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East Meets West in 'BEEF': A Hofstede-Inspired Analysis of Sino-American Cultural Dimensions

Author(s)

Guansu Wang1,2,*, Jianing Mai1, Bingbing Wei1

Affiliation(s)

1School of Humanities, Zhuhai College of Science and Technology, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China 2Asia-Europe Institute Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia *Corresponding Author.

Abstract

This study delves into the cultural interactions and divergences between China and the United States as portrayed in the American television series "Beef" Leveraging dialogues from the series, this research employs textual analysis and word cloud methodologies to discern the distinct cultural traits and barriers to cultural integration between Eastern and Western paradigms. Anchored in Hofstede’s cultural dimensions model, the analysis examines key dimensions including power distance, individualism versus collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance. The objective is to map out how these cultural dimensions manifest within the series and mirror broader intercultural interactions and misunderstandings. The findings offer insights into the complexities of cross-cultural communication and provide a basis for enhancing dialogue and understanding between diverse cultural groups. By exploring the portrayal of cultural differences in media, this paper contributes to academic discussions on cultural globalization and offers practical implications for cross-cultural engagements in global settings.

Keywords

Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Model; Cross Culture; Sino-American American Drama; “BEEF”

References

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