...is “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” starring Nia Vardalos, John Corbett and other bigger than life stars. This movie is about a young Greek woman, Toula Portokalos, who struggles with her identity and does not feel like she fits in. She desires more in life and is confused as to how she will fill the role her parents require of her. Toula’s family migrated from Greece to give her and her siblings, Athena and Nick a better life. Their father, Gus, is sure to remind them of this every chance he gets. He believes the Greek way is the only way and is very intolerant of pushback from his children. Toula’s mother, Maria, is a strong woman who believes in working hard, loving hard, and cooking huge meals at any given moment. Toula fights the fact that she is nothing like her family. She is quirky and finds that she is a square peg in a round hole. The Portokalos family is very big and exceptionally close. Every occasion calls for a party and every party calls for the most food any person could ever imagine. This rambunctious lifestyle has always been a thorn in Toula’s side and no matter how hard she tries, she is unable to find her niche in life. As a Greek woman, she is expected to marry young, have many children and work in the family business, a diner called the Dancing Zorbas. Not only is she to marry a nice man, he is to be a nice, GREEK man. While trying to come to terms with her cultural distinctiveness, Toula meets and falls in love with a non-Greek. When Toula meets...
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...2013 Handling HR issues in Greece In the ever-changing business climate, utilization of global human resources continues. Whether a multinational corporation or a global corporation, cultural complexities play a dominant part in the handling of HR issues. Cultural differences are a factor in the determination of an organization’s fit within the foreign culture and as such, must be closely examined to succeed in the international business market. According to Myloni et al. (2003), “HRM practices are grounded in cultural beliefs that reflect the basic assumptions and values of the national culture in which organizations are embedded.” (Myloni, Harzing, & Mirza, 2003, p. 7) Professor Geert Hofstede‘s 1984 cultural dimensions research established four dimensions of national culture: power distance, individualism versus collectivism, avoidance of uncertainty, and masculinity. The fifth dimension of long-term versus short-term orientation was later added. (The Hofstede Centre, n.d.) These dimensions represent cultural differences between countries and exhibit how culture influences work behavior and the effectiveness of HRM policies and procedures. Utilizing Hofstede’s cultural dimensions information, this paper will examine how HR issues might be handled in Greece. The first cultural dimension, power distance, refers to the emphasis placed upon human inequality and the attitude of the culture towards those inequalities. Greece has a high power distance score, which means...
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...Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions: A Comparison of Greece and U.S. Human Resource Management Approaches By Kelly M. Mistretta MBOL2 MBA 533, Human Resource in Management Dr. James C. Dumville Saint Leo University – Center for Online Learning September 9, 2012 Name: Kelly Mistretta Title: Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions: A Comparison of Greece and U.S. Human Resource Management Approaches Date: September 9, 2012 Abstract Globalization continues to become more important in the business culture in our world. No longer can management focus only on companies within their own country. Businesses are forced to compete with companies from other countries. With the increased global competition, a business must understand other cultures if they hope to remain competitive and have continued success. There are several models that show the influence of cultural differences between nations. Hofstede’s model, called the theory of cultural relativity of organization practices is the most recognized model. Hofstede’s model focuses on cultural influences and work behaviors in five different dimensions. Each dimension has important implications in understanding business. This paper will compare the Hofstede analysis of Greece and the United States. Biographical Sketch Kelly Mistretta is currently an MBA student at Saint Leo University. Mistretta has a BA in Accounting and plans to obtain an MBA to equip her with improved business skills to better contribute to society...
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...Mrs. Olivia Sto. Domingo ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to thank God , My Family and Friends for helping me to complete this research paper. OUTLINE CHAPTER 1 A. INTRODUCTION B. THESIS STATEMENT C. SUB-PROBLEMS CHAPTER 2 A. WHAT IS FRATERNITY? B. CAUSES OF JOINING FRATERNITY/SORORITY C. EFFECTS OF JOINING FRATERNITY/SORORITY CHAPTER 3 A. DATA FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS B. CONCLUSION C. SUMMARY D. RECOMMENDATION E. BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION A fraternity or sorority is a group of men or women formed by a brotherhood or sisterhood and common goals and aspirations who make a commitment to each other for life. The members that form a fraternity or sorority share their efforts, friendship and knowledge. Together these members learn, grow and make the fraternity or sorority, commonly called a Greek organization, stronger. Their common experience builds ties that last a lifetime. Fraternities and sororities have been a part college campuses since the late 18th-century. These organizations are referred to as "Greek" because their names consist of Greek letters that serve as a reminder of the group’s values. Learn the Greek Alphabet. Though there are many different fraternities and sororities, they all share common founding principles that may be of interest to any Ball State University student. Greek organizations enhance your educational experience by emphasizing intellectual...
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...THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL RELATIVISM by JAMES RACHELS “Morality differs in every society, and is a convenient term for socially approved habits.” Ruth Benedict, Patterns of Culture (1934) 2.1 How Different Cultures Have Different Moral Codes Darius, a king of ancient Persia, was intrigued by the variety of cultures he encountered in his travels. He had found, for example, that the Callatians (a tribe of Indians) customarily ate the bodies of their dead fathers. The Greeks, of course, did not do that—the Greeks practiced cremation and regarded the funeral pyre as the natural and fitting way to dispose of the dead. Darius thought that a sophisticated understanding of the world must include an appreciation of such differences between cultures. One day, to teach this lesson, he summoned some Greeks who happened to be present at his court and asked them what they would take to eat the bodies of their dead fathers. They were shocked, as Darius knew they would be, and replied that no amount of money could persuade them to do such a thing. Then Darius called in some Callatians, and while the Greeks listened asked them what they would take to burn their dead fathers' bodies. The Callatians were horrified and told Darius not even to mention such a dreadful thing. This story, recounted by Herodotus in his History illustrates a recurring theme in the literature of social science: Different cultures have different moral codes. What is thought right within one group may be utterly abhorrent...
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...Assignment: HUMA215 Individual Project Unit 1 Title: Compare/Contrast Greek and Roman Cultures Assignment: Part 1: Fill in the below table with both similarities and differences of the Greek and Roman cultures. Indicate if you are describing a similarity or a difference. If you are describing a similarity then place your research information under both the Greek and Roman culture. If you are describing a difference list the difference between the two cultures under each culture. Please fill in all 10 lines within the table, each row will expand as you type in your information. | Similarity/Difference | Greek Culture | Roman Culture | 1 | Difference | Greek surrounded by mountains | Roman surrounded by the sea | 2 | Difference | Spoke Greek | Spoke Latin | 3 | Similarity | Clothing - Toga - worn everyday | Clothing - Toga - worn rarely worn | 4 | Difference | Gods and Myths started first | Adopted the Gods and Myths from Greek | 5 | Difference | Greek Gods were represented with gorgeous bodies, muscles, faces and hair. | Roman Gods were represented with warriors, strength and mythology. Believed Gods weren't beautiful. | 6 | Difference | Lives were more about art, drama and philosophy | Lives were more about hard work and craftsmanship | 7 | Similarity | Brought food to the graves of where the Gods or their families laid | Brought food to the graves of where the Gods or their families laid | 8 | Difference | Believed that in the importance of physical...
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...Topics in Cultural Studies Project 1 By Crystal Grant The Greek and the Romans inspired each other but they also have their share of differences. From the Greek architecture who inspired Roman architecture, created the known genre that is called classical architecture. ANCIENT GREEK | ANCIENT ROMANS | Typically built with mud, wood, plaster and stone | Construct their temples with marble or limestone | Began their histories as city-states. | Began their histories as city-states. | Their religious practices concerned their gods and heroes | Their religion was formed into rituals and ceremonies and the cults of the Roman emperors | Ancient Greece was the most advanced economy in the world | The city of Rome was the largest megalopolis of that time | Seminal culture which provided the foundation of Western culture. | Its transportation technology was very efficient | The domination of politics and concomitant aggregation of wealth by small groups of families was apt to cause social unrest in many | Is the seat of the Italian Government | | | So one difference is that Greek culture was exceedingly older than Roman culture. Never, ever consider ancient Greece and Rome as being the same, for they were not and those are only some of the differences--you know I can't type all day! They were exceedingly different cultures adopting from one another, but no civilization is original. The Greeks, in fact, adopted from the Egyptians and one can see in their...
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...political courage-a cynosure of resistance to institutions that would smother the free spirit and stifle the right to be different.” (Miller 13) I will be exploring how the present days views are reinforced; the dominant message of how a wedding should be and then how in some movies, the post-feminism is displayed which slightly alters this dominant image. I will be also exploring the mix of cultural traditions within the wedding to see how the structure is similar or drastically different. I will discuss Marx’s Materialism ideology aspect of the domination of the ruling class and explore the aspect of the base and superstructure with the mode of production/the system of economic relations within the institutions surrounding wedding ideology. Through close textual analysis, I will show the dominant ideology of the wedding industry as illustrated through media and the attitudes of various woman; comparing views of two extremes to the leading up to that of the dominant American wedding ideology of the industry and secondly, I will then contrast this structuralism to that of a few other cultural films to explore the obstacles as well as end result of the dominant media ideology. “Capitalism is not only an economic...
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...Greece XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX College Professional Studies Abstract Greece is a country of great beauty. It has long been one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Tourism is one of the major industries of the Greek economy; tourism is a strong earner of foreign exchange. The warm climates, the long, scenic Mediterranean coastline, the many significant archaeological and historical sites, the traditional hospitality of Greeks, and improvements in the local infrastructure have continued to attracted visitors (Photius). I have elected to focus on two aspects of the country of Greece for the purpose of this paper. First, I will outline the educational system in Greece. It has an interesting government run structure in which primary and secondary education is mandatory, a total of 9 years. Also, an additional 3 years of education is optional for students who desire to prepare for technical school or higher education in the university system. All education is free in Greece, placing the burden on the taxpayer. I will also discuss Article 16 of the Greek Constitution regarding the government’s stance on higher education and the negative issues surrounding their policy. The second issue I will discuss in this paper is the current economic problems facing Greece. After the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, there was great hope that would have lasting...
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...CULTURAL EVENT PAPER Culture, as the patterns, the traits, and products as an expression of a certain group of people, can be witnessed anywhere, and in almost anything. With this definition in my head, I thought that I’d visit a place where the most basic aspect of a culture can be revealed: the food. I decided to go to the Greek cuisine restaurant, George’s Greek Cafe, located beside the Lakewood mall on Faculty Avenue. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice: dimmed lights, with each table being lighted by a candle. Inside the restaurant there were mini statues and busts, placed elegantly in a display that’s lighted by candles as well. I was quickly given a table, and the service was quiet efficient. I ordered a spanakopites- baked mini filo triangles stuffed with feta cheese, spinach and spices- as appetizer. I ordered their gyro for entrée, which was a huge portion of shaved beef and lamb cooked on a spit, topped with tzantziki (a Greek white sauce), fresh tomatoes, red onion, and cucumbers, wrapped on a pita, with a side of rice. It was, I had to say, delicious, and definitely worth going back for. What’s new is that although I felt like I was in a completely different environment, I didn’t feel awkward or estranged, but rather familiar. The first thing I want to mention is the architecture. The restaurant was built according to the Neoclassical style, which is common popular among Greek buildings, in contrast to the traditional Chinese architectures, which emphasize...
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...Brian Rigotti has a diverse and interesting family life on both sides of his family. This diverse family life has offered Brian many different viewpoints and perspectives that he would not be able to experience otherwise. Brian dedicates much of what he strives to do to his family, and would be lost without them. It is for these reasons that Brian works as hard as he can to give back to his family as much as he can. On Brian's father's side of the family, you find a cultural bunch who value their customs and traditions. This side of Brian's family is primarily religious, as well as cultural. The majority of this side of his family is Greek and Italian, which makes for some interesting holiday dinners and celebrations. There is also a deep...
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...but also to facilitate intercultural learning. Today English is a global language spoken by people from many countries and cultural backgrounds. Since culture greatly impacts communication, it is helpful for teachers to introduce lessons and activities that reveal how different dialects, forms of address, customs, taboos, and other cultural elements influence interaction among different groups. Numerous films contain excellent examples of intercultural communication and are highly useful resources for teachers. Additional reasons for teachers to incorporate films in class and encourage their students to watch movies in English include: • Films combine pleasure and learning by telling a story in a way that captures and holds the viewer’s interest. • Films simultaneously address different senses and cognitive channels. For example, spoken language is supported by visual elements that make it easier for students to understand the dialogues and the plot. • Students are exposed to the way people actually speak. 2 2010 N u m b e r F • Films involve the viewers, appeal to their feelings, and help them empathize with the protagonists. • DVDs usually come with subtitles in English, which facilitates understanding and improves reading skills. After discussing the importance of teaching intercultural communication and suggesting films that match specific cultural categories, this article describes some activities to use when showing a film in the classroom and presents a task-based...
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...Societies Art Analyzation The Greeks and Romans shared a lot of the same qualities when it came to art. They used some of the same orders when it came to architecture and used sculptures to idolize important figures in their civilizations. The Romans, however, took what was learned from Greek art and improved upon it in ways to show advancement. They added more detail, showed emotion or movement, and used elaborate design in architecture. Each society in the Greek and Roman civilizations had its own unique way of showing their artistic creativity. Classical Greece Classical Greece, also known as The Golden Age, was a time for great achievement. One of the greatest structures known during this time is the Parthenon. This fascinating piece of architecture is considered to be a temple. It uses the classic Doric order of design and is the largest of its kind on the Greek mainland (Benton & DiYanni, 2012). This temple was designed and created as a dedication to the goddess Athena. Her image is inside the temple. Architecture was very important in this culture during this time. According to Athens University of Economics and Business (2010), architects strove for the precision and excellence of workmanship that are the hallmarks of Greek art in general. The Greeks developed the three orders, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, which were used to build many structures during this era and future eras. The Parthenon is a perfect example of classic Greek architecture (Benton & DiYanni...
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...Italy had better resources. Anyone was able to go to Italy in search for a fresh start while bringing new ideas people never questioned. 2. Why was Florence at the heart of the Italian Renaissance? Florence was at the heart of the Italian Renaissance because it was started from Florence, and it was one of the wealthiest cities with significant power. The Medici family helped Florence become a cultural center for meetings or discussions about art. 3. What role did the Medici family play in the Renaissance Florence? The Medici family showed special interests for arts and literature, so they financed numerous art creations and get-togethers for the benefit of Florence. 4. Regarding humanism: -What are the characteristics of humanism? How is it different from medieval scholasticism? from nominalism? The characteristics of humanism include learning, anatomy, realism, reason, nature, youth, individualism, and perspective. Scholasticism was more orientated towards philosophers or theologians and it failed to offer moral guidance, however, humanism was about direct sources such as the bible or Latin/Greek classics. Nominalism is considered to believe that abstract or general terms are real, while humanism prefers human views. -Why is Petrarch considered to be the "Father of Humanism"? Petrarch is considered to be the father of humanism because he managed to put classical and philosophical ideas into a Christian based framework. -Why was Cicero a favorite...
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...Assignment 1 SS3150 Ethnography (from the Greek words ethnos = nation, and graphein = writing) refers to the qualitative research method of describing human social phenomena, based on data obtained primarily from fieldwork. The goal is a complete, accurate description of the culture being studied, on its own terms. Ethnography should not be confused with ethnology, which is the comparative study of cultures. Although ethnographic studies inevitably involve some comparisons with other cultures, their primary purpose is not comparison. The roots of ethnographic studies are found in the reports of travelers and historians dating back to the Greek writer Herodotus, and more recently, of traders and colonial administrators. The inherent difficulty of ethnographic studies is immediately apparent in these reports, as the writers often misinterpreted for various reasons the activities they witnessed in foreign cultures. Ethnography relies primarily on detailed descriptions of the social life and cultural phenomena of a particular group of people. I choose ethnography because even thought I have not been in Hurricane Katrina myself and my family have been in a hurricane while station on the Gulf Coast, and for those that have suffered in Hurricane Hugo ,we have an ideal of what happens during these trying time The good part about Ethnography is that it closes the gap between cultures, enabling people to better understand the true meaning and value of different customs and practices in...
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