ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED

TO
DR ASIFA
ON
Intercultural Communication
in
Gran Torino
Introduction:
The 2008 Clint Eastwood starrer “Gran Torino” is filled with a lot of
racism, imprecations, hatred and finally bloodshed, all arising due to
non-acceptance of cultural diversity. Our hero in the movie, Waltz
Kowalski, is strongly prejudiced against and stereotypical about
Koreans, more specifically their culture, not himself being much
generous, he calls them names, ‘Chinks, zipperhead, Oriental Yum
Yum’. The world around our wrinkly octogenarian protagonist is
changing fast: he has lost his wife, the Detroit neighborhood around him
in which he lives is slumping, his relationship with his children is poor,
and the memories of his time in Korea as a soldier haunt his present,
rendering him incapable of fully appreciating and enjoying life.
Ironically it is the same Hmong neighbors who live next door to
Kowalski and are much despised by him due to cultural mismatch who
become a source of his redemption when he finally faces boldly all the
unconscious, deep rooted prejudices, and stereotypes etched in his
character. The same ills he is consumed by are taken up by the members
sharing same culture ie Hmongs raising difficult questions about
intercultural communication and identities within culture. The following
pages are dedicated for an effort at understanding the issues at the heart
of cultural diversity and intercultural communication in the movie.
Intercultural Communication in Gran Torino
The cynosure of the movie, Walt Kowaski, is an ex-Korean-War veteran
who, long after his retirement, settles in a neighborhood dominated by
Asians; spurring a theme of intercultural strife throughout the movie
leading up to the death of lead character and thereby giving a message of
harmony, peace and tolerance. Thoroughly jingo American War
Veteran, Kowaski, is unable to bury his seething hatred against Asians,
borne during his time in military in 1950’s which brings to light the
cultural differences between two communities. Kowaski, during late
1950’s while deputed on official duty against Koreans in Cold War, was
involved in killing many Asians. The irony of the movie takes its life
from the fact that the hate-filled veteran rescues Thao, an Asian
youngster, in his final attempt at getting salvation. The movie does not
give any unequivocal clues about the root of intercultural strife between
the two communities except that the old veteran was deputed, on orders
from his superiors, to a place where killing and being killed was a mere
instinctive phenomenon involving little knowledge about the conscious
realization behind the motivation about one’s actions. The root of the
friction between both communities remains out of the question
throughout the movie and only the ill effects of an unfounded and
misappropriated hatred come to the surface, fortunately with a happy
ending. One of the key questions tackled in any debate revolving around
intercultural communication is how people from different socio-cultural
backgrounds ‘communicate and perceive the world around them’
(Lauring, Jakob 2011). In this regard the movie shows how people
belonging from two different cultures ‘interact’. Their interaction
reveals their differences; ranging from language, traditions, rituals and
other socio-cultural preferences. The contrast remains lively and vivid to
the audience through dexterously constructed plot, and dialogues while
the most intriguing question which remains unanswered is, as mentioned
above, the question about the genesis of this strife. Nevertheless, the
movie draws attention to the fact that the issues due to intercultural strife
can be resolved through intercultural communication.
Language Barrier:
There is a uniquely intimate relationship between language and culture.
Almost all theorist agree today that language is a cultural phenomenon
yet it is not entirely identifiable with race or ethnicity. Factors more
closely linked with defining language are personal in nature. Any
language is strongly influenced by the speaker’s own social background
and history involving society and values as an auxiliary of the culture.
“Even when people speak the same language, there can be differences in
communication style and language use” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p.
150). Kowalski’s world is different from the collective world of the
people around him due to several factors involving war, his own
generation, his time in Korea as a veteran, his experience with people
sharing an alien culture and his stay at Ford as an engineer. His language
is shaped by his own history and background. It is equally offensive to
people who don’t share his own culture and to the members of his own
family. It is not to imply that the father and children don’t share the
same language but that they don’t communicate in the same way as to
make each other understand. The best example of this communication-
gap is seen in the ‘Birthday’ episode of the movie. Hence, language is
not meant to be a spoken phenomenon in this context but taken as a
medium of communication of any sort.
Waltz’s daughter in law and his son bring him gifts on his birthday to
propitiate his unfounded fears and to pay their duties as caretakers of the
ageing father but they are received coldly by his stubborn rejection of
any effort aimed at pleasing him with an ulterior motive. On the part of
the young children of his, they too are unable to understand the world in
which Walt takes his existence. They do not fully appreciate his values
and ambitions due to mis-communication. They are shown out of the
house rather more insultingly, but Eastwood is adamant and believes that
their show of sympathy was a face-saver so that “no one can say we
didn’t try” (Kowalski 2008). The issue at the heart of this antagonism
arises due to cultural miscommunication. The young Kowalski’s are at a
loss to understand the language, and subtle cultural nuances which
define their father’s world. “Our perspective, our “lens”—that is, how
we view life and others, is unique. Taking all that into consideration
when interpersonal conflict occurs, we need to “make more accurate
attributions and meaning of others’ behavior, we need to translate,
interpret, and become fluent in several different “conflict dialects””
(Wilmot & Hocker, 2011, p. 68).
A similarly unsettling result of language barrier is present in the scene
involving Thao and Mexican gang members. Thao is accosted by them
with a cry ‘Chill with us’. He is saved from humiliation by his ethnic
fellow gang members but they demand a return for the favor in a
language less alien than the one before. The meaning of the spoken
words is as alien to him as his own cousin because his culture is defined
by the world around him which is far different from the one inhabited by
his co-ethnics. “Value conflict, a more serious type, occurs when people
have differing ideologies” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 228).
Moreover, “values are deeply felt beliefs that are shared by a cultural
group” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 41)
Cultural Antagonism:
Waltz’s inability at understanding the culture of the people living next
door to him has a history. He has fought against these Koreans back in
1950’s and the antagonism persisted within him since them. In the
beginning of the movie he complains to himself, “ What the hell did
Chinks have to move into this neighborhood for?”. The not-so-innocent
neighbor has her own prejudices, “Why does that old white man stay
here? All the Americans have moved out of this neighborhood. Why
haven't you gone?” The bickering continues and ends in imprecations,
“Why don't you strut away, you dumb rooster?”. Peter Adler (1975), a
noted social psychologist, observes that the study of intercultural
communication begins as a journey into another culture and reality and
ends as a journey into one’s own culture. Intercultural communication is
necessary for self-realization too. Waltz’s blindness is two ways
destructive; he is unable to see others as well as himself. The self-
awareness imperative in Martin and Nakayama’s Intercultural
Communication in Contexts is essential for reaching outer and inner
peace.
Living in another country widens your horizon. It makes you appreciate
the things you have, and it strengthens the family unit. You look at your
country from a different point of view. We have learned not to expect
everything to be the same as “at home,” but if we happen to fi nd
 something that reminds us of home, we really appreciate it and it makes
us very happy. Ultimately we are all very thankful that we had the
opportunity to live in another country.
Nakayama and Martin argue that it is not always a pleasant journey to
find one’s own place in a multicultural society. Sometimes the journey
which is painful in itself might end in a harmful realization about one’s
own cultural superiority ie ‘ethnocentrism’. Fortunately for the
protagonist of our movie this is not the case. Kowalski learns his mistake
when he beats one of the Korean gang members who tried to steal the
tools Thao had borrowed from Waltz. Waltz’s actions result in bloody
consequences for Thao’s family especially his sister. The Epiphany for
Waltz’s occurs at a price but positively so for the people who were
victimized by these gang members. He reaches at an understanding
about himself, others and his place in a diversely colorful culture around
him.

Demographic Imperative:
The US is a tapestry of people belonging from different regions and
cultures. This diversity in population creates room for cultural diversity
and all the subsequent social changes that come with it. The knowledge
of such information is essential to understanding and for the acceptance
of those who do not confirm to the lifestyle which is ‘ours’. Nakayama
and Martin (2004) dwell on this issue by saying that Rapid changes in
technology, demographics, and economic forces mean that you are likely
to come into contact with many people with diverse backgrounds and
experiences. Although many of these communication experiences will
be in professional and work situations, many other interactions will be in
public and social settings.
Waltz’s neighbors had settled in Midwest after Vietnam War. They have
then spread into different areas of the US in small communities. The
diversity in culture was less noticeable for Waltz when he left US for
war then when he arrived home years later. He was more conscious of
these changes due to his experiences, but other factors are also involved.
The change in immigration patterns is one of the reason for rapid
cultural diversity.
Heterogeneity and diversity are a way to moving towards progress if
understood in an optimistic light. It provides social, intellectual, political
and linguistic variety which leads to healthy interaction between people
from different parts of the world. The ills arising out of such interactions
are also one of the many issues which are at the heart of the discussion
involving intercultural communication. Issues such as slavery, racism
and stereotypical behavior towards minority communities in general are
a major concern in the context of cultural studies. The same issues are at
the heart of Eastwood’s Gran Torino. Interpersonal and Intercultural
forces are at play in the lives of the characters who strive to understand
this puzzle and make their way out of this maze.

Economic Imperative
The name of the car owned by Eastwood is etched at the title of the
movie. One of the interesting factors about it apart from its being an
antique model is that it was a Ford which is a multinational company. In
contrast to it our protagonist suffers from lung disease and is wary of
visiting doctors but the worsening condition forces him to visit hospital
where another cultural shock leaves him distraught over the appointment
of an Oriental doctor at hospital. His visit is very upsetting for him and
he asks, “What happened to Dr.Feldman, my regular doctor?” The reply
from Dr Chu is enough to lead him out of the hospital without taking
medical care, “Dr. Feldman retired three years ago. I'm his replacement,
Dr. Chu”. Here he fails to understand that his ethnic hatred towards
Orientals is unfounded because the very car he loves is manufactured by
a firm which is owned by people not from America. Ford is a
multinational company owned by Americans but the workforce is highly
multicultural. Thus, the economy in America is dominated by
multinational corporations and it is imperative to understand the
economic diversity for an inclusive social environment.
Today we realize it takes an understanding of others and their beliefs
and values to truly gain respect and further our business and personal
relationships. Businesses are taking the time and money to train their
employees about the new culture that they will be submerged in. People
in the past failed because we did not take into account that companies’
attitudes and beliefs differed from ours. Good relations with other
international businesses can produce a lifelong bond that can create
great economic wealth for each country. The companies are not only
training their employees for this culture shock but are training their
families as well, because they know that without family support, this
venture will surely fail. The United States has taken strides to correct
their errors of the past and are continuing their efforts to produce
intercultural employees, and I hope this trend continues.
—Luis

Technological Imperative:
Nakayama and Martin have identified five aspect of technology related
to culture.
1. Increase in information
2. Increased contact with people who differ
3. Increased contact with people who are similar
4. Identity, culture and technology
5. Access to communication technology
The antagonism between Waltz and Thao was due to Thao’s attempt at
trying to steal Gran Torino. The value of the car is measured due to its
antiquity and technological qualities. This becomes the rising point of
conflict between them as they vie for its possession. The intervening
episodes end the conflict by Waltz’ self sacrifice of his physical self and
the giving over of his possessions to the people he hated most. His own
children are not given the possession of the car. In his will he leaves the
Gran Torino to Thao. This is the material aspect of technological
imperative at play. The increased contact between people who differ as
identified by Nakayama and Martin is at the heart of the last scene of the
movie.

Peace Imperative:
It is often believed that contact among people belonging to different
groups often leads to disharmony and conflict. One of the most pressing
needs of the people living in multicultural societies is to be more
inclusive of other people’s culture. The history of these conflict in
modern times is often traced back to colonial era of 1800’s. In the
context of the movie under discussion the conflict is due to a recent war
between US and Korea. Waltz’s resentment stems from his experiences
at war during this time. The role of political, religious and economic
contexts in tracing these differences is also important. A vivid
impression of this hatred can be observed in the following confrontation
between Kowalski and his Oriental neighbors.

Waltz: Did you hear me?

I said, get off my lawn now.

Sue Lor: Are you fucking crazy?

Go back in the house.

Waltz: Yeah. I blow a hole in your face,

and then I go in the house.
And I sleep like a baby.
You can count on that.
We used to stack fucks like you
five feet high in Korea...
...use you for sandbags.

“The bottom line seems to be this: Can individuals of different genders,

ages, ethnicities, races, languages, socioeconomic statuses, and cultural
backgrounds coexist on this planet?” (Martin & Nakayama 2004)

Ethical Imperative:
In a multicultural society one of the major issues arise due to different
ideas about ethics. “Ethics may be thought of as principles of conduct
that help govern the behavior of individuals and groups. These principles
often arise from communities’ consensus on what is good and bad
behavior” (Martin & Nakayama 2004). The subjectivity of the concept
of ethics is the cause of much of the antipathy which is seen between
people belonging from different cultures. What is considered right may
be abhorrent and disgusting for the other. In the movie Gran Torino the
lead character has no definite definition of ethics. He does not confirm to
a single acceptable idea of ethical conduct due to his experiences during
war. He is stripped off the primary ethical values in the eyes of an
objective viewer who is not biased in favor of any one definition of
ethical conduct belonging to culturally divergent society of the time. He
takes Thao to his personal barber to ‘man him’ up and to teach him how
to speak like a ‘man’. This exercise includes using imprecations and
strong language. For him these are the markers of growing up like a
man. The ethical values differ from person to person as well as from
culture to culture. The consensus can be reached by identifying four
views on ethics as described by Martin and Nakayama in their book
Intercultural Communication in Context:
1. The universalist perspective holds that fundamental notions of
right and wrong are universal and that cultural differences are
superficial.
2. The relativist position holds that any cultural behavior can only be
judged within the cultural context in which it occurs
3. A more moderate position assumes that people can evaluate culture
without succumbing to ethnocentrism (a tendency to think that
our own culture is superior to other cultures. This means that we
assume, subconsciously, that the way we do things is the only
way.).
4. . A recent suggestion is to employ a dialogical approach, which
stresses the importance of relationships and dialogues in
addressing ethical dilemmas
The solution to this dilemma is also provided. Self Reflexivity, as
observed in the later part of the movie, is one of the imperatives to be
more open to other people’s culture. The understanding about the
basic differences between cultures is an important step in this
direction. This can be achieved through increased social contact and
learning about the culture of people belonging to different cultural
groups.
Conclusion:
The movie does a good job at pointing out the issues at the heart of
intercultural communication. One of the major flaws in Waltz’s
personality is his inability to accept the diversity of people inhabiting
his neighborhood. He is deeply insensitive and insecure about culture
that is seen alien by him. This leads to his bitterness towards people
with whom he has no direct conflict of any kind. The eventual
resolution of this deadlock within his conscience gives a strong
message to the viewer about the importance of intercultural
communication. His salvation does not come from any supernatural
source but from within. The effort he puts in understanding that the
people around him who belong to different culture from his own are a
contrast to the world in which he was born and not in any way a
hostile community.