Cultural Adaptation in Literature & Literary Theory

Cultural Adaptation: Concept

Cultural adaptation refers to the process by which individuals or groups adjust to and integrate into a new cultural environment. Here are key concepts related to cultural adaptation presented in bullet points:

• Definition:
  • It involves the modification of one’s behavior, attitudes, and values to fit into or function effectively within a different cultural context.
• Dynamic Process:
  • It is a dynamic and ongoing process that occurs over time as individuals or groups interact with and learn about the new culture.
• Individual and Collective:
  • It occurs at both individual and collective levels, affecting personal beliefs as well as group dynamics.
• Cultural Intelligence (CQ):
  • Cultural adaptations often require a high level of cultural intelligence, which involves the ability to navigate and work effectively in diverse cultural settings.
• Stages:
  • There are typically stages in the cultural adaptation process, such as the honeymoon phase, culture shock, adjustment, and mastery. These stages may vary in duration and intensity.
• Communication:
  • Adaptation involves learning and adjusting to communication styles, non-verbal cues, and language differences prevalent in the new culture.
• Cultural Awareness:
  • Developing cultural awareness is a crucial aspect of adaptation, as individuals become attuned to cultural norms, values, and customs.
• Flexibility:
  • Being adaptable and flexible is essential in cultural adaptation, as individuals may need to modify their behavior or expectations based on the cultural context.
• Cultural Sensitivity:
  • Cultural adaptations involve developing sensitivity to cultural differences and avoiding ethnocentrism, which is the tendency to judge other cultures by the standards of one’s own.
• Cultural Shock:
  • Culture shock is a common experience during the adaptation process, characterized by feelings of disorientation, frustration, and anxiety due to unfamiliar cultural norms.
• Acculturation:
  • Acculturation is a related concept that refers to the exchange of cultural features between different cultural groups, often involving both the minority and majority cultures.
• Integration vs. Assimilation:
  • Cultural adaptations may involve finding a balance between integration, where individuals maintain aspects of their original culture while adopting elements of the new culture, and assimilation, where individuals fully adopt the new culture.
• Identity:
  • Cultural adaptations can influence one’s sense of identity, leading to the development of a bicultural or multicultural identity.
• Cultural Competence:
  • Achieving cultural competence is a goal of cultural adaptation, where individuals can effectively interact with members of different cultures while respecting diversity.

Cultural adaptations or adaptation is a complex and multifaceted process influenced by various factors, including personal traits, the nature of the new culture, and the support available during the adaptation journey.

Cultural Adaptation: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Cultural adaptation, in theoretical terms, delineates the dynamic process by which individuals or groups undergo psychological, behavioral, and attitudinal adjustments to navigate and function effectively within a novel cultural milieu.

This concept encompasses the nuanced interplay between personal experiences, sociocultural influences, and the development of cultural competence, emphasizing the need for individuals to flexibly engage with and internalize the norms, values, and communication patterns of the new cultural context.

Theoretical frameworks often incorporate stages such as the honeymoon phase, culture shock, and eventual adjustment, elucidating the evolving nature of this adaptive process over time.

Cultural Adaptations: Theorists, Works and Argument

Theorists	Key Works	Central Arguments
John W. Berry	Immigration, Acculturation, and Adaptation (1997)	– It is a dynamic process involving psychological and sociocultural dimensions.
		– Acculturation strategies (assimilation, integration, separation, marginalization) influence adaptation outcomes.
Milton J. Bennett	Towards Ethnorelativism: A Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (1993)	– It involves stages of intercultural sensitivity, progressing from denial to adaptation.
		– Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) elucidates cognitive and affective aspects of adaptation.
Geert Hofstede	Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values (1984)	– Cultural dimensions and values shape behavior, influencing adaptation in organizational and societal contexts.
		– Understanding and navigating cultural dimensions are crucial for successful adaptation in diverse environments.

Cultural Adaptation: Major Characteristics

1. Dynamic Process:
   • It is dynamic and ongoing, involving continuous adjustments to new cultural norms, values, and practices over time.
2. Individual and Collective Experience:
   • It can occur at both individual and collective levels, impacting personal beliefs, behaviors, and group dynamics.
3. Psychological Adjustment:
   • It entails psychological adjustments, including changes in attitudes, perceptions, and cognitive frameworks to align with the new cultural context.
4. Communication Skills:
   • Successful adaptation often requires the development of effective communication skills, encompassing language proficiency and awareness of cultural nuances in verbal and non-verbal communication.
5. Cultural Awareness:
   • Individuals undergoing cultural adaptation cultivate cultural awareness, gaining insights into the beliefs, customs, and social norms of the new culture.
6. Acculturation Strategies:
   • Different individuals may employ various acculturation strategies, such as assimilation, integration, separation, or marginalization, to navigate the challenges of adapting to a new culture.
7. Cultural Intelligence:
   • It is facilitated by cultural intelligence, the ability to function effectively in diverse cultural settings, which includes awareness, knowledge, and behavioral skills.
8. Cultural Sensitivity:
   • Developing cultural sensitivity is a crucial aspect of adaptation, involving an understanding and respect for cultural differences without imposing one’s own cultural norms.
9. Stages of Adaptation:
   • Cultural adaptation often follows stages, including an initial honeymoon phase, potential culture shock, gradual adjustment, and, ideally, mastery or a high level of comfort within the new cultural context.
10. Flexibility and Open-mindedness:
    • Successful adaptation requires flexibility and open-mindedness, allowing individuals to adapt their behaviors and expectations in response to the diverse cultural dynamics they encounter.
11. Identity Negotiation:
    • It impacts one’s sense of identity, leading to the negotiation of a bicultural or multicultural identity that incorporates elements of both the original and new cultures.
12. Coping with Culture Shock:
    • Culture shock, a common experience during adaptation, involves feelings of disorientation and anxiety, and individuals develop coping mechanisms to navigate this challenging phase.
13. Cultural Competence:
    • The ultimate goal of cultural adaptation is to achieve cultural competence, where individuals can navigate and thrive in cross-cultural situations while maintaining cultural awareness and sensitivity.

These characteristics collectively illustrate the multifaceted nature of cultural adaptation, emphasizing the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects involved in the process of integrating into a new cultural milieu.

Cultural Adaptation: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Cultural Adaptation
Postcolonial Theory	It is integral to postcolonial literature as it explores the effects of colonialism on cultures and individuals. Literary works often depict the struggle for identity and agency in postcolonial contexts, reflecting the process of adapting to and resisting colonial influences.
Feminist Theory	It is relevant in feminist literature as it addresses how women navigate and adapt to societal expectations, norms, and gender roles. Feminist works explore the complexities of women’s experiences and adaptations within different cultural frameworks.
Marxist Theory	It is examined through the lens of Marxist theory by considering how economic structures influence cultural production and consumption. Literary works may depict characters adapting to or resisting socio-economic systems and class dynamics.
Psychoanalytic Theory	In psychoanalytic literary theory, It is explored in relation to individual psychology. Characters in literature may undergo adaptation processes influenced by societal norms, cultural expectations, and the interplay of the conscious and unconscious mind.
Reader-Response Theory	It is relevant to reader-response theory as it considers how readers interpret and adapt to cultural elements within a text. Reader responses are shaped by individual cultural backgrounds, influencing the meaning derived from literary works.
Structuralist Theory	It is examined in structuralist literary theory concerning the underlying structures of language and narrative. The theory may explore how cultural elements are adapted and encoded within literary structures, contributing to the overall meaning of a text.
Deconstructionist Theory	Deconstructionist theory may focus on how it disrupts or deconstructs fixed meanings within literary texts. It explores the instability of language and cultural symbols, challenging traditional interpretations and encouraging readers to question established norms.
Queer Theory	It is pertinent to queer theory in literature as it explores how LGBTQ+ individuals adapt to and challenge societal norms. Queer literature often depicts the complexities of cultural adaptation in the context of gender and sexual identities.
Cultural Studies Theory	It is a central concern in cultural studies theory, which examines how cultural texts reflect and shape societal values. Literary works are analyzed for their role in representing and critiquing cultural norms, fostering discussions about adaptation within diverse contexts.

This table illustrates how cultural adaptations are relevant across various literary theories, influencing the themes, characters, and interpretations within different cultural and social contexts.

Cultural Adaptation: Application in Critiques

1. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Postcolonial Literature):
   • Achebe’s novel provides a profound exploration of cultural adaptation in the face of colonialism. The protagonist, Okonkwo, grapples with the clash between traditional Igbo culture and the encroaching Western influences. The novel critiques the disruptive impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures and the challenges faced by individuals adapting to a rapidly changing social and cultural landscape.
2. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Immigrant Literature):
   • Tan’s novel delves into the cultural adaptation experiences of Chinese-American immigrants and their daughters. It portrays the tensions and negotiations between generations as they navigate the complexities of dual cultural identities. The critique highlights the intergenerational dynamics of cultural adaptation, examining how heritage and tradition are passed down and transformed in a new cultural context.
3. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (Magical Realism):
   • In Márquez’s novel, cultural adaptation takes on a magical realist dimension as the Buendía family navigates the complexities of Macondo, a fictional town. The critique explores how the characters adapt to and reinterpret reality in a world where the magical and the mundane coexist. The novel’s magical realism serves as a lens to critique societal norms and the transformative nature of cultural adaptation.
4. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Diasporic Literature):
   • Adichie’s novel examines cultural adaptation through the eyes of its protagonist, Ifemelu, a Nigerian woman who immigrates to the United States. The critique explores the challenges of adapting to a new cultural context, the impact of race and identity on adaptation, and the nuances of returning to one’s homeland after an extended period abroad. The novel provides a critique of both American and Nigerian cultures, highlighting the complexities of cultural adaptation in a globalized world.

In each of these critiques, the lens of cultural adaptation allows for an in-depth analysis of how characters, communities, and societies grapple with change, negotiate identities, and respond to the challenges posed by evolving cultural landscapes.

Cultural Adaptation: Relevant Terms

1. Cultural Hybridity: Blend of cultural elements creating new forms.
2. Acculturation: Adoption of one culture by another.
3. Cultural Relativism: Understanding practices within their cultural context.
4. Cultural Imperialism: Dominance of one culture over another.
5. Third Culture Kid (TCK): Raised in a culture different from parents.
6. Cultural Capital: Resources shaping social and cultural status.
7. Cultural Competence: Effective interaction with diverse cultures.
8. Cultural Shock: Discomfort from encountering a new culture.
9. Cultural Appropriation: Adoption without understanding or respect.
10. Postcolonialism: Examining legacies of colonialism on culture.

Cultural Adaptation: Suggested Readings

1. Kottak, Conrad Phillip. Mirror for Humanity: A Concise Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. McGraw-Hill Education, 2016.
2. Berry, John W., et al. Handbook of Acculturation Psychology. Routledge, 2003.
3. Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. Routledge, 1994.
4. Hall, Edward T. The Silent Language. Anchor Books, 1973.
5. Said, Edward W. Culture and Imperialism. Vintage Books, 1994.
6. Oberg, Kalervo. “Cultural Shock: Adjustment to New Cultural Environments.” Practical Anthropology, vol. 7, no. 4, 1960, pp. 177-182.
7. Andersen, Margaret L., and Howard F. Taylor. Sociology: The Essentials. Cengage Learning, 2019.
8. hooks, bell. Yearning: Race, Gender, https://cmc.marmot.org/EbscoAcademicCMC/ocm45731695and Cultural Politics. South End Press, 1990.
9. Gudykunst, William B., and Young Yun Kim. Communicating with Strangers: An Approach to Intercultural Communication. McGraw-Hill, 2003.