Intercultural communication, which is also known as cross-cultural communication refers to situated communications between individuals or social groups belonging to different linguistic and cultural orientation (Lanqua, 2018). It describes a wide range of communication processes and problems that are engraved within social contexts where individuals usually project disparate religious, social, ethnic, or educational backgrounds. Intercultural communication derives meaning from the basic understanding of communication as an active relationship that is established between persons through language while intercultural orientations denote the communicative relations that exist between people of different cultures. In the movie, Say Anything…, intercultural communication is explored through the relationships established between Lloyd Dobler, Diane Court, and Jim Court, who is Diane’s father. This paper will evaluate intercultural communication as developed through the film to examine the nature of the relationships exposed therein.
Lloyd and Diane portray two dissimilar characters based on educational prowess and their backgrounds. While Lloyd is a noble underachiever who is interested in kick-boxing, Diane is the valedictorian at their school graduation and anticipates taking up a fellowship in England. Notably, Lloyd has no plans for the future. As such, developing a relationship in this kind of disposition entirely relates to the compatibility projected from the intercultural communication relation of both students. Establishing cordial relations between persons of different identities is an important consideration. Indeed, identity defines personal evaluation, informs negotiation, and identity management theory. Therefore, Lloyd presents a firm understanding of his identity. Cultural perceptions, however, represent a person’s attributes based on a collectivistic or individualistic base. Being a high school graduate, Lloyd is expected to aspire to advance his studies and develop a career just like any other student in the community. Nonetheless, Lloyd has a clear position that he does not want to sell, buy, or process anything as part of his career. In contrast, Diane presents a rather idolized personality that the society fancies, but she finds herself in love with a directly opposite persona from what the society would regard as ideal. This disposition reveals the negation of intercultural communication collectivism and embrace of an individualistic approach of expressing identities.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Lloyd and Diane face different challenges through their relationship. Apart from their differing educational orientations, Diane father feels that Lloyd will deter her daughter’s progress in regards to the scholarship. Diane is at first convinced to avoid Lloyd and concentrate in her studies until she needs her help afterward. This stage can be termed as a moment of doubtful relations in an intercultural setup. Intercultural communication dictates that differences develop to deter rational thinking. It is also crucial not to forget the dispensation of family love over romantic love. Diane believes her dad because she is confident that he could not lie to her on any issue. Diane also trusts that anything her father informs her is for her betterment. This phenomenon explains how different spheres of the society alter the decisions made from one person to another, especially, where advice emanates from family or close acquaintance.
Self-disclosure is inherent in establishing good-natured interpersonal communications. Self-disclosure happens when individuals reveal information about self to other persons. This is done for various reasons: to invoke trust, emotions, reason, refuge, and advise (Tardy & Smithson, 2018). Self-disclosure is influential in solidifying the relationship between Diane and her father. Indeed, he needs to trust her and let her relate to her feelings for Lloyd. It is from this standpoint that Diane father addresses the issues making Diane change her perspective on the relationship. Again, self-disclosure develops self-assurance. For example, when Lloyd receives Diane’s decision to leave him, he is devastated and counts on his friend Corey. In intercultural theories of acculturation and adjustment, uncertainty in communication triggers anxiety. In this way, one is able to predict and explain the behavior of their hosts. Corey advises Lloyd to go back to Diane and be a man while Diane revamps his energy to fight for her love. He plays “in your eyes” by Peter Gabriel, a song they had played on their first love-making escapade. Afterward, Diane receives news of her father embezzling the Internal Revenue Service. She is distraught and ends up reconciling with Lloyd at the gym. Thus, self-disclosure plays an essential role in refurbishing self-confidence.
Intercultural communications are essential in establishing long-lasting trustful relations (Martin & Nakayama, 2013). Also, distorted intercultural relations foster a pathway of broken relationships, especially, where family ties are involved. Diane’s father chose to lie to her daughter about the embezzled finances. Dishonesty crumbles down an established relationship due to the long-established belief in a person that thrives on trust. Diane is frustrated by the deception that her father has kept for a long while about the funds. Indeed, she had believed the father on the issues regarding her love life. However, when the truth manifested, Diane feels betrayed or sidelined from many of her father’s decision. As such, this makes her reconsider her earlier decision to end her relationship with Lloyd. Intercultural communication thus reveals that individuals can count on strange relationships especially where they feel a native one is frustrating. Ultimately, Diane found much solace from Lloyd and even ended up flying with him for her scholarship.
Intercultural communication has been developed throughout the screenplay of the film say anything…, to demonstrate communications between individuals of different personalities, educational, and family backgrounds. Lloyd represents a noble underachiever who believes in love and fights for it at all means. Diane, as well, falls in love with Lloyd to refute the ideologies of the society but sabotages it because of her father’s insights. However, self-disclosure revamps their energy to pursue what they deemed right. The deceit realized within the process elevates the understanding between the duo. As such, the script ascertains how intercultural communications are subject to inconsistencies such as lying, motives, cultures, and goals.
References
Lanqua. (2018). Intercultural communication – lanqua.eu. Retrieved from https://www.lanqua.eu/theme/intercultural-communication/
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2013). Intercultural communication in contexts. New York: NY: McGraw-Hill.
Say Anything…(1989, April 14). Retrieved November 20, 2018, from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098258/
Tardy, C. H., & Smithson, J. (2018). Self-disclosure: Strategic revelation of information in personal and professional relationships 1. In The handbook of communication skills (pp. 217-258). Routledge.
