The Global Dynamics Blog

Japanese Reaction -- Stoic?? Media, Develop a Global Mindset

  

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Throughout coverage of the current disaster in Japan, an overwhelming number of Western-based news media have characterized the Japanese reaction as "stoic." But is stoic a fair and accurate way to characterize the current mood in Japan?

Stoic (adj) is defined as unaffected; indifferent; restrained. Does this apply?

Unaffected: No

Indifferent: No

Restrained: Perhaps...but that doesn't sufficiently convey to readers or viewers what the Japanese are really feeling.

Like the cross cultural scenario we featured a couple weeks ago, this is an example of members of a low-context culture (Westerners) not knowing to look for the messages that are subtle and nuanced, but very much there and very real. This is a missed opportunity to impart cultural intelligence.

To be fair, some news organizations did dig a bit deeper and explain what we are not seeing on the surface, but on the whole the lack of cultural awareness has been disappointing.

Constructive feedback to the media: Rather than simply characterizing the Japanese reaction as stoic, explain that there is much more to the images we see of the Japanese than meets the Western eye.