Communication and Culture in Green Book: An Ethnographic Study

Abstract

This study investigates the ethnography of communication through a qualitative content analysis design of Peter Farrelly’s 2018 film Green Book. By concentrating on the character Tony Vallelonga, it illustrates how communication can connect cultural and ethnic divides, employing Dell Hymes' S.P.E.A.K.I.N.G. model as a method of analysis. Set in the racially segregated American South during the 1960s, the film provides a detailed examination of how language, behavior, and social attitudes develop in racially charged environments. The examination underscores three fundamental elements of the S.P.E.A.K.I.N.G model: setting, participants, and ends. These components are employed to examine the evolution of Tony's communication as his relationship with Dr. Don Shirley, an African American pianist, deepens. Tony exhibits significant variations in his communication patterns over the course of the movie. Initially, it lacks formality, displays rudeness, and shows insensitivity towards diverse cultures. But by the end, it shows a deeper sense of empathy, respect, and cultural awareness. This transformation not only exemplifies individual development but also highlights the capacity of communication to act as a conduit across deeply rooted societal divisions. Through the analysis of setting, participants and ends, the study elucidates the ways in which cinematic narratives can simultaneously depict and interrogate societal norms concerning race, identity, and power. This research significantly enhances the domains of sociolinguistics and media studies by illustrating how film serves as a medium for the exploration and comprehension of the ethnography of communication