我盛大的希腊婚礼论文

跨文化交际课程学期论文
Analysis cultural differences of My Big Fat Greek Wedding
学生姓名:岳良燕
学生学号:201207050201422
学生班级:2012-2
学科专业:英语
指导老师:赵燕
学期学年:2015-2016
所在学院:语言文化学院
2015/5/30
摘要
《我盛大的希腊婚礼》是一个典型的跨文化电影,讲述的是希腊裔美国女孩图菈同非希腊裔的美国男友伊恩冲破重重阻碍,最后举行盛大的希腊婚礼的爱情喜剧。

影片全方位地再现了希腊裔美国移民的生活,以幽默的手法反映了希腊文化与美国文化的冲突。

本文将从民族爱国主义,家庭传统观念,婚礼文化,和接受不同文化的态度四个方面来阐述美国和希腊文化的差异。

关键词：文化差异；民族爱国主义；家庭传统观念；婚礼文化；态度；
abstract
My big fat Greek wedding is a typical cross-cultural film, tells the story of the Greek American girl with non Greek American boyfriend Ian to break through the obstacles, and finally held a big fat Greek wedding romantic comedy. The film is a full range of the life of Greek American immigrants, with a sense of humor reflects the conflicts between Greek culture and American culture. This article will explain the differences between the American and Greek culture from four aspects: the national patriotism, family tradition, wedding customs, and the attitudes of different cultures.
Key words: cultural differences; national patriotism; family tradition; cultural of wedding; attitude;
Analysis cultural differences of My Big Fat Greek Wedding The movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a talk about lives of Greek American girl who Tula lives in a large and traditional Greek family, Tula is a thirty years old girl and her family hopes she “marry a Greek boy, make Greek babies, and feed everyone un til the day she dies.” However, to everyone surprise, Tula falls in love with Ian who an American man. they two were from different backgrounds, Tula lived in a big Greek family, they moved to American in the second world war. The family consisted of Tula’s parents, her brother, sister and a great numbers of relatives is big and loud. Ian is from an American family, he is the only child in the family which is in quiet and harmonious atmosphere. Ian in order to be accepted by Tula’s family of deep-rooted the Greek custom, it is no doubt that they has stood a lot of tests. Finally Ian and Tula entered the marriage hall through unremitting efforts, and they held a grand unprecedented "Greek wedding." In fact, The film mainly talks about the huge cultural differences between the United States and Greece, then from the "national plot", "family tradition", “wedding custom”“differences attitude” of the four aspects of the analysis of the cultural differences between Greece and the United States.
First, cultural differences in national plot:
Tula’s father is pride of Greek culture extremely distinct performance in the film. In the first place in the front yard of the house, their house is crammed with Greek statue and large cylindrical, it likes the museum display. Moreover, her family's garage is painted in the Greek flag. In the outside, the father of Tula to language is also emphasized the importance of contribution to human civilization. He often hung on word of mouth is" give me any a word of English, I can give you to find out the Greek root ". In addition, he feels that the Greek food to the Greek culture is also very important. Meat, especially lamb has important significance to the understanding of Greek culture. There is also a requirement for the girl that pride performance of the Greek cultural: " marry a Greek boy, make Greek babies”.
Patriotism is also an important topic in Tula family. Her father always says "you should to be Greeks proud" or "only two kinds of people in the world, the Greeks and wants to be the Greek people". And they will celebrate various Greek festival at home
with the big family, at the same time religion is also very respect of Greece. When they learned that the Ian do not believe the Greek religion, they will not accept him, until he was converted belief to allow him to marry Tula. In the film Tula and Ian sends children to Greece elementary school lens also suggests that pride of Greek culture on the next generation.
Second, cultural differences in family tradition:
On the one hand, it is diet differences in different family. In the film Tula go to school with breakfast of eggplant with minced meat when she is a children, and American children eat a sandwich; In addition, Tula and Ian determine relationship, at the first time to have a meal with Ian’s family, the food very simple, just coffee and cheese cake. Cool atmosphere, only four people around the table to eat, no relatives, no hug and a kiss. But Ian’s parents is invited to Tula’s family eat dinner, unexpectedly, she mother invited the person of whole family. They eat together and very busy and happy. And the cause of the difference is the difference between the historical and religious factors, it leads to the differences in diet culture and habits. The Greek culture has a long history of nationality and religion deeply. So the Greeks advocating national unity and hope that the family is big. And as a result of the influence of religious culture, Greek food types are very rich, that's why the Greeks often hold parties, not only for dinner but for the feelings of the communication between each other. And the United States is a country which is full of the people of the world, the culture and customs of different countries is a big difference, each has a unique eating habits. So, different races and different families of Americans is not a strong cohesion, but they has strong independence, so diet is more delicate.
On the other hand, they has differences family concept. In the film, when Tula talking about her own family personnel, "I come from Greece, I have 27 Cousins, and relatives, my family is big and noisy and everyone in other people's business. We know is the Greek, because the Greeks only marry Greeks". But in Ian’s home only with his parents. On either side of their wedding, the wedding is in stark contrast. This suggests that the Greek concept of family is very strong, the family is not only refers to a person at the core of the family, but the whole family.
Third, cultural of wedding:
This article from the m ovie "my big fat Greek wedding” in the view of marriage customs of the Greeks, summarizes the characteristics of marriage life, reveals the prevalent among the Greek with religious color, full of secular charm and reflect the local characteristics of the wedding.
In Greece, affects both family wedding, but the wedding preparation is by a woman in charge, as small as the bridal gowns, to held a grand wedding banquet, in China or other countries, the husband family plays an important role in the wedding preparation. Bridal gowns When the bride dressed in wedding dress for a wedding ceremony and the reception of the dress. Marriage gauze can refer to the wearing apparel accessories, including the veil, bouquet. The color of the dress style as a result of each country's culture, religion, etc. In the movie Tula wearing a white wedding dress is very exquisite, wear in the outside white dress must by unmarried girls. On the wedding day, the bride good girlfriend in advance to the bride's family to help, because they helped put on the dress, and when must constantly chanting and wedding related folk songs. Also godfather to the bride and groom at the wedding wearing a wreath, respectively, the wreath has a white and gold, and by the opening of the four seasons of flowers, or wrapped in gold or silver as a symbol of love in the branches and woven cane. From behind looks beautiful and romantic, seems to be a symbol of the two men were closely linked together.
Greece's new couple only in a church hold wedding, because only in a church hold wedding is admitted to a law. Orthodox church has always been the Greek people as a state religion, many young people still stick to witness the sacred moment in their church, Tula’s home as well. In addition, because the Tula wedding a nd relatives gathered, they all busy for the wedding of preparation. Gaston asked figure whether to invite Mary. Tula said: "I don't know them. Sister,” Tina answered: “why don't please, they are my in-laws.” Thus it can be seen in the eyes of the Greeks, marrying is not individual behavior, at least for the rise and fall between the two families, affects the interests of many people. Finally when they enter the palace, the Greek guests frequently to Tula and Ian spit on, maybe it says no respect in other
countries, but in the Greek said prayers and to ward off bad luck.
Last, differences attitudes in differences cultural:
In the new cultural context, people adapt to different cultural strategy usually has four kinds: assimilation, isolated and marginalized and fusion. In the film, Tula’s father as far as possible to keep the Greek culture is not influenced by American culture. He used to cut off action include: Greek houses, the Greek flag painted on the door to the garage, the hall is pat according to the temple of cylinder; Let children learn Greek, Greek values. A typical example is the Tula wants to learn the computer, even though she is thirty years old at that time, when she timidly solicit opinions from the father, and Tula wants to go work in her aun t’s travel agency, her father voiced strong opposition from the start, objection to people in distress situation. Father said the city has a lot of drug traffickers, fearing Tula involved. Visible, as a Lord of the Tula of the father to the society is full of anxiety and fear of the unknown. In comparison when Ian parents learned that his son is dating a Greek girl, they has neither surprised nor strong interests to get to know each other, not playing too much attention to this matter. From Ian and Tula fells in love, and marriage, to the wedding venue, even convert to Greek orthodox this big things in life are Ian own decide, without the consent of their parents, Ian’s parents do not have any intervention. They are quietly accept the Tula of Greek girl. Later, in Tula’s home party although they make feature, they didn't show any disgust and rejection. Finally in the wedding banquet, they take part in them, they begins to dance with joy and happy. Conclusion
Although film reflects the huge cultural differences between Greece and the United States, but a lot of details in that the two kinds of culture is gradually converge. Tula is from the locked Greece family bravely go out. The Tula not only successfully win the happiness, but also greatly encouraged the other members of the family, including the Tula’s brother Nick. And Ian do not hesitate to change beliefs, convert to orthodox, active melt of Greek culture. Visible, the two cultures to fusion, can't completely on weak cultures concession and compromise, but on both sides positive efforts and cooperation. Finally in the wedding banquet, Tula’s father words about
apples and oranges, though that burst into laughter at the time, but enjoying them, let a person feel warm. So whatever what is the difference of the background, what's the difference of religious belief, we are fused end up in the world because we are lived the same earth, the cultural differences consists in early human brilliant civilization, it shouldn't be our communication obstacles, and it should be to our mutual understanding and deepen friendship bridge. At the same time, the film also truly reflects the confusion faced by the second generation of immigrants in the United States, stick to the previous generation inheritance of national culture, and fully accept American culture, or the balance line in two cultures go? But in any case, as the film's end suggested that two kinds of culture no matter how big differences, to fusion is inevitable trendy.
References
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[J] 文艺生活·文艺理论2011（3）
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