If you stand up close to a painting and attempt to assess it by only the dots and blurred brush strokes, you will not understand the painting as a whole. The way in which we view cultural dynamics is very similar. Inaccurately, most people calculate their assumptions based on their experiences and ethnocentric views, or the brush strokes and blurred lines right in front of them.
One way to increase one’s worldview is by seeking to understand the cultural dynamics of other people groups through the act of taking a few steps backwards. The magnificence of the masterpiece becomes clearer with each step you take backwards from the painting. Although, at a glance any painting remains unclear until each of a few important cultural factors are taken into consideration.
As you would with a painting, while studying cultural dynamics relative to any task always take note of these key factors:
- Language
- Religion
- Cultural Norms
- Taboos
- Social Interactions
There is more than one way to crack an egg…
While in Costa Rica, I was surprised to see a familiar event take place right in front of me. A gentlemen got a flat tire. The North Americans that were with me tried everything they could to help this guy change the tire. They had no luck. The rainy environment and soft ground made it almost impossible to change the tire the way in which the North Americans wanted to do it.
Finally a few local gentlemen came out of their houses to see if they could help out. These men grabbed large rocks and started to lift the vehicle up by putting the rocks under the car one at a time. The Americans in the background watched with amazement and doubt as these men worked to address the issue.
It worked. The solution that had seemed an archaic way of changing the tire was the only solution to work in the environment at hand. This moment in time made me realize there are many ways to crack an egg. The solution to any issue depends on the environment and other cultural factors at hand.
How many times have we gone throughout life thinking that our way is the best way only to find out that there are other ways to do it? Additionally, how many times have we made the decision to allow our arrogance to cloud the brilliant ideas of those who see the situation, or painting ,from a different perspective?
[Tweet “There is more than one way to crack an egg…”]Understanding the strokes to see the bigger picture…
If one wants to understand cultural dynamics, then it is important to step outside of one’s comfort zone, or take a step forward or backwards from the picture. This is not the easiest thing to do, which is why so many people have issues with learning languages and adapting to new places.
One must become like a child and make the mistakes of a child in order to learn the language and fit in with a new culture. Children speak no matter what. When a child speaks, mistakes are nearly always made. Older people state that they can’t learn a new language because they’re too old. It is true that age is an issue when learning a new language and culture; however, the issue is not age. The issue is the inability to become a child willing to learn again.
Mistakes are going to happen. Learning language and cultural dynamics go hand in hand, because both are required to see the beauty of a culture just as both an up close view and viewing a painting from further away are required to appreciate the painting as a whole.
Humility is critical in understanding culture. It is hard at first. With time we take a few steps backwards. At the end of the learning experience, it is amazing to see the world from a different point of view.
