Movie Synopsis
Toula is a mousy, Greek-American woman who still lives with her family. She works as a Hostess for the family restaurant. Toula is a “late bloomer” who goes through a physical and educational transformation at age 30. Toula then starts working for her aunt’s travel agency. At the travel agency, she meets a non-Greek, Anglo-American and falls in love.
Ian is a handsome Anglo-American man. Ian first notices Toula at her family’s Greek restaurant. The second time, Ian meets Toula at her aunt’s travel agency. Ian goes in to chat with Toula. Ian asks Toula for a date. After dating for a while, they fall in love, but then the family finds out. Ian meets the family.
Toula’s mom and dad own a Greek restaurant. Mom and dad expect Toula to marry a “good Greek boy, and have lots of Greek babies”. Athena is an older sister. Athena has always been “perfect,” and has married a “good Greek boy”. Athena has had lots of babies. Nick is Toula’s younger brother. Nick cooks for the family restaurant. Nick intends to marry a “good Greek girl” and have lots of Greek babies someday. Voula is Toula’s aunt. Niki is the daughter of the aunt and owns a travel agency, for whom Toula eventually becomes an agent.
Which of the following items on the list examples of visible culture? Which of the following items on the list are examples of hidden culture?
Class Exercise
| 1. facial expressions2. religious beliefs3. religious rituals
4. importance of time 5. paintings 6. values 7. literature 8. child-raising beliefs 9. ideas about leadership 10. gestures 11. holiday customs 12. ideas about fairness 13. ideas about friendship |
14. ideas about modesty15. foods16. eating habits
17. understanding of the natural world 18. concept of self 19. the importance of work 20. concept of beauty 21. music 22. styles of dress 23. general world view 24. concept of personal space 25. rules of social etiquette 26. housing |
Group Exercise
Group 1) Compare and contrast Toula’s and Ian’s family in the areas of visible culture.
Group 2) Compare and contrast Toula’s and Ian’s family in the areas of hidden culture.
Group 3) Compare and contrast the communication style of Toula’s and Ian’s family. Communication style areas include direct vs. indirect, high context vs. low context, linear vs. circular, attached vs. detached, concrete vs. abstract, levels of self-reflection, levels of self-disclosure, language usage, non-verbal communication and how their cultures deal with conflict.
Group 4) My Big Fat Greek Wedding compares Greek Americans and Anglo-Americans. Use Hofstede’s Framework to answer the following questions: 1) Which group shows more individualism/collectivism? 2) Which group has higher power distance? 3) Which group shows higher long-term orientation? 4) Which group has higher uncertainty avoidance? 5) Which group is more masculine/feminine?
