AN ANALYSIS OF THE CROSS-CULTURAL IMMIGRANT CONFLICTS IN PAUL HAGGIS’ MOVIE “CRASH”

AN ANALYSIS OF THE CROSS-CULTURAL IMMIGRANT
CONFLICTS IN PAUL HAGGIS’ MOVIE “CRASH”

THESIS

By:
SANDHYA PURNAMA PUTERA
09360283

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
AUGUST 2016

AN ANALYSIS OF THE CROSS-CULTURAL IMMIGRANT
CONFLICTS IN PAUL HAGGIS’ MOVIE “CRASH”

THESIS

This thesis is submitted to meet one of the requirements to achieve
Sarjana Degree in English Education

By:
SANDHYA PURNAMA PUTERA
09360283

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG
AUGUST 2016

PERNYATAAN

Yang bertanda tangan di bawah ini adalah saya:
Nama

: Sandhya Purnama Putera

NIM

: 09360283

Program Studi : Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris
Fakultas

: Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan

Dengan ini saya menyatakan bahwa dalam skripsi ini tidak terdapat karya yang
pernah diajukan untuk memperoleh gelar kesarjanaan di suatu Perguruan Tinggi,
dan menurut pengetahuan saya tidak terdapat karya tulis dan pendapat yang
pernah ditulis atau diterbitkan oleh orang lain, kecuali yang secara tertulis diacu
dalam Skripsi ini dan disebutkan dalam daftar pustaka.

Malang, 9 Agustus 2016

Sandhya Purnama Putera

MOTTO AND DEDICATION
MOTO

Tat Twam Asi

Play for more than you can afford to lose and you will learn the game
(Winston Churchill)

DEDICATION
I dedicated this thesis to:
My beloved parents “they are my superhero”
My lovely big family
All of my lovely friends “thanks for your support”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

OM Swastyastu
OM Awighnam Astu Namo Sidham

All praise is to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa. Because of his guidance,
blessing and affection, the writer can finish this thesis.
The writer would like to express his great appreciation to many person
who had been involved in finishing this thesis. The writer thanks to his first
advisor, Rahmawati Khadijah Maro, S.Pd, M.P.Ed, and his second advisor,

Khairuddin, M.Pd, for their guidance, suggestion, and comment on this thesis.
Without real understanding and strong motivation, this thesis would have never
finished.
His thanks also go to her beloved father and mother, who always give their
love, and his big family who always support in finishing this thesis. His special
thanks go to all of beloved friends who always support him everyday. Finally, his
sincere gratitude goes to everybody who cannot be mentioned one by one who
helped her in finishing this thesis.

Om Santih, Santih, Santih

Malang, 9 August, 2016

Sandhya Purnama Putera

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ADVISORS APPROVAL.........................................................................

i

...................................................................................................................
EXAMINERS APPROVAL......................................................................

ii

PERNYATAAN........................................................................................

iii

MOTTO AND DEDICATION..................................................................

iv

ACKNWOLEDMENTS............................................................................

v

ABSTRACT...............................................................................................

vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................................

vii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study..................................................................... 1
1.2 Statement of Problems......................................................................... 4
1.3 Purpose of Study.................................................................................. 5
1.4 Significant of Study............................................................................. 5
1.5 Scope and Limitation........................................................................... 6
1.6 Definition of Key Term....................................................................... 6
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Literature.............................................................................................. 8
2.2 Movie................................................................................................... 9
2.3 Types of Movie.................................................................................... 9
2.3.1 Narrative Movies....................................................................... 9
2.3.2 Documentary Movies................................................................. 10
2.3.3 Experimental Movies................................................................. 10

2.4 Elements of Movie............................................................................... 10

2.5 Culture.................................................................................................. 15
2.6 The US as a Multicultural Country...................................................... 16
2.6.1 The US in Brief.......................................................................... 16
2.6.2 Changing Demography in US.................................................... 17
2.6.3 Immigrants................................................................................. 18
2.6.4 Religious Diversity.................................................................... 19
2.6.5 Racial and Ethnic Minorities..................................................... 19
2.7 Cultural Awareness.............................................................................. 23
2.8 Cross-Cultural Conflicts...................................................................... 24
2.8.1 Missinterpretation...................................................................... 25
2.8.2 Stereotypes................................................................................. 25
2.8.3 Ethnocentrism............................................................................ 26
2.8.4 Prejudice.................................................................................... 26
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design..................................................................................

28

3.2 The Object of Study............................................................................

29

3.3 Approach.............................................................................................

29

3.4 Data Colection..................................................................................... 30
3.5 Data Analysis....................................................................................... 32
CHAPTER IV RESEARCH FINDING AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Research Findings................................................................................ 35
4.1.1 Cross-Cultural Conflicts............................................................. 35
4.1.1.1 Language...................................................................... 36
4.1.1.1.1 Farhad with Dirk.......................................... 36
4.1.1.2 Ethnicity.......................................................................

37

4.1.1.2.1 Farhad with Dirk.......................................... 37

4.1.1.2.2 Farhad with Unknown People...................... 38
4.1.1.2.3 Daniel with Jean........................................... 39
4.1.1.2.4 Anthony with Service Restaurant................

40

4.1.1.2.5 Anthony with a Western Bus.......................

41

4.1.1.2.6 Anthony with Jean.......................................

42

4.1.1.3 Profession..................................................................... 44
4.1.1.3.1 Daniel with Farhad....................................... 44
4.1.2 The Causes of Cultural Conflicts............................................... 45
4.1.2.1 Stereotype...................................................................... 46
4.1.2.1.1 Farhad with Unknown People...................... 46
4.1.2.2 Prejudice....................................................................... 46

4.1.2.2.1 Farhad with Dirk.......................................... 46
4.1.2.2.2 Daniel with Farhad....................................... 47
4.1.2.2.3 Daniel with Jean........................................... 47
4.1.2.2.4 Anthony with a Western Bus........................ 48
4.1.2.2.5 Anthony with Jean........................................ 48
4.1.2.2.6 Anthony with a service……………………... 49
4.1.3 Lessons can be Learnt................................................................ 50
4.1.3.1 The Importance of English............................................ 50
4.1.3.2 Patience to Deal with Prejudice.................................... 50
4.1.3.3 Improving Information about others Ethnnics.............. 51
4.1.3.4 Anger Can Worsen the Situation.................................. 51
4.2 Discussion............................................................................................ 51

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
5.1 Conclusion........................................................................................... 55
5.2 Suggestion...........................................................................................
REFERENCES
APPENDIXS

56

REFERENCES

Abrams M H. 1999. A Glossary of Literary Terms. U.S.A: Heinle & Heinle
Ade, Olaofe Isaac and Okunoye, Oyeniyi. 2008. An Introduction to Literature and
LiteraryCriticism. Nigeria:National Open University of Nigeria
Ary Donald, Jacobs Lucy Cheser, Sorensen Chris. 2010. Introduction to Research
in Education.Wadsworth USA: Cengage Learning
Barsam, richard. 2007. Looking at movies: An Introduction to film (second
Edition). U.S.A: W.W Norton & Company, Inc
Bogarad, Crocket Schmidth. 2006. Legacies: Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction,
Third Edition. USA: Thomson Wadsworth
Esri. 2012. Minority Population Growth— The New Boom: An Analysis of America’s
Changing Demographics. USA: Esri
Fata Soraya, Rafii Raha. 2003. Strength in Numbers: The Relative Concentration
of Iranian Americans.
Across the United States
Hjort, Mette and MacKenzie, Scott. 2000. Cinema and Nation. London:British
Library Cataloguing
Lebaron, Michelle and Pillay, Venashri. 2006. Conflict Across Culture. United
States of America:Intercultural Press.
Levine Deena R, Adelman Mara B. 1982. Beyond Language; Intercultural
Communication for English As a Second Language. New Jersey.
Prentice-Hall
Miles Matthew B, Huberman A Michael. 1994. Qualitative Data Analysis.
London: SAGE
Monaco, James. 2000. How to read a film. New York:Oxford University Press.
N Martin, Judith and K Nakayama, Thomas. 2010. Intercultural Communication
in Contexts. New York: McGraw-Hill

Pia, Emily and Diez, Thomas. 2007. Conflict and Human Rights: A Theoretical
Framework.University of Birmingham
S Berns,Gregory and Atran, Scott. 2012. The biology of cultural conflict. London:
The Royal Society.

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the
problem, purpose of the study, significance of the study, scope and limitation and
definition of key terms.

1.1 Background of the Study
Literature is human’s expression. Almost of human expression have been
written as a literary work. According to Ade and Okunoye (2008), there are three
broad types of literature, these are drama, poetry, and prose. Among literary
works, drama is significantly different from others. The difference is that drama
shows story about human life through action and dialogue, and it is mostly
enjoyed by watching and listening performance of people or group of people who
act in the stage.
Nowadays, drama has developed into more sophisticated form into film.
According to Schmidt, Bogarad, and Crockett (2006), one of the development
dramas which have great influence to the public interest is film or movie. To most
of us, a movie is a popular entertainment, a product produced and marketed by a
large commercial studio,the finished product, which is about two hours long,
screens initially in movie theaters, is eventually released to DVD, and ultimately
winds up on television (Barsam and Monahan, 2010:3).
Since movie is included as literary work, it may represent the reflection of
human life. By watching movie, we will learn many things without going to the

1

place itself. By the day, movies are keeping developing. Moviemakers are care
about the quality of their movie. According to Chan, Karpovich and Zhang
(2011:127), the primary object of these pictures produced in the south seems to be
of making money. Nowadays, movie makers produce movie not only to entertaint
and making money, they produce movie that contain a message. They also give us
much kind of movie genre that tells about nature, love, war, politic, and culture.
According to Lewis (2013:12), it is relevant then that the film is not the work of
an outsider looking in but that of an insider looking closely at social problems and
issues in his own community. In other hand, movie is not only entertains the
audience with good actors or actress, but also give audience a lesson about human
life.
Meanwhile, movie with culture issues will show about cultural behavior in
this world, which is, has many differences. The differences of culture is not only
about language, dress, food, custom, ethnicity, race, or nasionality. According to
Lebaron and Pillay (2006:27), cultural differences may also arise from
socioeconomic class, generational difference, sexual orientation, ability and
disability, political and religious affiliation, gender, regional origin, and soon.
Talking about cultural differences, it considered with cultural conflict.
According to Avruch (1998), cross-cultural conflict is a conflict occurring
between individuals or a social group which is separated by cultural boundaries.
Cultural conflict is likely to emerge when the rules and values of one cultural
group are substantially different from another, and members of the cultures come
in contact with each other Berns and Atran, (2012:635). We also know that we

2

live together contiguous with many kinds of different cultures in this world.
Nowadays, culture is not only an identity and a characteristic of every group of
people, but it is become very important of human life as Shulman (2001:14) said
that culture may be defined as the way of human life.
Based on (Avruch 1998), (Berns and Artan 2012) opinion about cultural
conflict above, it can be concluded that cross-cultural conflict comes because of
the behaviors, rules and values are different each other.Yet, the difference of
cultures are dangerous become a conflict, in condition when individuals are forced
to consider the perspectives and beliefs of someone that, in other circumstances,
might be considered an enemy (Berns and Atran, 2012:636). One of them is in the
“Crash” movie which directed by Paul Haggis.
Crash is a movie that produced and directed by Paul Haggis in 2004
(www.crashfilm.com). Crash tells us about interlocking stories of five cultural
side native backgrounds from white and black American, Mexican, Koreans and
Iranians. They have different social status in that movie, there are cops and
criminals, the rich and the poor, the powerful and powerless, all of it defined in
one way or another by cross-cultural conflict. All of the characters are victims of
cross-cultural conflict, and all of them are guilty. Therefore, this movie reminds
us the importance of tolerance as it ventures beyond color lines, and uncovers the
truth of our shared humanity
Related to this study, there was a previous study conducted by Dewi
(2010) entitled “A Study on Cultural Conflicts Experienced by Anna Leonowens
in Anna and the King Movie”. She only focused on Anna Leonowens cultural

3

conflicts experiences. In her study concluded that there were five cultural conflicts
experienced by Anna as a main character. Those are: Anna’s unacceptability on
private questions given by the prime minister, the delay of the private house
promised by the king, Anna’s refusal to obey protocol of the palace, Anna’s trial
in erasing the slavery in Siam, and Anna’s refusal on the ring given by the king.
She concluded that those cultural conflicts occur because of the cross-cultural
misunderstanding in entering new culture and new environment.
The writer choose Crash movie to be analyzed because there are some
reasons. First, Crash is a movie set in Los Angeles with follows by eight main
characters from different races. Second, these movies show the complexity of
cross-culture conflicts in the multicultural country, which is, lived many
immigrants people in USA. Third, this movie shows which not only a black
American who gets a discriminative race, but all of the characters are victims of
discrimination. Moreover, the writer wants to conduct a study with tittle “An
Analysis of the Cross-Cultural Immigrant Conflict in Paul Haggis’ Movie “Crash”
which the messages from this movie are useful for them who want to entering and
studying a new culture and also for us who life in Indonesia which is also as a
multicultural country.

1.2 Statement of the Problem
1. What cross-cultural immigrant conflicts are faced by the main characters’
in Paul Haggis’ movie “Crash”?

4

2. What are the causes of the main characters’ cross-cultural immigrant
conflicts found in Paul Haggis’ movie “Crash”?
3. What lessons can be learnt from the main characters’ cross-cultural
immigrant conflicts in Paul Haggis’ movie “Crash”?

1.3 Purpose of the Study
1. To figure out the main characters’ cross-cultural immigrant conflicts found
in Paul Haggis’ movie “Crash”.
2. To identify the cause of the main characters’ cross-cultural immigrant
conflicts found in Paul Haggis’ movie “Crash”.
3. To know the lessons that can be learned from the main characters’ crosscultural immigrant conflicts in Paul Haggis’ movie “Crash”.

1.4 Significance of Study
This study is expecting to have significance for some fields.
1. Theoretically, the first is to enrich and enlarge the students’ knowledge
about cross-cultural understanding especially about the cross-cultural
immigrant conflicts issue in USA. The second, this result of study can be
used as references in teaching and learning process by the lecturer.
2. Practically, in studying cross-cultural immigrant conflict the reader are
able to find out the causal factors, the impact of emerging and how to
control the cultural conflict. So that we will respect each other and not be
selfish to others so that cross-cultural conflicts can be minimized actually

5

for English students who want to go abroud. Moreover, the result of this
study is expected to give contribution to the next researcher who wants to
analyze similar subject about cross-cultural conflicts.

1.5 Scope and Limitation
This study is focus on analysis “Crash” Movie. There are many topics can
be analyzed in this movie. However, the writer only focuses on main characters’
cross-cultural conflict. In this movie, there are many cross-cultural conflicts which
experienced by the eight main characters. They are (officer John Ryan) a white
racism cop, (Det. Graham Waters) a black detective, (Jean and Rick Cabot) a
white couple an L.A. district attorney and his wife, (Christine Thayer) a black
women, (officer Tom Hansen) a white cop, the Iranian (Farhad), MexicanAmerican locksmith (Daniel), and two young black African-American man
(Anthony and Peter).
Meanwhile, for the limitation of the study, the writer only analyzes the
main characters’ cross-cultural conflicts by the immigrant. Those are Iranian
(Farhad), Mexican-American locksmith (Daniel), and a young black AfricanAmerican (Anthony).

1.6 Definition of Key Terms
To clarify the terms used in this study, the writer gives the definition of
key terms to avoid the ambiguity and misunderstanding of terms that are used in
this study.

6

1. Main/major characters are characters that act prominent roles. (Ade and
Okunoye, 2008:41)
2. Culture is defined as a pattern of learned, group-related perceptionincluding both verbal and nonverbal language attitudes, values, belief
system, disbelief system, and behavior. (Martin and Nakayama, 2010:87)
3. Conflict is a struggle or contest between people with opposing needs,
ideas, beliefs, values, or goals. (Pia and Diez:2007)
4. Immigrant is people who come to a new country, region, or environment
to setle more or less permanently. (Martin and Nakayama, 2010)
5. Cross-cultural conflict is a conflict occurring between individuals or social
groups which are separated by cultural boundaries (Avruch, 1998)
6. “Crash” is an American drama movie, which produced and directed by
Paul Haggis in 2004.(www.crashfilm.com)
7. Movie (motion picture) is a popular entertainment, a product produced and
marketed by a large commercial studio. (Norton and co, 2010:3)

7