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Intercultural Communication a Critical Perspective Dedicated to Leah Vande Berg Intercultural Communication A Critical Perspective Dedicated to Leah Vande Berg scholar, teacher, and mentor who tirelessly enacted a critical perspective of the world Bassim Hamadeh, CEO and Publisher Todd R. Armstrong, Senior Specialist Acquisitions Editor Tony Paese, Project Editor Jess Estrella, Senior Graphic Designer Sean Adams, Production Editor Danielle Gradisher, Licensing Associate Natalie Piccotti, Director of Marketing Kassie Graves, Vice President of Editorial Jamie Giganti, Director of Academic Publishing Copyright © 2019 by Cognella, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information retrieval system without the written permission of Cognella, Inc. For inquiries regarding permissions, translations, foreign rights, audio rights, and any other forms of reproduction, please contact the Cognella Licensing Department at [email protected]. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Cover image copyright © 2017 iStockphoto LP/Aleksei_Derin. Printed in the United States of America. ISBN: 978-1-5165-2052-7 (pbk) / 978-1-5165-4526-1 (al) / 978-1-5165-2053-4 (br) Intercultural Communication A Critical Perspective Rona Tamiko Halualani San José State University Brief Contents Chapter 1 Introducing Critical Intercultural Communication 1 Chapter 2 Culture, Power, and Intercultural Communication 27 Chapter 3 Re-Thinking Communication 49 Chapter 4 Ideology and Intercultural Communication 71 Chapter 5 Speaking for Others and Intercultural Communication 95 Chapter 6 Identity Layers and Intercultural Communication 119 Chapter 7 Historical Memory and Intercultural Communication 139 Chapter 8 Racialization and Intercultural Communication 159 Chapter 9 Global Flows and Intercultural Communication 181 Chapter 10 Intercultural Relationships and Power 205 Chapter 11 Re-Imagining Your Role in Intercultural Communication 227 Glossary 241 References 247 Name Index 259 Subject Index 263 Detailed Contents Preface xv Acknowledgments xxi Chapter 1 Introducing Critical Intercultural Communication 1 Introduction: A Day in the Intercultural Life of Jenny 1 Locating Intercultural Communication in Our Lives 3 Connecting a Day in Jenny’s Life to Critical Intercultural Communication 3 What Is Critical Intercultural Communication? 7 Contexts of Power in Our Lives 7 The Economic Context 12 The Governmental Context 12 The Legal Context 13 The Educational Context 14 The Family Context 15 The Media Context 16 The Tourism Context 17 A Sense of Urgency: A Call for Your Critical Reflection and Action 20 Purpose of This Book 21 The ACT Framework for Intercultural Justice 21 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 23 Chapter 2 Culture, Power, and Intercultural Communication 27 Introduction: Vu’s Search: What Is Vietnamese Culture? 27 A Power-Based Perspective: Re-thinking Culture and Intercultural Communication 28 vi Characteristics of Power 32 Power Is Invisible and Hidden 32 Power Is Material 33 Power Is Constraining 34 Power Is Enabling and Creative 35 What Is Culture? 37 Culture as a Field of Forces: Four Premises 40 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 46 Chapter 3 Re-Thinking Communication 49 Introduction: A Portrait of Intercultural Communication Between Marissa and Kelly 49 Re-Conceptualizing Communication From a Critical Perspective 51 What Is Communication From a Power-Based Perspective? 53 The Historical Context Framing Intercultural Communication Encounters 55 Perception of Cultural Background Over Time 56 Family Experiences With the Cultural Group 57 Historical Myths of the Cultural Group 59 Past Cultural Relations Between/Among the Cultural Groups 60 Society’s Historical Treatment of the Cultural Groups 61 The Sociopolitical Context Framing Intercultural Communication Encounters 62 Experiences With the Cultural Group 63 Current View of the Cultural Group 64 Economic Positioning of the Cultural Groups 65 The Position of the Cultural Groups in Society 67 Communication From a Power-Based Perspective 68 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 69 vii Chapter 4 Ideology and Intercultural Communication 71 Introduction: Kenji and the Japanese Way of Life 71 Understanding Cultural Views as Ideological 73 Defining Cultural Views as Ideologies 73 Definitions and Forms 74 Different Forms of Ideologies 75 Dominant Ideology 76 The Superstructure and Ideology 80 Negotiated Ideology 84 Oppositional Ideology 85 Hegemony 85 Ideologies That Surround Culture 87 Nationalism 87 Cultural Patterns 90 Meritocracy 91 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 92 Chapter 5 Speaking for Others and Intercultural Communication 95 Introduction: Lina and Joel Speaking for Their Cultures 95 What Is Cultural Representation? 96 Cultural Representation as Discourse: A Framework 96 Discursive Context 99 Key Aspects of a Discursive Context 100 The Act of Speaking 100 Social Location 102 Speaking as a Native Member (Inside) 102 Speaking as a Non-Native (Outsider) 105 Speaking With an Audience in Mind 109 History of Representations for the Cultural Group of Focus 112 Political Moment 114 Reflexivity and Responsibility 115 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 116 viii Chapter 6 Identity Layers and Intercultural Communication 119 Introduction: Len’s Identity 119 What Is Identity?: Identity and Power 121 Structural Framings of Identity (Social/Structural Layer) 122 Personal / Group Constructions of Identity (Personal Layer) 128 The Colliding Dynamic Between the Layers of Identity 130 Identity Politics of Authenticity 131 Authenticity 132 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 136 Chapter 7 Historical Memory and Intercultural Communication 139 Introduction: Lisa and Historical Memory 139 What Is History? 140 History as a Field of Power 140 History Derives From Power 141 History Advances Dominant Interests 142 It Takes Work to (Re)Produce History 143 History Mostly Speaks From a Male, White, and Upper-Class Voice 143 Historical Memory 145 Historical Memory 145 Historical Amnesia 149 Remaking Collective and Historical Memories 151 Alliance Building Around Historical Memories and Experiences 152 Historical Memories and Intercultural Communication 153 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 155 ix Chapter 8 Racialization and Intercultural Communication 159 Introduction: Lee and Race 159 What Is Race? 161 Defining Race 161 Attributes of Race 162 Race Is a Social Construct 162 Race Is Created in Context of Power 163 Race as Identity Marker 164 Race Is Naturalized Over Time 165 Racialization in Society 165 Structural Formations of Race 166 The Racial State 166 State Ideologies of Colorblindness and Multiculturalism 166 Racially Biased Legal System and Critical Race Theory 169 Legal Scholarship Is Not Objective 170 Race as More Complex 170 Challenging Legal Neutrality 173 Against Legal Rationality 173 Challenging the Status Quo 174 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 176 Chapter 9 Global Flows and Intercultural Communication 181 Introduction: Char and Globalization 181 The Global Age 183 Defining Globalization 183 Key Attributes of Globalization 184 Globalization and Economic Power 184 Cultures Are Not Always Fixed to Place 187 Cultural Images Move Across Boundaries 190 The Flows of Global Commodities 192 The Spread of Western Consumerism and Capitalism 193 Global Migration 194 Cultural Authenticity 195 Capitalism Moves 196 x Power Dynamics and Implications of Globalization 199 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 200 Chapter 10 Intercultural Relationships and Power 205 Introduction: Meg and John in an Intercultural Romantic Relationship 205 Types of Intercultural Relationships 206 How Power Touches Our Intercultural Relationships 208 Zones of Contact 208 Histories, Myths, and Narratives 210 Memories, Shared Narratives, and Myths About Cultural Groups 211 Structural Influences of Power 214 Cultural Capital 215 Intercultural Desire 217 Cultural or Racial Fetish 220 Macro Layers and Intercultural Relationships 222 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 223 Chapter 11 Re-Imagining Your Role in Intercultural Communication 227 Introduction: Janis and Intercultural Justice 227 What Now? 228 The ACT Framework for Intercultural Justice 228 Agency 228 Individual Actions 230 Collective Actions 234 Summary • Keywords • Questions and Activities 239 Glossary 241 References 247 Name Index 259 Subject Index 263 xi About the Author Rona Tamiko Halualani is a professor of intercultural communication in the Department of Communication Studies at San José State University. She also served as the special assistant to the president, director of inclusive excellence and institutional planning for San José State University from 2007 through 2009. Dr. Halualani is the author of In the Name of Hawaiians: Native Identities and Cultural Politics and is the co-editor (with Dr. Thomas K. Nakayama) of the Handbook of Critical Intercultural Com- munication. She has published numerous articles in the Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, International and Intercultural Communication Annual, and International Journal of Intercultural Relations. Dr. Halualani is also the former editor in chief of the Journal of International and Intercultural Communication. She teaches courses on intercultural
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