My Big Fat Greek Wedding

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF DUBAI

Anthropology ATH 111 MY BIG BI G FA FAT GREEK GRE EK WEDDING WEDDING HAREEM ARSHAD 8/11/2015 SubmitTed SubmitTed t D!" D!" #$%m # $%m Si$&' Si $&'

My Big Fat Greek Wedding Anthropological Analysis I$t!du(ti$ When you come from  !"#erent culture$ e%pec"lly &hen you re %o ttche! to tht culture$ "t 'ecome% (ery !")cult to h(e to go g"n%t your u%ul culturl &y%* Try"ng to ple%e your fm"ly n! your%elf cn e(en 'ecome  chllenge$ &hen the t&o of you &nt lternt"(e th"ng%$ n! h(e %uch contr%t"ng po"nt of ("e&%* My B"g Ft Gree+ We!!"ng "%  romnt"c come!y, &h"ch tell%  %tory 'out  young Amer"cn &omn of Gree+ !e%cent nme! Toul$ &ho l"(e% "n -h"cgo &"th her '"g fm"ly* -om"ng from  (ery tr!"t"onl up'r"ng"ng$ %he fce% the !eep .ue%t"on% of pr"or"t"e% "n l"fe* Rng"ng from the role of fm"ly "n  contemporry %oc"ety$ to the pre%%ure% plce! upon her 'y her culturl norm%* Th"ng% ren/t go"ng &ell 'ecu%e her eccentr"c fther "n%"%t% on her 0n!"ng  goo! hu%'n! o'("ou%ly of Gree+ or"g"n* ne !y Toul meet%  young Amer"cn 2 Yn n! they fll "n lo(e* Toul/% fther !oe% not l"+e the "!e of h"% !ughter not 'e"ng hppy %o he g"(e% "n n! 'le%%e% the"r un"on* In th"% mo("e &e 0n! out &ht the young Amer"cn h% to lern n! un!er%tn! to get to +no& more 'out the Gree+ the culture* The concept% tht I/ll 'e co(er"ng "n th"% nly%"% re of 3tr"rchy4Mle Dom"nnce$ Ethnocentr"%m4-ulturl Relt"("%m$ In!"("!ul"%t"c n! -ollect"("%t"c culture% n! -ulture -hnge*

#%t!i%!(') /Ge$de! !*e+   #%t!i%!(') "% %oc"l %y%tem "n &h"ch the po&er "% hel! 'y men$ through culturl norm% n! cu%tom% tht f(or men n! &"thhol! opportun"ty from &omen* It %eem% l"+e "n Toul/% fm"ly the fther mnge% e(eryth"ng* He "% the he! of the"r fm"ly$ n! h"% &or! "% l&* Th"% "% n e5mple of typ"cl ptr"rchy* Mle% !om"nte ll !ec"%"on m+"ng* It "% "mportnt to note tht Toul/% fther6 Gu% repre%ent% the (o"ce of the Gree+ %oc"ety "n -h"cgo % he tr"e% to "mpo%e norm% upon h"% !ughter* For e5mple7 &hen In cme to Toul/% hou%e to %pe+ &"th her fther n! %+ "f he coul! mrry her* In the 'eg"nn"ng Gu% &oul!n/t gree n! he !efen!e! h"% po%"t"on (ery clerly 'ut fter %ome t"me Gu% chnge! h"% op"n"on 'out Toul/% relt"on%h"p &"th n Amer"cn mn* An! 0nlly he ccepte! the fct tht h"% !ughter "% go"ng to mrry the per%on of  !"#erent culturl 'c+groun!* It "%

once g"n the e5mple of typ"cl ptr"rchy 'ecu%e &"thout Gu%8% 'le%%"ng the mrr"ge &oul!n8t h(e t+en plce "n the future* H"% &or! n! !ec"%"on re l& n! no'o!y "n fm"ly &oul! confront h"m* We cn %ee "t "n the %cene &hen Gu% &% not hppy to %ee h"% Amer"cn %on "n l&* He &% (ery ngry n! he !"! not &nt to %pe+ &"th In* Toul &% (ery up%et n! ner(ou%* Mr"$ Toul8% mother$ &% up%et % &ell* They rel"9e! tht "f Gu% !"!n/t ccept In$ the mrr"ge &% out of the .ue%t"on n! Toul &oul! not 'e hppy 'ecu%e %he cn8t confront her fther/% !ec"%"on*

Ge$de! R*e+ We cn %ee  cler !"("%"on 'et&een &omen8% n! men8% po%"t"on throughout the mo("e* The tr!"t"onl Gree+ &omn/% role "% m!e (ery cler$ %trt"ng &"th Toul/% (o"ce6o(er monologue t the 'eg"nn"ng* Accor!"ng to Toul$ :N"ce Gree+ g"rl% re %uppo%e! to !o three th"ng% "n l"fe7 mrry Gree+ 'oy%$ m+e Gree+ ''"e%$ n! fee! e(eryone unt"l the !y &e !"e*;  The%e gol% re ep"tom"9e! "n Athen$ Toul/% ol!er %"%ter$ &ho :mrr"e! young n! 'ecme  Gree+ ''y6'ree!"ng mch"ne;* Accor!"ng to her fm"ly/% norm%$ &omen &ho re not mrr"e! &or+ "n the fm"ly 'u%"ne%% n! re con%"!ere!  f"lure* In the"r turn men %houl! &or+ n! protect the fm"ly* In th"% mo("e ccor!"ng to Gu% &omen !on8t nee! e!uct"on* An! &e %ee h"% !"%content &hen Toul %+% h"m 'out her go"ng to college* Gu% !"! not &nt her !ughter to %tu!y* He &nte! h"% !ughter to get mrr"e! n! h(e ch"l!ren* We %ee the !"#erence "n Toul/% n! Gu%8% op"n"on% "n the %cene% &here Toul &% !rem"ng of gett"ng e!uct"on $  goo! often fee!"ng people &hen they re not e(en hungry?* But there re l%o "n%tnce% &hen Mr" 're+% the %u'm"%%"(e role n! t+e%  more !om"nnt po%"t"on* When Toul &nt% to go to college 'ut Gu% re%"%t%$ % I ment"one! erl"er$ Mr" re%%ure% her !ughter tht %he &"ll tl+ to h"m* Accor!"ng to Mr"$ :The mn "% the he!$ 'ut the &omn "% the nec+$ n! %he cn turn the he! ny &y %he &nt%*; Mr" u%e% gu"lt to cu%e Gu% to chnge h"% m"n!* In th"% c%e "t "% not the mn &"th the po&er$ lthough he my th"n+ he h% "t$ 'ut the &omn* The%e &or!% re put "nto ct"on "n the %cene$ &hen Mr" %et% "n plce  pln tht m+e% Gu% th"n+ tht Toul &or+"ng "n the tr(el gency &% h"% "!e*

Although Gu% th"n+% tht he h% '%olute control o(er h"% fm"ly$ &ht Mr" !oe% "% to cle(erly mn"pulte the %"tut"on "n her f(or* Toul "% l%o %een try"ng to !efy the (ery tr!"t"onl gen!er role%* Toul 're+% the mol! 'y 0r%t go"ng to college n! then le("ng the fm"ly re%turnt to &or+ t  tr(el gency e(en though %he "%n/t mrr"e!* Toul chllenge% her fther/% po&er &hen %he !te% In$  non6Gree+* =he "% 0ght"ng the un&r"tten rule tht ll &omen h(e to mrry &ho the"r fther &"%he%* Toul n! In h(e n egl"tr"n relt"on%h"p % ne"ther of them put them%el(e% "n "mportnce 'o(e the other*

C**e(ti,i+ti(/I$di,idu%*i+ti( (u*tu!e+ In th"% mo("e &e cn clerly trce the concept% of collect"("%t"c n! "n!"("!ul"%t"c culture* Toul/% fm"ly repre%ent% the Gree+ collect"("%t"c culture* F"r%t of ll I &oul! l"+e to e5pl"n &ht m+e% the%e t&o culture% !"#erent* -ollect"("%t culture "% the one "n &h"ch people ten! to ("e& them%el(e% % mem'er% of group%> fm"l"e%$ &or+ un"t%$ tr"'e%$ nt"on%?$ n! u%ully con%"!er the nee!% of the group to 'e more "mportnt thn the nee!% of "n!"("!ul%$ they re (ery ,e!ti(%* &here  lot of po&er n! re%pect "% g"(en to el!er%* In!"("!ul"%t"c culture% on the other hn!$ re tho%e tht %tre%% the nee!% of the "n!"("!ul o(er the nee!% of the group %  &hole*  They re '!i-$t%* n! the !ec"%"on m+"ng "! "n the "n!"("!ul/% hn!% % oppo%e to the el!er%* In th"% type of culture$ people re %een % "n!epen!ent n! utonomou%* =oc"l 'eh("or ten!% to 'e !"ctte! 'y the tt"tu!e% n! preference% of "n!"("!ul%* -ulture% "n North Amer"c n! We%tern Europe ten! to 'e "n!"("!ul"%t"c$ &here% mo%t A%"n culture% ten! to 'e collect"("%t* Ho&e(er$ "n th"% 0lm &e come cro%% the e5mple of Gree+ collect"("%t"c culture &here e(ery mem'er of  lrge fm"ly "% up &"th !o"ng% of other% relt"(e%* E(ery'o!y "% (ery "ntere%te! "n +"n%mn/% l"fe* We cn o'%er(e "t "n the %cene &here Toul/% prent% re tl+"ng 'out the"r !ughter/% l"fe &"th  Toul/% unt* Aunt %ho&e! n enormou% "ntere%t "n Toul/% l"fe n! "n l"fe of ll her fm"ly* =he %+% .ue%t"on%$ g"(e% !("ce%* An! %he %pe+% 'out Toul l"+e 'out her o&n !ughter* It men% tht ll fm"ly mem'er% re (ery clo%e n! "mportnt to ech other* Dur"ng the mo("e$ %he %truggle% to get her fm"ly/% cceptnce &h"le %truggl"ng &"th her o&n "nternl"9e! I%%ue% 'out her culturl "!ent"ty$ n! her %truggle &"th the rule% n! (lue%* =he fce% the cl%h 'et&een her collect"("%t"c culture n! &"th tht of the Amer"cn "n!"("!ul"%t"c culture$ &h"ch re pole% prt*

Et'$(e$t!i+m/(u*tu!%* !e*%ti,i+m/(u*tu!e +'(.  In rece"(e%  (u*tu!e +'(.  &hen he 0n!% out the type of fm"ly  Toul "% from* -ompre! &"th Toul/% '"g fm"ly he come% from n only ch"l! Amer"cn fm"ly* In her fm"ly not only "% there  Mom n! D! n! 'rother n! %"%ter$ there re unt% n! uncle%$ en!le%% no* of cou%"n% n!  l"(e6"n Grn!m % &ell* There "%  %cene !ep"ct"ng
Et'$(e$t!i+m "%  m
:There re t&o +"n!% of people7 Gree+% n! e(ery'o!y el%e &ho &"%h they &ere Gree+%;* Toul/% fther l%o con%tntly %tte% tht he cn trce ny &or! 'c+ to Gree+ or"g"n%* He %y%$ /G"(e me  &or!$ ny &or!$ n! I %ho& you tht the root of tht &or! "% Gree+//* Ho&e(er %trong the"r ethnocentr"%m &%$ they !"! open up "n the mo("e* A% &e h(e %een the"r Gree+ !ughter foun! the le%t Gree+ guy to mrry* Noth"ng 'out h"m &% Gree+ n! e(en though they hte! "t t 0r%t$ they 0nlly opene! up to h"m* =he 'eg"n% 'y !t"ng h"m %ecretly$ &h"le ly"ng to her fm"ly n! tell"ng her fm"ly %he "% t+"ng  pottery cl%%$ "n fer tht they &"ll 0n! out %he "% !t"ng  non6Gree+ mn* When her fm"ly !oe% 0n! out$ they pre%%ure her to le(e h"m* =he %tte% tht %he lo(e% h"m n! cont"nue% her relt"on%h"p &"th h"m* In then pop% the .ue%t"on, Toul ccept%$ cu%"ng her fther to go "nto  gret %hoc+ n! !epre%%"on*

A((u*tu!%ti$/(u*tu!%* +)mb*i+m Mny of the %cene% %ho&c%e the !"#erence% 'et&een In/% Wh"te Anglo6=5on 3rote%tnt fm"ly n! Toul/% Gree+ one* Employ"ng the u%ul culturl %tereotype% of WA=3% % clo%e! o# n! re%tr"ne!$ n! of Gree+% % e5pre%%"(e n! out6go"ng$ the 0lm %ho&% the !")cult"e% the t&o prentl genert"on% h(e "n ccept"ng tht the"r ch"l!ren re 'ecom"ng prt of  fm"ly %o !"#erent from the"r o&n* A% they %truggle to connect &"th ech other$ the prent% %ho& the rel !"#erence% 'et&een them* My B"g Ft Gree+ We!!"ng portry% Toul !"%co(er"ng tht %he cnnot completely 'n!on her fm"ly n! "t% &y of l"fe !e%p"te her lo(e for In* uc+"ly for her$ In "% h"m%elf completely pl"'le n! gree% to !o &hte(er "t t+e% to get Toul/% fm"ly to ccept h"m n! the"r lo(e* A% the 0lm cr"t"c"9e% Gu% for !emn!"ng o'e!"ence from Toul rther thn %upport"ng her .ue%t for ful0llment on her o&n term%$ "t !oe% not re.u"re tht the young lo(er% 're+ up* The only .ue%t"on "% ho& to "ntegrte In "nto "t* In Gree+ culture there re %ome r"tul% &h"ch the hu%'n! n! &"fe to 'e %houl! go through* The 1%t one "% tht the"r un"on %houl! 'e 'le%%e! 'y the fther of the fm"ly* The ne5t r"tul "% tht 'oth mem'er% of the future un"on %houl! 'e ortho!o5* We &"tne%% In8% chr"%ten"ng ccor!"ng to the Gree+ rtho!o5 -hurch tr!"t"on%* He gree! to "t 'ecu%e of h"% lo(e for  Toul n! "t &% the only &y for h"m to get perm"%%"on n!  'le%%"ng to mrry her from the fm"ly* In/% "% %ho&"ng %((u*tu!%ti$ % he &% 'pt"9e! 'y n rtho!o5 pr"e%t "n n rtho!o5 -hurch "n the pre%ence of ll

the mem'er% of Toul8% fm"ly* The r! %tep "%  '"g &e!!"ng cele'rt"on &"th lot% of tr!"t"onl !"%he%* We %ee "n the mo("e n enormou% &e!!"ng &"th mny gue%t%* The tr!"t"onl &e!!"ng ceremony "n the church form% prt of the r"tul &h"ch "% follo&e! 'y  '"g prty "n the re%turnt &"th gret plte% of foo!* All th"% "%  !"#erent culturl %ym'ol &h"ch "% (ery "mportnt "n the Gree+ culture* Therefore "t cn 'e conclu!e! tht In/% !ec"%"on to 'e 'pt"9e! cn le! to %ho&"ng +ey %oc"olog"cl concept% of %%"m"lt"on 'ecu%e he &"ll 'e &"th h"% &"fe e(ery !y n! &"ll %ee ho& to 'e "n  Gree+ rtho!o5 fm"ly n! my !o tr!"t"on% or ct"on% of h"% &"fe/% fm"ly*

C$(*u+i$ My B"g Ft Gree+ &e!!"ng %ho&% ("e&% of the &orl! of tr!"t"onl Gree+ culture$ the foo!$ the lou!ne%%$ n! the %trong fm"ly (lue%* The mo("e %ho&% the +ey %oc"olog"cl4nthropolog"cl concept% of ccommo!t"on 'ecu%e the 0lm portry% the nee! to o(ercome ethn"c !"#erence% &h"le not !"m"n"%h"ng the 'euty of ethn"c tr!"t"on* Toul %truggle% to get her fm"ly/% cceptnce &h"le %truggl"ng &"th her o&n "nternl"9e! I%%ue% 'out her culturl "!ent"ty$ n! her %truggle &"th the rule% n! (lue%* (erll$ there re !e0n"te gen!er% role% !e%cr"'e! throughout the mo("e, the%e role% re 'e"ng chllenge! "n%te! of perpetut"ng them* In the en!$ though Toul h% mrr"e!$ 'ecome  mother$ n! "% %en!"ng her !ughter to  Gree+ %chool* =he h% up! the gen!er role% 'y tten!"ng college$ m+"ng "n!epen!ent relt"on%h"p !ec"%"on% n! mrry"ng the mn of her !rem%* In generl the mo("e &% gret$ I relly en