Lecture 1
On-stage elements
- Onstage culture is the behavior we display. It is what people who are in contact with one
another find easiest to observe and discuss. Onstage culture involves actions such as shaking
hands, bowing, or kissing upon meeting. It includes traditional ways of celebrating with food and
dances, costumes and music.
Back-stage elements
- Backstage culture is values. Backstage culture underlies what others see onstage. The actors
themselves are not always aware that their onstage behavior is culturally driven; they think their
backstage culture is simply normal. Backstage cultural aspects include the ways people make
decisions, respond to deadline, accomplish tasks, rank events by importance, and conceptualize
knowledge. If you can explain backstage behavior, you understand the why of culture.
The cultural Iceberg: