From a cross-cultural research to a film cross-analysis of Italian and American cultural generalizations and stereotypes: My Name is Tanino and Under the Tuscan Sun

Abstract

Abstract This article develops from a wider inter-university research project that focused on the analysis of reciprocal forms of representation of United States and Italy within media industries, and proposes a cross-analysis of the films My Name is Tanino directed by and Under the Tuscan Sun by . The aim is to highlight how both films refer to cultural generalizations and stereotypes in regards to American and Italian cultures in a complementary way. To identify the recurring elements of the communicative frame, the article takes an approach based on the recognition of high-context and low-context styles. Finally, to deepen the films’ shared logic of intercultural representation, this article proposes a further interpretative approach based on the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) (), useful in categorizing recurrent attitudes towards cultural differences such as denial, minimization, defence, acceptance, integration and adaptation.