电影《刮痧》看中美文化价值观差异

菜单

Abstract The movie Guasha Treatment is about a Chinese families’ difficult life in the United States because of cultural differences. Guasha Treatment is a Chinese folklore traditional therapy for thousands of years. However, in the United States, it is seen as evidence of child abuse. This thesis is based on the studies of cultural values differences. It explores differences in both American and Chinese cultural values from the perspective of family, friends, and “face” problem. And it shows the main reasons for cultural values differences resulting from different histories, religions and education. In order to communicate fluently with other countries, the author thinks it is important to understand the cultural values differences and enhance people’s awareness and capability of cross-cultural communication.56969

Keywords: Guasha Treatment; Chinese and American cultural values; differences

摘要电影《刮痧》描述一个中国家庭由于中美文化差异造成的的困难生活。几千年的中医疗法刮痧，但在美国却被认为是虐待儿童的证据。本文以文化价值观差异为基础，从家庭，朋友观，中国人的“面子”问题三方面探讨中西文化价值观差异，着重研究造成中美文化价值观差异的主要原因，即历史，宗教，教育方面的差异。笔者认为,要想与来自不同文化的人们顺利地进行交流，就必须熟悉和了解其文化价值观差异，提高跨文化交际的意识和能力。

毕业论文关键词：《刮痧》；中美文化价值观；差异

Contents

1. Introduction １

2. Literature Review １

3. Cultural Values Differences in Guasha Treatment ２

3.1 Different Ideals about Friendship ２

3.2 Different Views on Families ４

3.3 Different Face Problems ５

4. Reasons for Values Difference in Chinese and American Culture ５

4.1 Influence from History ５

4.2 Influence from Religions ６

4.3 Influence from Education ７

5. Approach to Bridging Cultural Values Differences ９

6. Conclusion １０

Works Cited １２

1. Introduction

As one of the most popular films released in 2001, Guasha Treatment made the cultural differences between China and America a hot topic because of the sharp conflicts reflected in the film. The film tells the story about a young couple— Xu Datong and Jian Ning— who immigrated to Middle America, and they have a lovely son. They are wrong accused of child abuse owing to American miscomprehension of Guasha Treatment—an ancient oriental practice that releases toxins from the body by scraping the skin at relevant acupuncture points. Later, Datong suffered a lot. He was abandoned by his best friend and lost his job. He was forced to separate from his wife and his son. And he had to send his old father back to China who had come to America and intended to enjoy a good life with him. All of those clashes were attributed to this different cultural value.

And this paper discusses the cultural value differences between China and America based on the film Guasha Treatment.

Guasha Treatment is a Chinese folklore for thousands of Chinese traditional therapies. With a small and hard plate dipped in water or oil scraping the patient’s chest, back, etc, local skin congests and it reduces internal inflammation. Other diseases, like heat stroke, acute enteritis, food poisoning can be treated by it. But in the United States, especially in the conservative and the stubborn residents, it is not accepted by Americans. United States do not have time and interest to understand the cultural roots of the other side of the planet: they only act according to their own judgment. For example, when Dennis hit the supervisor’s children in the game, Datong asked his son to apologize, but the son was unwilling to do that, to educate his son and show respect to the boss and his family, so he slapped his son. He believed this was to give face to the boss. However, Americans categorically insisted: playing the children is the devil, for the respect of others, abusing the children is unreasonable. Many Americans accept this life credo: Every man is for himself and God is for all of us. Every man is the architect of his own fortune.