The book, Becoming Intercultural: An Integrative Theory of Communication and Cross-Cultural Adaptation, by Young Yun Kim, explores the Theory of Cross-Cultural Adaptation. Within the chapter, “Intercultural Transformation”, Kim discusses the concept of Intercultural Identity which she describes as “an acquired identity constructed after the early childhood enculturation process through the individual’s communicative interactions with a new cultural environment” (Kim, 2001, pg. 191). This concept highlights how identity is shaped not only by childhood influences but also by new cultural experiences. This idea suggests that a person’s identity is not a state, but rather a continuum and an ongoing evolutionary process towards psychological integration and health. As a result, developing a person’s intercultural identity places them in a position where they are constantly “negotiating ever new formations of reality”. Adaptation is by no means a smooth process and can be extremely stressful. This can cause individuals to regress to their original cultural identity as feelings of alienation and struggles with the adaptation process arise. As an individual’s intercultural identity continues to evolve, they are able to better navigate the different cultures allowing them to make more deliberate choices according to the context of the situation.
The idea of intercultural identity is highly relevant to my project as it reflects on the blending of cultures which is a prominent theme in my musical composition. Kim’s emphasis on interculturation as a constant process rather than a fixed state aligns with my exploration of how biculturalism challenges the ideas of cultural purity and assimilation. In addition, the chapter also highlights the difficulties of developing an intercultural identity which resonates with the project’s reflection on the struggles of biculturalism. Overall, this book is a great resource that provides a wealth of information regarding the theory of cultural adaptation and intercultural identity. These ideas are deeply related to my project and can play a role in informing my creative decisions.
This past week, I made progress on research for my project. I dove deeper into research on cultural identity by exploring the theory of cultural adaptation through Kim’s book. In addition, I found more sources on Chinese philosophy which is another important research component for my project. This week, I’d like to search for a third committee member, preferably one who specializes in philosophy so I can have diversity within my committee. I have Prof. Klotz as my production specialist and Prof. Alleyne as my culture specialist, so I’d like my final committee member to have a background in philosophy in order to cover all my bases.
References
Young Yun Kim. (2001). Becoming Intercultural : An Integrative Theory of Communication and Cross-Cultural Adaptation. SAGE Publications, Inc. https://web-p-ebscohost-com.libproxy.temple.edu/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/ZTAwMHhuYV9fNDc0MTcxX19BTg2?sid=186895f8-8a03-400b-ae1a-909e38ca3ce7@redis&vid=0&format=EB&rid=1