权力距离视角下中美文化的比较分析-以李安的电影为例_英语论文

The Comparison of Power Distance between Chinese and American Cultures——A Case Study of the Ang Lee’s Movies

摘要

霍夫斯泰德文化维度理论是由荷兰心理学家吉尔特·霍夫斯泰德提出的用来衡量不同国家文化之间差异的一个框架，它被学者们广泛地应用于跨文化交际和冲突的分析。在这个理论中，他将不同文化间的差异归纳为六个基本的文化价值观维度，权力距离、个人主义和集体主义、不确定性的规避、男性化和女性化、长期取向和短期取向以及自身放纵和约束。作为霍夫斯泰德文化维度理论的一个组成部分，权力距离是衡量社会、组织或者机构中掌握权力较少的那部分成员对权力分配不平等的接受程度。

中国文化和美国文化分别被认为是东西方文化的典型代表，在某种程度上，这两者的差异同样体现在权力距离上。中国是一个高权利距离的国家，它的权力距离指数高达80, 而美国是一个权力距离的国家，它的权力距离指数只有中国的一半。

本文将立足权力距离，从李安导演的电影《推手》和《喜宴》出发，来分析中美文化存在的差异。《推手》和《喜宴》中每个人的扮演的角色和思想是反映中美文化差异的代表。接着，本文将进一步从经济、思想和政治方面三个方面综合探讨影响中美形成不同权力距离的原因。通过分析电影的，然后进一步探讨产生高低权益距离的原因，从而对中美文化差异有更深入的理解。

关键词：权力距离； 霍夫斯泰德文化维度理论；刮痧；喜宴

Abstract 

Hofstede, the famous social psychologist, developed the cultural dimensions theory, used widely as a crucial framework for cross-cultural communication. His theory describes six dimensions of culture, which are power distance, individualism vs collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs femininity, short-term vs long-term orientation, and indulgence vs self-restraint. Power distance, one branch of Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, measures the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions accept and expect that power is distributed unequally.

Chinese culture and American culture are respectively regarded as the typical representatives of eastern and western cultures. Also, these two cultures can be manifested in terms of power distance. China is a high power distance country sharing 80 power distance index, while the USA is a low power distance country enjoying 40 on the cultural scale of Hofstede’s analysis.

Based on power distance, this paper will compare the differences between China and America through analyzing the films of Pushing Hands and The Wedding Banquet. Both these two films, the “Father Knows Best” trilogy, are directed by Ang Lee, each of them deals with conflicts between the traditional Chinese culture and American culture. Furthermore, the factors, which influence power distance, came into being respectively in China and America will be explored from three directions, and they are agriculture civilization vs business civilization, Confucian ethics vs Christian ethics, and official civilization vs citizen civilization. By analyzing the reasons of different power distance index, readers will have a better understanding of cultural differences.

Keywords: Power Distance; Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory; Pushing Hands; The Wedding Banquet

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Research Background and Significance 1

1.2 Literature Review 1

1.3 Methodology 3

2. Theoretical Framework 4

2.1 General Introduction to Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory 4

2.2 Detailed Description of Power Distance Index 4

3. The Films and the Power Distance Theory 5

3.1 The Main Content of Pushing Hands 5

3.2 The Main Content of The Wedding Banquet 5

3.3 Detailed Description of the Power Distance in the Films 6

3.3.1 Details Showing High Power Distance 6

3.3.2 Details Showing Low Power Distance 7

4. Reasons of Different Degrees of Power Distance 8

4.1 Agriculture Civilization & Business Civilization 8

4.2Confucian Ethics & Christian Ethics 9

4.3 Official Civilization & Citizen Civilization 11

5. Conclusion and Suggestions 12

References 14