Grand Torino Analysis
The Grand Torino film is centered on
different cultures and how conflict is introduced once the members of each
culture faced encounters. It’s a story about a man named Walt that battles
through the conflict to find acceptance for a neighboring culture. He opens his
heart to new and different people and eventually lays his life down for them
out of love and hope for a better life. This analysis will address cultural
conflict, popular culture and an identifying character that are exhibited in
the film. It will also address conflict management that was used and any
recommendations for management that might have been used for a different
outcome.
Cultural Conflict
While there were many different cultural
conflicts that the film depicted, this analysis will mention three that include
a difference in cultural, religious conflict, and a value conflict. The first
of these is the cultural conflict. The scene was set within Walt’s neighbor’s
home. He is enter acting with a different culture and is unaware that some
common and well received behavior within his culture is accepted as a great
insult to this culture. Walt makes the mistake of patting a young girl on the
head as she passed by him. While this was a kind gesture from the communication
that he has experienced in the past, is was considered an insult from his
neighbors. The friendly neighbor explains to him that in her culture, they
believe that the soul lies within the head and it isn’t accepted to touch it. This
incompatibility between Walt’s culture and the neighbors defines the cultural
conflict.
The next conflict that will be mentioned
is based on religion. “Religious differences also can be an important source of
conflict. Religious beliefs are often a source of very strongly held views that
can cause religious conflict” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011). This was the case
between Walt and his family priest. It
was made very clear within the story that Walt did not agree with the religious
beliefs that the priest did. Walt struggled to believe in any thoughts of
heaven that the priest so wanted him embrace. They both used a direct approach to
conflict management when it came to working out this difference. Even though
the two were very forward or direct with their communication, it wasn’t until
Walt was faced with his own death that he entertained the beliefs of the
priest.
The final cultural conflict that I will
discuss is that of value. “Value conflict occurs when people have differing
ideologies” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011). Walt had been brought up in a time
when the value of helping and respecting your elders was installed in children.
There is a scene in the film where Walt is sitting on his front porch and the
lady across the street drops her grocery bags outside the car spilling
everywhere. Three young boys were walking by and do not help, keep walking past
only to stop for a brief moment to offer a vulgar gesture to the older woman.
This reveals another conflict with Walt as he struggles to understand why
children to being raised to act that way in this day and age.
Popular Culture
Popular culture is simply what may interest
or influence someone. The first of the two popular cultures that I noticed in
the film was the fashion style of the teen granddaughter of Walt’s. She wore a
shirt that revealed her stomach to church; she had multiple pricings including
her belly button and wore tight fitted shirts as well. It was very clear that Walt did not understand
this popular culture because it was distant from what he has known and he
viewed it as disrespectful.
The second popular culture was a rather
entertaining one to me. Walt and his barber attempt to teach the young neighbor
boy the popular speech that “real men use”. Walt takes him to the shop for a haircut
and shows him the example of when and how it’s important to call each other
names, talk about your boss, or about how much your wife complains all the
time. The young boy attempts to use this culture of speech later in the movie that
added a bit of comedy.
Identifying Character
If I had to pick one character that I
could identify with I would say that it would have to be Walt. Like Walt, I
have very strong opinions and have had difficulty embracing cultures in the
past but once I opened my heart and mind I learned the importance of embracing
everyone regardless of differences. I also feel like Walt in the way that he
teaches and guides the children next door. My husband and I have also tried to
keep an eye open for those in need and we have offered our time in mentoring
them to help guide them toward success instead of a path that might lead them
to destruction.
Overall
Views
Overall I did enjoy the film; I feel
that it sends a message of kindness and goodwill to viewers. Walt laid his life
down for people that he was in conflict with and lacks an understanding for
their culture. He opened his heart to them and loved them. He developed a connection
with them stronger than the one he had with his own family.
Some might argue that there was a lack
of communication between the neighboring family and the gang in an attempt to
manage the conflict. The gang proved to be a violent group which can make
conflict management much more difficult. It leaves you wondering at what point we
have to set the management attempts aside and defend ourselves. Walt felt that
the only way to save the one’s he loved was assure they were put away for a
very long time. An attempt to involve the police was made after the young girl
was attacked. For fear of what may happen next the family would not give
information to the police eliminating the possibility of an indirect approach to
the conflict management.
The young boy and girl both made very
direct attempts of telling the gang to leave them alone without a result. I do
believe that nothing could be more direct that when Walt beat the gang member
up and threaten death if the family wasn’t left alone. However, none of these
attempts were successful. I believe that the only other way would have been for
the family to relocate, if there were not a lack of funds. Trying to involve
the police would only result in short jail time frames that would rain retaliation
upon them once released. I do believe that it ended serving the best possible
result and Walt will be remembered as a hero saving the lives of a culture of
people he once killed fighting for our country.
Reference
Osteen,
P.J. (2011). Motivations, Values, and
Conflict Resolution: Integration of Personal and Professional Identities. Vol.
47 Issue 3, p423-444, 22p
Martin,
J.N. & Nakayama, T.K. (2011). Experiencing
Intercultural Communication. Fourth ed. pg.
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