Intercultural Communication in "The Gods Must be Crazy" Film Essay

Introduction

Intercultural communication is a vast discipline that focuses on the study of communication across different social groups and cultures as well as how different communication process affect and hinder the progress of different cultures within a country. Intercultural communication also describes several communication process and activities which are related to verbal utterance with an aim on creating comprehensive methods which are usually associated with mix-ups in certain concepts which naturally appear within a social or organizational context. It has been argued by many people in this concept that culture is responsible in encoding messages, writing scholarly articles, participating in different cultural activities which are recognized by the country concern as well as act a medium for transmitting the signals from one place to the other without interruptions (Prastuti, 2015).

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Notably, concerning proper intercultural communication, it is at providing a concrete situation where people who are not sharing common cultural background may find maximum opportunity to interact either through cultural activities, language or patterns which are exhibited in those areas. It is also involved in understanding the variation which is common among the languages, cultures, and customers which people embrace as part of their lifestyle. This paper focuses on examining the relationship between intercultural communications and cultures which are embraced by different people in attempts to create explicit hegemony with the activities which they do as part of the social life. it also captures the cultural incidences that are narrated in the story, "The Gods Must Be Crazy."

"The Gods Must Be Crazy" Film

The film about "The Gods Must be Crazy" starts by presenting the differences between the modern technology superior culture which is portrayed in the modern world and the primitive culture among the aboriginal Xhosa-speaking Bushmen. The Kalahari Desert is used as the foreboding place where the few people who have resided there have adopted it as their small home. The life which is being revealed in the areas is quiet and very complicated although it is juxtaposed with the fast-paced world of technology after the arrival of the empty Coca-Coca bottle with a hidden meaning. The story depicts vivid cultural associations and political issues that give potentiality and adoption in the African setup. The movie is one strangest ever released work of art to the public. The revelation of the Kalahari Desert can be perceived to be paradise, but it is the most treacherous one ever seen in Africa (Kirk, 2015). The events that happen in the desert are associated with several mythical expositions that unite the people together. Most people avoid the desert due to lack of water, but among the Bushmen, it is regarded as the best people. They are believed to resist harsh environmental conditions as compared to other personalities.

The life in the desert forces people to depend on roots and tubers as well as pods and berries which are seen as delicacies among other food types. However, for the acquisition of water, the Bushmen wake up very early in the morning and carefully collect water from dewdrops from leaves that has accumulated after the evening precipitations. Some depend on the water from the grass plume which is regarded as reservoirs (Prastuti, 2015). Those who have vast knowledge in roots and tubers use the size of twigs to identify trees with enormous tubers. Interesting, the people here believe that gods have put only useful and enjoyable things for them to use on earth. The perception is that all that is available on the surface are good and nothing is wrong. All the poisonous snakes are regarded as snacks so long as one is off the sharp end.

The Bushmen in South Africa live in the vastness of the Kalahari Desert in small groups of families. They rarely meet, and one group can meet the other once after several years. The movie reveals that the lifestyle of the Bushmen was much uncivilized. Most of them have never seen a civilized man due to the kind of isolation which they have embraced for their lifestyles - notably, the associate all incidences with the acts of gods. For instance, when there are thunderstorms with no significant clouds in the sky, they assume that the tummies of gods are rumbling after overeating. Such intercultural beliefs make them easier to identify in the world map.

From a sociological perspective concerning intercultural communication the interaction between the Xi and western innovation is approached without mild preconceptions of the outlined technological meaning. The society without water and the inclusion of musical instruments are regarded as dead. Similarly, lack of some basic patterns which bring people together lowers the intercultural communication which is exhibited in most societies as well as countries.

An interview with the elders form the South Africa who has vast knowledge about some symbols which were used in the desert such as the Coca Cola bottle; it is clear that most societies are self-proclaimed (Prastuti, 2015). They are not willing to share what they have with others leading to turmoil in modern society. Characteristics such as aggression, anger, and greed are regarded as a sin and make members to love themselves without caring for the people around them. The language of the Bushmen which is the core of communication has a trait which is unique to itself. The word is full of click sounds which can only be understood by the people themselves (Kirk, 2015). This language was unique on its own, and only a few people like the Khoikhoi could understand it although in the intercultural communication it reveals the cultural and social relationships which the people have towards each other.

In conclusion, intercultural communication allows a society to encourage it, members, to participate in activities which do expose others and less critical. The film also reveals patronization which is common among the black people although it is painfully gendered. The cultural value which is associated with possession is power. The individual who makes up a comprehensive intercultural communication in a country varies and come from a wide range of ethnicity, education, religion, and economic background. However, intercultural communication aims to understand the nature of the relationship which individuals have in different cultures and countries and which they perceive or share with the world around them. Overall, the inherent cultural value of possession is regarded as the only important theme which is underlined in the movie. It portrays the Xi's tribes about the Bushmen life in the Kalahari Desert which is one of the dry areas in Africa. However, despite all the challenges which these people face, they are very optimistic and cherish everything that the gods are responsible for them.

Appendix

Live Interview Questions

• What challenges do you experience in your cultural setup?
• What is the significance of symbols in the cultural association?
• What is the significance of the click language among the Bushmen?

Responses

• The most outstanding challenges in the cultural gap are inadequate basic needs and resources.
• Symbols in the cultural setting acts a form of unity that brings members together.
• The click languages among the Bushmen reveal their cultural and social relationships which the people have towards each other.

References

Kirk, F. (2015). Troubled vision: Interrogating the visual protocols of 20 the century ethnographic literary and cinematic travelogues. Michigan State University.

Prastuti, R. A. (2015). An analysis of commissive utterances in the film entitled "the Gods must be crazy" and its implication on teaching speaking (Doctoral dissertation, Universitas Sebelas Maret). Retrieved from https://eprints.uns.ac.id/id/eprint/19802