Great Culture difference between China and America
After I saw the film Guasha, I was astonished by the great different culture between China and America. In fact, we should find many interesting things in the conflict of these two nations.
In Xu Datong’s family, his son Dennis is totally accepted the American culture. Datong and his wife know American rules and their way of thinking, but the still keep many Chinese habitats and Chinese thoughts. Datong’s father, however, is totally a Chinese. He didn’t know American rules at all even he is profound in China.
We can see that after Dennis fight with the son of Datong’s boss, Datong hit Dennis. It’s totally a Chinese’s way. American don’t hit their child or they think it’s a kind of mistreat. Obviously, this action became one the proof that Datong mistreated Dennis when they were in the court. John acknowledged that Datong used to hit Dennis. He told truth but Datong was crazy about John “betrayed” him. Here is another aspect. In Chinese’s mind, friends should always help him even tell lie for him, while Americans distinct friendship and justice clearly. They wouldn’t tell lie in the court. After Datong lost, he vented his angry on John and want to resign for his self-respect. Because Chinese always treat “face” very important. Next the most interesting conflict appeared, Datong and John argued about why he hit Dennis. Datong said that he hit Dennis to show his respect to John, to save his face. John confused and cried what kind of twisted Chinese logic! Maybe it’s the most different thing between Chinese and American which Americans would never realize.
Another point is in the court, Datong called John to be his lawyer. John thought it’s not comfortable because he is an interlecture property lawyer. He suggested Datong to find a qualified one. But Datong said John is his best friend and best lawyer, he should know how Datong love his son and John should surely help him. Here is one point. When somebody in the trouble, Chinese always find friends first whether he is professional or not. Friends would certainly help him. But Americans think that it’s better to find a stranger who can truly help him, rather than a good friend but can’t help him. Another point is after John told Datong he was not a family lawyer, but an interlecture property lawyer, Datong said that Dennis was his best creation, so it’s in John’s field. Actually, many Chinese hold the thought that child is parents’ property. They created their children and give birth to their children, so they can do everything to him, even hit them. However, Americans do not think so. From their perspective, children are equal to adults. They are not parents’ property. So they would never say the same thing as Datong.
There are countless aspects show the difference between Chinese and American, such as logic, habitat, the way of thinking and act. We can see a lot of typical examples in Guasha. As a English major, I should learn more about intercultural communication between Chinese and American. Acceptance of their logic is a important way to learn English.
