#cuingermany

Pick a concept from the chapter 14 reading on cross cultural communication and PR that you have seen exemplified during our time here so far. Perhaps at a cafe you’ve witnessed differences in how space is used (Proxemics). Maybe on a weekend trip you’ve seen ways that people from some countries view time differently than we tend to (Chronemics). Or perhaps you have seen a really clever ad that bridges cultural/linguistic boundaries. Post a photo or video, and explain how it illustrates the concept you choose.

Among the many differences between American and German cultures is out attitude towards food and drink. According to Guth, “For many public relations practitioners, cuisine is the reward for mastering the subtleties of cross cultural communication” (Guth, 434). I have included a picture of McDonalds as a sort of connection between the two cultures, but from here the attitudes change drastically. The German diet is typically full of very heavy and hearty foods designed to fill you up and make you “fat and happy”, while in America the current trend is healthy, vegan, and light food options. In Germany, a typical snack is something like bratwurst or currywurst, which in my experience are always served with fries and mayo; all of which are not super healthy options. (The entire thing is kind of ironic because the level of obesity in America far surpasses that of any other country when our focus is on healthy foods). Although the contents of our diets are extremely different, the real difference comes with portion size, and the manner in which our food is served.

In America, everything is gigantic, while in Germany the opposite is true. When I visited McDonalds I ordered an chicken sandwich meal where I received my sandwich, fries, and a drink. Typically, at an American McDonalds the sheer amount of french fries that comes with a meal is enough to feed two people, but in Germany the fries that came with a meal are equivalent to the American size small, the perfect amount to supplement the meal. This remains pretty standard when it comes to sizing of food and drinks in Germany, everything is much smaller/ promotional to what we should actually be eating. When I go to a restaurant I don’t feel like I need to take a to-go box every-time I have a meal. `

Another trend I have noticed is the fact that in Germany, ice is not typically included in drinks unless you order a cocktail. This is a huge contrast to America because most of the times when you order a drink half of it is actually ice. Maybe this is why we offer free refills, and they don’t? When I ordered my drink at McDonalds I expected a super cold and refreshing cola with a bunch of crunchy ice at the bottom, but the ice in my drink melted before I could even finish my drink.

Another slight cultural difference is that here in Germany you have to pay for every single thing you want, this includes water and condiments. Although it doesn’t seem like a big thing it is definitely something I have noticed. In America if we go to Chickfila and ask for fifteen ranches, twelve water refills, and a couple of mints it will not cost us a thing, but here in Germany I am pretty sure I would have to take out a small loan to have more than two bottles of water at dinner.

As a white, Christian, man in the US, I’ve never experienced the kind of “-isms” that many of my friends and colleagues have. I’ve never been oppressed. I’ve never been discriminated against. I’ve never had to fear for my own safety or the safety of my family because we look different from the people around us. 

I’ve visited many museums and memorials to the holocaust and have studied it in school since I was in 8th grade. While I’ve always been troubled by what happened during the holocaust, it has never been personal for me. I’m not a member of the groups traditionally included in those who were sent to the camps. 

(Gate A - the entrance point to Sachsenhausen)

This year with @cuingermany, at Sachsenhausen, @drscottclemson was debriefing the students  on Sachsenhausen and helping to make it more real for them. He said, “If I had been in Berlin at that time, I’d have been given a pink triangle and been sent to Sachsenhausen.” He turned to me, and pointed out “Dr. Pyle would have been given a red triangle - he’d have been sent to Sachsenhausen as well.” 

As a university professor not falling in line with the Nazi party, I’d have been in a group that was rounded up and sent to Sachsenhausen. Never before had I made the connection that I to would have found myself in this terrible place. 

(”Arbeit Macht Frei” - “Work Makes you Free/will set you free” - the lie posted at every concentration camp. The reality was that freedom came only through death)

Perhaps I should have made this connection on my own, or made it sooner - but this was an incredibly sobering experience for me. It made the camps and the experience of those imprisoned there even more real for me - and made me reflect more deeply on the experience. 

(This memorial stands at Station Z, the final point in the camp for prisoners, as this is where they died. There is a trench where prisoners were hung, a room where they were quietly shot, and a a chamber where they tested gases to make them even more deadly for use at the larger extermination camps like Auschwitz)

If you’ve never been to a camp memorial or to a holocaust-related museum, I recommend it. This is a history that’s important to tell, to share, to remember. As populist movements are on the rise, and campaigns to reject people who are somehow different gain popularity, we must be willing to speak out against these hateful perspectives. There are still those who claim “the holocaust didn’t happen,” but standing in the middle of this camp makes such claims obviously ridiculous and foolish. 

The idea of miscommunication among the public relations and advertising world is embedded in world discussions every single day. With the ongoing information dumb through different sources such as increased social medias, apps/etc. that are tougher to navigate, advancement in conventional sources, the information becomes more and more easily miscommunicated.

The Nebel, Stobbe and Sun readings all provided example of how information can be taken in different ways, misleading etc. to the public and it can have a very serious impact. 

The relationship between autism and vaccinations, being the concept I was previously experienced the most, is a sad example of this. There was a study done about vaccines and autism; the study now proved totally false had a huge impact on Americans not wanting to give their kids vaccines out of fear. (The fear of autism in itself speaks to the true moral compass of our country). Stobbe can be quoted as saying “Correlation does not imply causation” (Pg 1). This is obviously a phrase coined many times but it does play a good meaning here. Their might be examples of kids who were vaccinated as well as been autistic but there is no correlation between the too directly. This article affected a lot of action throughout the U.S. and it still has affects today.

The example of miscommunication I found online an article about how Exxon coffee ads used a saying from a concentration camp in their advertisement. The phrase was “Jadam Das Seine” which translate to (in English) “to each his own”. We actually came across a similar sign at Sachsenhausen that translated to “work shall set you free”. The phrase here was seen at the nazi concentration camp Buchenwald's gates. The sign was used by the Nazis to indicate that the prisoners were getting what they deserved. Exxon was using the slogan in order to speak about the different kinds of coffee to which one could own. Obviously that didn't translate at all and many were outraged. Many had a feeling that the sign had an "unsurpassable tastelessness" (CBSNews). This is an example of a technology and slogan being used in the wrong way and how the interpretation caused a miscommunication.

COMM 3070 Week 3

Prompt #2:

Compare and contrast an example from each museum that talks about, shows, or otherwise presents a science or technology used in sports. Embed a music video of one song you would choose to play along with each sport (one for each, two songs total). Use supporting quotes from McLeod that explain why you chose the songs.

The examples I chose to include in this prompt from the DDR Museum and the Computerspiel Museum are at best incredibly different. This is so because of the roots in which they have used to anchor themselves. The DDR was not about fun or enjoyment; it was about everyone being on an equal playing field. Enjoyment had to be shared or taken away altogether, much like everything else within the communist-ruled country. The Computerspiel Museum is about the enjoyment of technology in different ways.  Whether for leisure or sport, there is a lighter sense about it and greater impression of gratification within.  

The example I found at the DDR Museum was that of The Society for Sport and Technology.  The society was created as a way to introduce young boys to the physical and technological elements of war. The activities consisted of parachuting, diving, gliding, marksmanship and more.  The technologies of war were highlighted in a fun way, because the society was meant to actively engage boys in these activities and not so inadvertently help “prepare” the DDR for any threats come their way. Quoted in our readings, McLeod says “Public spectacles, whether sporting, musical, artistic, or other, have been used throughout history to affirm power and prestige” (McLeod, 2006, p. 534).  These sporting events the DDR held were most assuredly to affirm power and establish a dominance among the new generation.  The music video I chose to embed was “We Are the Champions” by Queen. I chose this because that is the image the DDR wanted to present to the rest of the world: that they were the champions, and everyone else were the losers.  

In the Computerspiel Museum, the game that I drew most to was Dance Dance Revolution.  Dance across all cultures, much like music, is something to bring people together.  Dance Dance Revolution used the technologies of computer and touch-screen capabilities to create a game that people could enjoy in fun competition with themselves or other. With Dance Dance Revolution there are no ulterior motives or ideology stuck within the moves; only fun and enjoyment. For this I chose the song “Everything is Awesome” by Tegan and Sara from The Lego Movie.  It has a fun beat and quick pace, making it not only a great Dance Dance Revolution song, but a great song to describe the atmosphere that Dance Dance Revolution creates and fosters.  Gropes (2001) talks about the women pop stars that contributed to the sports-music confluence directed towards younger girls and women (McLeod, 2006, p. 540).  Some would argue that Tegan and Sara could have a similar effect as P!nk or Gwen Stefani because of their more androgynous appearances and edgier styles of music. 

Week 1: Extended Blog post Comm 3070 

Above is an Instagram account and paper advertisement for Lamborghini. The paper ad is from a German newspaper. The ad is about how the new SUV Lamborghini is great in rough conditions like the desert. It also highlights the parts of the car that make it advanced. The Instagram account highlights pictures and videos about the car and events happening within the company. According to the reading by Okazaki & Taylor, there are three key theoretical perspectives that go into making an effective combined advertising and social media campaign. The three keys are networking capability, transferability, and personal extension.

Networking capability encompasses how consumers are in control of how information is “generated, created, organized and shared” (59).  This allows social media to cut down boundaries and reach cultures that might not otherwise be able to communicate effectively. Network technology allows businesses to reach the largest possible audience for their product. The Lamborghini paper ad effectively does this by promoting itself in a newspaper that goes to everyone in a specific region. Lamborghini is able to reach people who might not be able to connect to social media this way. Lamborghini’s Instagram account allows them to reach millions of people in an entire country and the world. While it may not be catered to a specific region, it is effective in breaking down boundaries between regions. 

Imagine transferability is about constructing a brand image. Lamborghini has effectively curated a recognized brand in its advertisements and social media. The Lamborghini name is automatically recognized in a newspaper ad and can cause people to read it because if it’s brand power. The Instagram account has over 12 million followers that hey reach in a weekly basis. People recognize that a certain car is a Lamborghini because of the account. Both the Instagram account and the advertisement use the brand’s power to help promote the company effectively. 

The Ubahn is a perfect example of technology in Stuttgart. Here, a higher emphasis is placed on public transportation and environmental efficiency. In the external view, technology is emphasized as a mindless physical or social system (Ayung, p.3) The Ubahn in my opinion is definitely a mindless social system as citizens here use it to get from point A to point B daily without thinking about it. It is their normal, however, to us in America it is the opposite as we all feel the need to have our own cars. The Ubahn is an example of physical capital as it is a system/infrastructure (Ayung, p.4)

Prompt 1 (extended): Pick a concept from the chapter 14 reading on cross-cultural communication and PR that you have seen exemplified during our time here so far. Perhaps at a cafe you've witnessed differences in how space is used (Proxemics). Maybe on a weekend trip you've seen ways that people from some countries view time differently than we tend to (Chronemics). Or perhaps you've seen a really clever ad that bridges cultural/linguistic boundaries. Post a photo or video, and explain how it captures or illustrates the concept you choose.

Week 2: Blog Post 1 Comm 3550

Prompt: 

While we are at the Farmer Producer Association market/tasting, look/listen for stories, examples, artifacts, and practices that represent the ethical views of the organization. What values are represented through this tour experience? BESH only produces their own content, they do not rely on an external agency. Is this a values position, or a cost-saving measure? Remember to post photo(s)/video to illustrate your post. 

………..

According to Guth & Marsh, “Ethics are value in action” (161).  BESH exemplifies this statement in their business practices, company values, and on their guided tours. At the beginning of the tour, we watched a video about how BESH operates. They founded four different local producer groups in four different climatic parts of the world. This is known as “The Seeds of Hope”.  The farms are all family owned and are very far from major industrial cities. BESH is very serious about making sure their partners on the small farms receive reasonable prices for their products that are above normal market price. It would be easy to give the farmers a lower price but because of the companies’ high ethical values they sacrifice a little money for fair treatment. The market is also an example of the company’s values. BESH seeks to fill the market with mostly organic foods that align with the company’s organic products.