“Outsourced” - the
movie study guide
You are going to watch and create a reflection on the film
"Outsourced".
These questions will help you. If you miss watching the film in
class, you may get a copy from the library and watch it at home. Here are some
clips from "Outsourced"
Cultural Dimensions
in Outsourced
As you watch the film, answer the questions and write down any
examples of different cultural dimensions. This will help you with
your reflection.
Cultural Dimension
|
Character
Todd, Puro, Aisha or other
|
Outsourced Scene
or Circumstance
|
Low-context culture
|
Dave
|
Calling Todd
|
High-context culture
|
|
|
Individualism
|
Todd
|
He prefers to stay in
the hotel.
|
Collectivism
|
Puro
|
He was telling Todd to
stay with auntie Ji .
|
Low power distance
|
|
|
High power distance
|
Puro
|
|
Uncertainty tolerance
|
|
|
Uncertainty avoidance
|
|
|
Task orientation
|
|
|
Social orientation
|
Aisha
|
When she writes the
novel “Holiday in Goa”.
|
Reflection
Create a reflection about the movie Outsourced using the PowerPoint
I give you. Show that you really understand the above cultural concepts.
1. As soon as Todd arrives, he experiences the discomfort of
being disoriented in a
strange new place. What happens at the airport?
2. When a friendly traveler helps him get on the train, what
does he tell him to do?
The
traveler advised him that he needs to leap out to the train inorder for him to
get in the train amongst the crowded transporters.
3. When
he gets on the train, he cannot find an empty seat. How is this problem
solved for him? How might this be a cultural solution?
4. As any exchange student, he has a lot of experiences trying
new food. His first
encounter is with an iced drink. What happens?
5. First encounters with a culture can be shocking – Todd sees
crowded streets with
cows, noise, and a man urinating in the street. But how does his
host describe the
city?
6. Even though the host Puro speaks English, Todd uses American
slang a lot
without thinking. So as not to insult Puro, what does he say the
meaning of
Schmuck is?
To not
insult Puro’s feelings, Todd told him that Schmuck means “kind guy or nice guy”
even if it’s the opposite of the meaning.
7. Todd wants to check in to a hotel. But Puro insists he comes
to a boarding house.
What is the reason he gives Todd?
Puro
suggest to Todd that he will feel Isolated and insolitary if he stays on that
hotel.
8. As soon as they meet, Aunti Ji starts asking very intimate
questions that
Americans who have just met would never ask. What kind of things
does she ask?
Auntie Ji
asked Todd, like how much is he compensated for his job, if he is conjugal, and
what is his father occupation.
9. During his first conversation with Aunti Ji he makes two big
mistakes. What are
they?
His
mistakes is that his is eating by his left hand and it’s against their customs
thinking
10. The Golden Rule says do unto others as you would have them
do unto you. That
means his Indian hosts and friends are trying to make him
comfortable the way
they would be comfortable. How does this apply when the servant
is preparing
tea for Todd?
11. How does Todd figure out why one does not eat food with the
left hand?
12. What is ethnocentric about his statement "You need to
learn about America"?
The ethnocentrism in his statement is like he is evaluating other peoples and cultures according
to the standards of his own culture in America.
13. Why do they disagree on how a "native" speaks
English?
14. What doesn't Todd understand about the Indians' response to
the "cattle brand"?
15.
What is Todd's reaction to "You need to learn about India"? What
stage of culture
shock might it represent?
He has a
sentiment of feeling morose and cheerless.
16. He calls home several times. Why? What stage of culture
shock might provoke
calls home?
17. What mistakes in language usage are represented in the
recording of the call about
"a rubber"?
18. Why is he so eager to go to McDonnells?
As soon as
Todd saw the advertisement thinking it was McDonalds
and eager to eat a cheeseburger and he ended up at “McDonnells”.
19. Todd doesn't understand bargaining. How does the Indian
respond to this?
20. What does I.N.D.I.A. stand for?
“I Never Do
It Again”
21. What advise does his fellow American have for him?
22. When Todd develops the incentive system, he has begun to
adapt to India. How
has he adapted?
23. When he looks at the cow in the office the second time, why
is his reaction so
different?
Because Todd already adapted the Hindu culture within him.
24. Explain the difference between American and Indian cultures
when Todd and
Puro discuss how often he visits his family and why he doesn't
live with them.
25. What cultural values are involved in the exchange between
Aunti Ji and Todd
about ironing his underwear?
26. How well does Todd handle himself when he is invited over
the wall to an Indian
home for a meal?
27. In what ways does he show he has adapted?
28. When the call center floods and they are shut down, Todd
finds an "Indian"
solution. What is it?
29. When Todd comes home, there are several signs that his
Indian experience has
influenced him. Name three ways he has become more
"Indian".
-Florida Study Guide
Ahmed Mohamed Al Jefri - H00224953 - CEB
