Exercise 8

“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"

 

http://www.outsourcedthemovie.com/Clips/ms_educlips.html

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	office manager
High-context culture	Puro	asking to go another place
Individualism	Todd	travel to India alone
Collectivism	Indians	holy festival
Low power distance	Todd	saying no
High power distance	Aisha	take place Todd when he late
Uncertainty tolerance	Antiji	asking Todd question
Uncertainty avoidance	Todd	auntie Js house
Task orientation	Todd	India office
Social orientation	Puro	giving Todd healthy food

 

 

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?

 He struggled trying to walk through the huge crowed at the airport, which was an abnormal scene for him. Then he got annoyed by all the taxi drivers around him, who were fighting over him

2. When a friendly traveler helps him get on the train, what does he tell him to do?
How could this advice apply to what an exchange student has to do?

He advised him to jump into the train

4. As any exchange student, he has a lot of experiences trying new food. His first
encounter is with an iced drink. What happens?

He got stomach ache, and got sick because of the polluted water used in the iced drink

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?

“That means like a nice guy”

7. Todd wants to check in to a hotel. But Puro insists he come to a boarding house.
What is the reason he gives Todd?

That he will feel lonely if he stays by himself in the hotel.


9. During his first conversation with Aunti Ji he makes two big mistakes. What are
they?

He ate with his left hand which considered not clean in india and he placed the same hand he ate with back in the food

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?

She poured the tea for him and even put sugar just the way they do.

14. What doesn't Todd understand about the Indians' response to the "cattle brand"?

He was talking about it in an insensitive way without knowing how sensitive and holy cows are in India

15. What is Todd's reaction to "You need to learn about India"? What stage of culture
shock might it represent?

He was shocked and didn’t understand why Aysha said that. High-context culture

16. He calls home several times. Why? What stage of culture shock might provoke
calls home?

Because he is homesick.