will be told I had an accent. At the time, I did not consider my accent as an identity that will could be used to set me apart from others or will be used to identify me as an outsider. It was not until I arrived the United Stated that people started either complementing or criticizing my accent.

            It took a while for me to get comfortable with the way I spoke as people often regarded me as an outsider. Given that I did pronounce most words like most Americans do, some people found it attracting and wanted to know more about me and where I come from while others were impatient with me and will often be rude when asking me to repeat something I just said. Personally, in the same way that my accent served as an advantage to me, it was also a disadvantage. However, over time, I have learned not to consider my accent as a disadvantage because everyone has an accent to some respect. For instance, a Cameroonian will consider as having an accent if the American was visiting Cameroon.

After traveling to the United State, it became apparent to me that what I considered as normal was not normal. I was repeatedly called out because of my accent. My first few months in the US were the hardest especially given that very few people said they could understand me and will would rarely pay attention to me what I had to say. Coupled with all the cultural shocks I was experiencing, my accent only made things worse. My so-called accent affected my communication with others. I only engaged communication with those who sounded like myself. I had a circle of friends that I spoke only with them and I spoke to any other person only when it was necessary. As such, I seldom participated in class activities because some of classmate would say they did not understand me. However, as soon as accepted my accent for what it was and started talking slowly to everyone who was patient enough to listen to me, my grades in class went up. Over the years, I have made a conscious effort to talk slowly so that I could be understood. This has proven to be successful as far less people complain about not being able to understand me. Inasmuch, I have maintained my accent for the most part, I learned to be patient with those who still have a hard time understanding me especially at work. After identify my accent, most patients are more interested in knowing where the accent is from as well as about my country. I see this as advantage because I can educate them about my country which most Americans do not know. Rakic et al (2011) explain that “a fundamental characteristic of person perception and categorization is that people react to the first available and meaningful information to categorize others” (p.16).

The way I interact with those that share my accent is very different from those that have a hard time understanding me when I talk. I am less restrained when I am talking to someone from my country. This is because like me, they have the same accent and will pick up what I am trying to say. However, if I was to talk to someone with another identity, I will be more restrained and will try to articulate my words so they can understand me.

Identity Reflection

Individuals grabble with different identities as they choose which groups values their different identities. Per Bloomaert (2015) “people define their “identity” in relation to a multitude of different niches and by orienting to a multitude of “centers” of normative order” (p.154). It is possible for our identities to change over time as our values changes. For instance, some people move from being atheist to Christians while others become more environmentally inclined with an increase knowledge of global warming. When choosing what to write about for this paper, my accent was no doubt at the top of the list, as a day rarely goes by without someone either complementing or criticizing it.

            Unlike some identities that people adopt over time, I had no control over my accent neither did I choose to have the accent. Cameroon is a former British and French colony and I grew up in a predominantly French speaking region. Apart from French and English, I speak pidgin English and my local dialect. Given that most people I grew up around speak almost the way I do, it has never crossed my mind that someday I will be told I had an accent. At the time, I did not consider my accent as an identity that will could be used to set me apart from others or will be used to identify me as an outsider. It was not until I arrived the United Stated that people started either complementing or criticizing my accent.

            It took a while for me to get comfortable with the way I spoke as people often regarded me as an outsider. Given that I did pronounce most words like most Americans do, some people found it attracting and wanted to know more about me and where I come from while others were impatient with me and will often be rude when asking me to repeat something I just said. Personally, in the same way that my accent served as an advantage to me, it was also a disadvantage. However, over time, I have learned not to consider my accent as a disadvantage because everyone has an accent to some respect. For instance, a Cameroonian will consider as having an accent if the American was visiting Cameroon.

After traveling to the United State, it became apparent to me that what I considered as normal was not normal. I was repeatedly called out because of my accent. My first few months in the US were the hardest especially given that very few people said they could understand me and will would rarely pay attention to me what I had to say. Coupled with all the cultural shocks I was experiencing, my accent only made things worse. My so-called accent affected my communication with others. I only engaged communication with those who sounded like myself. I had a circle of friends that I spoke only with them and I spoke to any other person only when it was necessary. As such, I seldom participated in class activities because some of classmate would say they did not understand me. However, as soon as accepted my accent for what it was and started talking slowly to everyone who was patient enough to listen to me, my grades in class went up. Over the years, I have made a conscious effort to talk slowly so that I could be understood. This has proven to be successful as far less people complain about not being able to understand me. Inasmuch, I have maintained my accent for the most part, I learned to be patient with those who still have a hard time understanding me especially at work. After identify my accent, most patients are more interested in knowing where the accent is from as well as about my country. I see this as advantage because I can educate them about my country which most Americans do not know. Rakic et al (2011) explain that “a fundamental characteristic of person perception and categorization is that people react to the first available and meaningful information to categorize others” (p.16).

The way I interact with those that share my accent is very different from those that have a hard time understanding me when I talk. I am less restrained when I am talking to someone from my country. This is because like me, they have the same accent and will pick up what I am trying to say. However, if I was to talk to someone with another identity, I will be more restrained and will try to articulate my words so they can understand me.