When Rudyard Kipling published "The Balled of East and West" a new notion of intercultural competence was created. This very concept is to be elucidated in the proseminar paper with regard to the ballad and the film "East is East".
With the ballad providing the backbone for Khan-Din’s play (1996) and Damien O’Donnell’s film (1999), it is to be discussed in further detail alongside my elucidations on the Khan family’s cultural identity and affiliation throughout the course of the film. The paper will concentrate on the Khan family and their - what I deem - a bitter struggle with their cultural identity and belonging, which is also suggested by Delanoy (2022) and Zapata (2010). Both argue with me in unison that the film displays various manifestations of identity conflicts, proceeding from the pursuit of affiliating to the concept of Britishness. Based on these and other additional scientific texts, the paper will present findings on the Khan family’s search for identity and their evolution over the course of the movie. Since the research questions amounts to “How does the Khan family evolve throughout the film and in which ways does the concept of East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet apply to their demeanor”, the Ballad of East and West will be referenced oftentimes in the paper. By virtue of the relevance for the film, the paper will also provide a brief elucidation on key concepts such as culture and identity construction. To refer to quotes and scenes from the film, the paper will consistently provide textualization and indicate the respective time frame; still, the paper requires the reader to be acquainted with the movie and its milieu.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The key concept of culture in East is East
3 The Khan family’s identity in East is East
4 About Britishness and identity construction in East is East
5 The Ballad of East and West
6 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the cultural identity and evolution of the Khan family within the context of the film "East is East". By integrating Rudyard Kipling’s "The Ballad of East and West" as a thematic backbone, the work investigates the struggles of a migrant family navigating the complex intersection of Pakistani traditions and British identity, ultimately addressing how the characters reconcile conflicting cultural expectations.
- Analysis of transcultural competence and identity construction in the Khan family.
- Exploration of the "East vs. West" dichotomy in 1960s and 70s Great Britain.
- Evaluation of the influence of Muslim and Pakistani beliefs versus British societal pressures.
- Interpretation of the socio-cultural evolution of the family members throughout the film.
- Thematic comparison between the film’s narrative and Rudyard Kipling’s seminal poem.
Excerpt from the Book
The Khan family’s identity in East is East
Originating from Pakistan, Zahir Khan – commonly known as George in the film – is presented as the authoritarian head of the family, featuring a strict parenting style. His strict and profound attachment to Muslim beliefs is – almost stereotypically – displayed by his polygamy as he is married both to Ella in Salford an another yet-unnamed wife in Pakistan, who he left behind in his country of origin. George happens to be the character in the film who exhibits various symptoms of an exorbitant cultural and identity conflict; on the one hand he strives to become an entirely accepted member of the British community, but on the other hand attempts to impose his Muslim and Pakistani beliefs on his children, who are – for the most part – reluctant. To that effect, Ayub Khan-Din applied his own experiences to the first and second generation of the Khan family and displayed the conflict between the father’s expectations and his children’s aspirations, as is presented in the following quote:
It was important to me from the early stages that this shouldn’t be just one son’s story but the story of a whole family, and not just an excuse for Paki-bashing my father […]. But the more I looked at my parents and their relationship, especially considering the times they lived in, the more admiration I felt for their bravery. This was not a time of mixed-race marriages, which were barely acceptable in the middle-class salons of London. Anywhere else in Britain a white woman with a black man would be considered a prostitute. It must have been very hard for them, the hatred and the bigotry that they would have faced. (quoted in Zapata 2010, 178)
The opening scene of the film provides a notion that the identity and cultural conflict within the family is of an exorbitant dimension, since the children actively participate in a Catholic procession (Zapata 2010, 178): Meena is spotted bearing a crucifix (East is East, 01:19 to 01:21) whilst her brothers are holding up the Blessed Virgin Mary (East is East, 01:21 to 01:30), until they are being warned about their father’s early return from the mosque which is why they have to hide in a side street2. Throughout the scene of the Catholic procession, the children appeared satisfied and even beaming which is to be interpreted as the advent of their rebellion against the father’s strict and uncompromising imposition of his own beliefs and ideas.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the theoretical focus on transcultural competence using Kipling's ballad as a lens for analyzing the film's depiction of the Khan family's cultural identity struggles.
2 The key concept of culture in East is East: This section deconstructs 'culture' and 'identity construction' as complex phenomena, highlighting the film's critique of both traditionalism and the exclusionary tendencies of British society in the 60s and 70s.
3 The Khan family’s identity in East is East: Focuses on the authoritarian role of George Khan and the developing resistance of his children, illustrating the internal family conflict through specific cinematic instances.
4 About Britishness and identity construction in East is East: Discusses the psychological aspects of identity, drawing on empirical studies to explain the self-esteem crises associated with the immigrant experience and the clash of bicultural expectations.
5 The Ballad of East and West: Analyzes the titular poem by Rudyard Kipling, establishing its parallels with the film regarding the possibility of bridge-building between opposing cultures.
6 Conclusion: Reflects on the evolution of the Khan family, characterizing them as flexible entities capable of forging hybrid identities and moving beyond rigid cultural definitions.
Keywords
British Cultural Studies, Migrant Fiction, East is East, Identity Construction, Transculturality, Khan Family, Rudyard Kipling, The Ballad of East and West, Cultural Hybridity, Britishness, Migration, Acculturation, Assimilation, Cultural Dichotomy, Post-colonialism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central subject of this academic paper?
The paper examines the cultural identity and evolution of the Khan family in the film "East is East", focusing on the struggle between maintaining ancestral traditions and assimilating into British society.
What are the primary thematic areas investigated?
The key themes include identity construction in migrant families, the conceptual definition of culture, transcultural competence, and the socio-historical context of the 1960s and 70s in Great Britain.
What is the main research question of the study?
The research explores how the Khan family evolves throughout the film and in what ways the concept of "East is East, and West is West" manifests in their behavior and experiences.
Which scientific methods are employed throughout the text?
The paper utilizes a literary and cinematic analysis approach, integrating established theoretical concepts of identity and culture with textual references to Kipling's ballad and scenes from the film.
What content is addressed in the main part of the paper?
The main part analyzes the specific struggles of George Khan as the patriarch, the identity development of his children, the role of cultural and societal prejudices, and the metaphorical use of Kipling's poem to define cross-cultural relationships.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Central keywords include British Cultural Studies, identity construction, transculturality, cultural hybridity, and the specific narrative and thematic elements of "East is East".
How does the film depict the "East vs. West" conflict?
The film portrays this conflict through the character of George, who clings to traditional Pakistani values, and his children, who attempt to navigate the modern, westernized lifestyle, leading to recurring identity crises.
What is the significance of the "Catholic procession" scene?
This scene is highlighted as a symbolic moment marking the beginning of the children's rebellion against their father’s strict, uncompromising imposition of his own religious and cultural beliefs.
How does the role of Ella represent a cultural bridge?
Ella is described as evolving from a subordinate position to a strong figure who challenges her husband’s authority, successfully fostering her children's identity development and mediating between the two cultural spheres.
- Quote paper
- Lucca Ventre (Author), 2022, The key concept of culture and the Khan family’s identity in the film "East is East", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1291781
