This essay is going to analyze the cultural conflicts the leading character suffered, and research the reflections of cultural conflicts。 Then figure out the differences between the U。S and Indian in the aspects of cultural background, customs, ideology and so on。 After that, we will talk about John W。 Berry’s theory about cultural adaptation and cultural identity reflected by this movie。

2。 Cultural Backgrounds of India and America

2。1 Cultural background of India

India is one of the countries which affected deeply by religions。 Religion plays the most important and dominant role in Indian society。 India has been called “museum of religions”。 The most important religion in India is Hinduism。 There are about 83% Indian people believe in Hinduism。 Hinduism ascends from 16th B。C。 when Aryans founded Brahmanism。 At around 8th A。D。 Sankara absorbed some doctrine from Buddhism and Jainism, and developed Brahmanism into Hinduism。 In the period of Delhi Sultanates, Islam was introduced into India。 India is one of the birthplaces of the greatest religions of the world, until nowadays, most Indian people believe in religions。 Religion is closely associated with Indian society, policy and culture, it goes deep into every aspect of people’s daily lives。 People believe in religions and do things abide by doctrines。 来自优I尔Y论S文C网WWw.YoueRw.com 加QQ7520~18766

Hinduism pides people into four castes: Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra。 Brahman is at the top of these four castes, while Sudra ranks the last。 Apart from these four castes, Dalit is another category which means people of a lower social status than common people。 Under this caste system, women has low social status, child marriage is supported, and widows’ lives are miserable。 Although India has developed their economy and has made laws against discrimination and hierarchy, caste system still plays an important role in nowadays Indian society。

2。2 Cultural background of America

Religion is an important part of American culture。 Many religious beliefs have thrived in the United States。 Most Americans believe in Christianity, and religion plays an important role in American society。 In the history, the U。S。 has always been labeled by religious pluralism and multiplicity, beginning with many native beliefs of the time before colony。 In colonial times, Roman Catholics and mainstream American protestants and Americans arrived from Europe。 Eastern Orthodoxy presented after the Russian colonized Alaska。 Various Protestants who disagreed with it greatly persified the religious landscape。 In the 18th century, deism found support from American upper classes and thinkers。 The Episcopal church (USA) came into being in the American Revolution。 New Protestant branches like Adventism emerged。 In the beginning of 1990s, the religious share of Christians decreased because of secularization, while Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and another religions are spreading。 Protestantism, historically dominant, ended to be the religious category of the majority in the early 2010s。 Most of Americans see themselves as Christians, while about 1/4 of them claim no religious affiliation。

3。 Cultural Conflicts and Adaptation 

3。1 The definition of cultural conflict

Culture conflict is the state of discord caused by the actual or perceives opposition of needs, values and interests due to cultural differences。

3。2 Conflicts between Indian culture and American culture

3。2。1Foods论文网

 When it comes to Indian food, you may bring about curry and spice。 Indian food has various categories and different tastes, curry is just one of them and the usage of spice is depend on people’s preference。 There are differences between India itself, because different diets represent different history of India, for example, northern Indian prefer to eat a kind of crusty pancake。 Most Indian are vegetarians, some strict vegetarians don’t even eat any meat。 They are keen on milk and tea, which is shown at the beginning of this film, Shashi was preparing spice tea for her families。 Indian loves sweet food, there’s a saying goes。 “sweet India”。 (46-48) Shashi was very good at making a traditional Indian dessert, ladu, in this film, which was very popular among her American friends。 And she made it on her niece’s wedding to give away to the guests。