UnderstandingofOutofAfricaintheDirectionofCross—culturalPerspective

何羽晴

【Abstract】Out of Africa is a memoir by the Danish female author Isak Dinesen.In this film，she presents that Africa is a pastoral landscape in which men exist in a truer form than they do in Europe.Without modernization，industry，and cities，Africa exists as a land where people lives close to nature.By analyzing the cross-cultural differences between the races，we could reexamine Out of Africa from the cross-cultural perspective，explore and get in touch with Dinesens inner self.

【Key words】Out of Africa； Isak Dinesen； Cross-cultural differences； Status ranking； Culture shock

ⅠINTRODUCTION

In describing Out of Africa，we refer almost an emotional song about love between Karen Blixen and Denys Finch-Hatton or the unique and charming natural scenery of Africa.However，there are so many contrasts and opposites between the Africans and the Europeans at the back of that obvious essence of the movie.And the main purpose of this thesis is to give a deeper exploration of this idea.

Ⅱ THE MULTIFARIOUS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RACES

2.1 Culture Shock

At several scenes during Out of Africa，arts and crafts manufactures familiar in Western Europe，but most unusual in the Africa，play significant roles in vividly illustrating the culture shock inherent in any family of Western and primal societies.One impressive example involves Karens cuckoo clock.The clock first amazed her steel-nerved manservant Farah，who blinks at it with an expression of utter disbelief.It later acts as an object of endless fascination for a group of Kikuyu children who watch it curiously until finally the cuckoo chirps its message and back to their familiar habitat with giggles.

Another funny example of culture shock appears in Karens attempt to make her houseboy Juma to wear a pair of white gloves.From his doubtful eyes，Karen put it into his big，roughened hands，which dresses him a comical clown and not in control of his faculties.Thereafter，he clumsily drops things that he tries to pick up.During the dinner time，suddenly his wine bottle slipped from his fingers and spilled a little drink.It is this pair of white gloves that transforms his graceful and decent service into a paragon of ineptitude.Having realized the inconvenience the white gloves brought to Juma，Karen admitted that “this wasnt a good idea.”

2.2 Difference Between the Races

Dinesen believes that Europeans and Africans are fundamentally different.The difference appears not due to races，but due to the European and African exist on different planes of history.It is their different historical background that leads to the different characteristics between the natives and the Europeans.Dinesen does not tell us which nations characteristic is better in Out of Africa.She just represents the cultural clashes they encounter in the intercultural communication as they try to resolve their different relationships to modernity.

2.3 Status Ranking

Any story that relates to British colonialism will，of course，contain substantial social status and class distinction.In Out of Africa，it is easy to perceive that an essential aristocracy exist in specific groups.

For example，when Karen arrives in Kenya，she attends her wedding in an ivory-colored gown，wear a decorous but impractical hat and veil.And then，a beauty comments that the hat will not protect Karen from the sun，to which Karen replies that at least the veil will keep her away from mosquitoes.The little conversation indicates her social status.As a fair lady，she must dress properly，for what it's worth.

Ⅲ CONCLUSION

By paying special attention to the analysis of Out of Africa，it concluded that in intercultural communication，there are different degrees of ethnocentrism that are often demonstrated in the way we communicate with people of other cultures.The opposite to the ethnocentrism is “ethnorelativism”.It considers that cultural difference is neither good nor bad； it is just difference.And the only way to understand the behavior of others is in the context of their culture or their cultural background.

References：

[1]Feinberg，Harvey M.，and Solow，Joseph B.，“Out of Africa，” The Journal of African History[J].（2002），43：255–261Cambridge University Press.

[2]Clyde Kluckhohn，Mirror for Man[M].Chapter 2，New York： Fawcett，1944.

[3]F.E.Jandt，Intercultural Communication[M].An introduction， Chapter 3，1995.