In this reflection from the introduction to the Global Engagement class, I wrote about a few thoughts I had after watching the movie Crossing Borders. This is a movie about some students from Spain who go to Morocco for a class trip. It explores geopolitical concerns between these two countries and how they may be rooted in prejudiced ideas.
It is tough to assess this reflection in terms of cultural self-awareness, because the reference point was American culture rather than my own. My reflection offered insights into American culture and criticized certain flawed occurrences. For example, I spoke about how America has weaponized patriotism as a tool for oppression. We still see this in modern times, where the public is being told that immigration is a threat to their “American-ness” and patriotism means fighting to preserve American identity by taking a stand against immigration. It is very interesting to see how things have worsened since the time I wrote this reflection in 205.
In this reflection, I understood that there was a complex historical context surrounding the politics. I wrote about how this could be rooted in prejudice and islamophobia. Spain’s anti-immigrant attitudes are ironic given their former colonial presence in Africa, South America, and the Caribbean Islands, and how they built their nation from the exploitation of these regions.
I did not have much sympathy for the Spanish students in this movie, and I still don’t. I believe it was necessary for them to experience and grapple with these harsh truths. It is important for people to know their history, no matter how ugly it is, especially when it heavily influences contemporary geopolitical issues.
I was very curious about the tensions between these two countries, and after watching that movie, I watched several documentaries that explained the historical context better. I find the topic of openness to dialogue heavily nuanced and tough to navigate as an African and a person of color. When there is an unequal power dynamic, I think it is difficult to “develop interactions” with all groups of people. These dynamics come into play, making me more hesitant to approach different groups, especially dominant ones. If dialogue is not properly facilitated or moderated, it may give a false impression of equality that does not exist.
Overall, I would evaluate this reflection as a piece that showed curiosity, critical thinking, and an awareness of power dynamics. Still, it could have gone further in developing a more balanced and holistic engagement with the Film’s intercultural dimensions. Since this reflection was written under a limited word count, some parts of my analysis were not fully developed. Still, it helped me begin thinking about how history, prejudice, immigration, patriotism, and unequal power relations shape intercultural encounters.
Reference
Wächter, A. (Director). (2009). Crossing borders [Film]. Crossing Borders Films.
