Transcultural Realities: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Cross-Cultural Relations / Edition 1

by Virginia H. Milhouse, Molefi Kete Asante, Peter O. (Ogom) Nwosu

Overview

Transcultural Realities is an important collection of essays written by an outstanding cast of critical scholars who discuss the importance of transculture in interdisciplinary contexts. The primary goal of the contributors is to help the reader to understand that a state of "community" or "harmony" cannot be achieved in the world until we are all ready to accept different cultural forms, norms, and orientations.

In this book, transculture is defined as a form of culture created not from within separate spheres, but in the holistic forms of diverse cultures. It is based on the principle that a single culture, in and of itself, is incomplete and requires interaction and dialogue with other cultures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761923756
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	08/02/2001
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Molefi Asante is a distinguished scholar and is best known for creating the discipline of Black Studies over 25 years ago. He is the Editor for the Journal of Black Studies (Sage) and the Encyclopedia of Black Studies (Sage Reference, 12/04 933 units, $82k LTD). His recent research has centered on the history and present developments of African religions.

Dr. Nwosu (the n is silent) is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, Northridge. Before joining CSUN in July 2004, he taught at California State University, Sacramento for about 15 years. A nationally recognized expert on multicultural issues, communication training and development, he received his Ph.D. from Howard University in Washington D.C., with specialization in human communication processes across cultures. His work includes consultation and technical support to local and state agencies on strategies for incorporating communication in planned programs of change.

At the cornerstone of his career as a university professor and leader is his sacrosanct and inviolate commitment to diversity. His service to many local and international agencies speak to his unflinching commitment to utilize intercultural communication principles and skills to address the challenges and promises of diversity in a rapidly changing society.

Author of several writings and presentations, including two books: Transcultural realities: Interdisciplinary perspectives on cross-cultural relations (Sage, 2001) and Communication and the transformation of society: A developing region’s perspectives (University Press, 1995), he has completed work on a third book: Beyond race: A new vision of community in America. He has published articles in the International Journal of Intercultural Communications, Africa Media Review, and the Howard Journal of Communications as well as several book chapters. He has presented papers at conferences organized by the International Communication Association, the National Communication Association, the Western States Communication Association, and the African Council for Communication Education. He is Joint Editor of Africa Media Review, Associate Editor of the Journal of African Communications, member, Editorial Board, Howard Journal of Communications, and member, Editorial Board, Communication Education’s special issue on identity negotiation. He has served as invited keynote speaker on issues of fairness and equity to many organizations and groups, including the American Association of University Women's event to mark the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Nwosu has served in membership and leadership roles in the Western States Communication Association (WSCA), the National Communication Association (NCA), the African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), and the Honor Society for International Scholars, among others. He was Vice Chair and Program Planner, and later Chair of the Intercultural Communication Interest Group of WSCA, and Secretary of the Intercultural and International Communication Division of NCA, and Editor of the Division’s newsletter for two years. He has directed and participated in sponsored research and programs of the U.S. Department of Education, the African Development Foundation, the World Bank, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. As Fulbright Scholar to South Africa, he served as Project Leader under a U.S. Department of Education grant for a program designed to enhance the intercultural and international dimensions of general education courses in California public schools. He was also Secretary of the Strategic Planning Committee of the African Council for Communication Education (ACCE) that developed a strategic plan of action for the organization at its 2003 Biennial meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria.

Dr. Nwosu is very active in university and departmental governance, serving as member of the Executive Committee of the Council of Chairs, member of the Dean's Advisory Council in the College of the Arts, Media and Communication, and member of the international business program advisory council at CSUN. He has also provided leadership in shaping programmatic direction of the communication studies program, guided in part by the department’s 2003 self-study report and the Memorandum of Understanding that emerged from external review of the program. At CSUS, he was Associate Chair in the Communication Studies program, chair, academic policies committee, member, graduate studies and curriculum committees; and chair, ad hoc committee on diversity in the communication studies graduate and undergraduate programs. He also chaired the nine-member Judicial Review Board of the Faculty Senate and served on the university-wide Committee on Diversity and Equity (CODE).

His client list includes the Superior Courts of California, California Department of Social Services, California Social Work Education Center at UC, Berkeley, the Center for Human Services at the University of California at Davis, the Foundation Consortium for California’s Families and Youth, California Exposition and State Fair, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, Cal EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Integrated Waste Management Board, and Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE), among others. He worked with senior managers at South Africa’s Standard Bank, through Phambili Strategies and Solutions, a South African consulting firm, and designed a Quality Assurance tool for training of trainers on communication skills, as part of the post-apartheid transformation processes in the country.

As a teacher and scholar his work has taken him to more than 25 countries around the globe.

Table of Contents

Transculture: An Introduction
PART I
1. Perspectives on Human Communication: Implications for Transculture Theory
2. Transculture Communication in U.S. - Africa Context: Can It Help Africa's Emerging National Development?
3. Towards Transcultural Understanding: A Harmony Theory of Chinese Communication
4. Transcultural Realities and Different Ways of Knowing
5. The Effects of Computer-Mediated Communication on Transculturalism
PARTII
6. Historical Struggles Between Islamic and Christian Worldviews: An Interpretation
7. A Historiographical Survey of the Determinants of the North-South Divide in Sudan
8. An Analysis of Discourse on the Spoken and Written Words: A Historical Comparison of European and African Views
PART III
9. Multiple Identities: The Case of Biracial Children
10. Culturally-Based Conception of the Black Self-Concept
11. Communication and Social Scientific Discourse: Towards an Understanding of the Dubosian Perspective
12. Social Cognition and Racial Stereotyping in Television: Consequences for Transculturalism
PART IV
13. Intercultural Adaptation: A Stranger But Not Strange
14. The Impact of Cultural Dynamics on the Newcomer to the Organizational Environment
15. Research and Training in Cross-cultural Re-adjustment: Recommendations for Advancements
PART V
16. Toward and Ethic of Intercultural Communication Research
17. Afrocentric Empiricism: A Model for Communication Research in Africa
18. Frameworks for Assessing contact as a Tool for Reducing Prejudice
19. The Kemetic Paradigm: An Afrocentric Foundation for Rhetorical Theory

Editorial Reviews

This volume touches on a wide variety of issues that derive from some aspect of cultural difference. . . . The editors have brought together a rich blend of advocacy and several excellent reviews of specific research fields.”

Contemporary Psychology

Nineteen essays discuss the significance of cross-cultural dialogue and emphasize the importance of cultural diversity. In so doing, the essays re-draw the boundaries of "culture" so as to highlight the need for influences from other cultures. Particular attention is given to historical and religious struggles within and between nations, racial identities in the U.S., the transformative effects of exposure to other cultures, and future directions for transcultural research. Contributors are scholars in communication, justice studies, African- American studies, linguistics, and sociology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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