Cultural Diversity And Behaviors In The Movie Outsourced

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Our culture is what defines us. It is intertwined with our heritage, customs, history and more. Different cultures exist throughout the world. They differ in almost every facet. Different cultures even exist within the same country, and some large cities. What you hold sacred could be a common food in another country. The customs and traditions you practice daily could make no sense to a person from another culture. Add in language barriers most of the time, and the difficulty with intercultural communication is clear. Thus, it is incredibly daunting for a person to travel to another country, and be immersed in their culture from the second they step foot there. The movie Outsourced tackles this very issue. It follows an American marketing …show more content…

Behaviors are complex, multi-faceted acts that make us who we are. They differ in the place in which they exist (public vs private), and in what way the are performed. They exist within the workings of our minds, affecting thought patterns and creating the questions we ask. They also exist in the physical world, affecting everyday interactions and greetings. Outsourced tackles the different cultural behaviors in many ways, none bigger than boundaries. Different boundaries exist in every culture, from figurative boundaries to literal boundaries. Todd experiences shocks with both types throughout the movie. Firstly, Puro’s family is very inquisitive into Todd’s background. Within minutes of meeting Todd, he is asked about his job status, salary, marital status, and father’s occupation, all within seconds of each other. Todd is taken aback, as in his culture such questions are overwhelming, rude, and largely ignored during conversation. However in India, it is part of everyday life. This is an example of the figurative cultural boundaries seen throughout the world. The movie also addresses a figurative boundary, in personal space. Todd experiences this on his train to Gharapuri. A train that seemed full in Todd’s eyes. However, he was rushed onto the train as it started to depart, only to be faced by a full cabin. A young boy graciously offers his seat, only to sit on Todd’s lap for the duration of the ride. The behaviors of the young boy in addition to the jam-packed train shows the difference in how certain cultures treat personal space. Furthermore, the movie tackles public versus private behavior in different cultures with Todd and Asha’s relationship. A key part of the story, Todd begins to change his mentality the more he gets to know Asha. Their relationship begins to develop more and more, climaxing

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