COM 263 Movie Analysis Paper

The Namesake
John Michael Sullivan
4/25/2015

To open my paper, Id like to address the following topics assigned to address intercultural
understanding, communication, and identity from the movie The Namesake.

Select a major character and provide examples for the various types of face needs that
are represented in the movie.

By given definition, Face is social; it refers to the public or social image of an individual that
is held by others therefore it is only meaningful when considered in relation to others in the
social network. I believe the main issue of the film and the underlying theme for the movie is his
name. Gogols name is one of the chief causes that make him feel different from others. Gogol's
namedoesn'ttiehimtoanyspecificculture.WatchingthemovieitmademethinktomyselfIf
youdon'tbelongtoaculture,whatisyourframeofreference?Whodoyoulooktoforan
example?
Gogol is not bothered by the unusual nature of his name until he is 11 years old. In the movie its
depicted while on a class trip to a cemetery Gogol realizes that his name is very unique. He
makes numerous rubbings of the other gravestones with names he has never heard before
because he relates to them. He realizes that he cannot relate to the Smiths, Collinses, or Woods
and begins to feel angry and as though he doesnt fit in.

In the face-need for approval, its expressed that Gogol is concerned with his need for others to
acknowledge his favorable social attributes and honesty. An example would be the scene in the
movie where Gogol is talking with his friends after graduation and is really thinking about
changing his name. He gives the example about a girl talking to him seductively and as he goes
into to kiss her; he says that the moment would be ruined when she says his name Gogol.
Face is also social; referring to the public or social image of an individual that is held by others
that is only meaningful when considered in relation to others in a social network. Gogols
unusual name and its meaning leads to him wanting to change his name before he heads off to
college at Yale. He informs his family that he wants to change his name to Nikhil (later shortened
to Nick) in hopes that he would be more accepted by his friends and by potential employers. He
gives an example to his parents by saying, Imagine what an employer might think with the
name Gogol Ganguli. This is also a perfect example of the mindset of Gogols social identity.
The last definition of Face is an impression, which may or may not be shared by all, that may
differ from a persons self-image. There are many impressions that play out on Gogol throughout
the film. Many impressions such as Gogols Bengali culture, his social acceptance with his
American friends, and the women he chooses to date all factor into his Face.
Gogols parents, Ashoke and Ashima, try to maintain ties with their home country and try hard to
instill in their children worship for the values of the home country. This leads into conflict as
Gogol is more fascinated by his peer group (Face Impression) and society of America and the
western world than the country of his birth. Throughout the movie Gogol tries to fit in with his
friends and only knows the ways of the busy city. He considers himself an American and is more
interested in what opportunities lie in wait. As he makes his way through life, he becomes more

and more distant from his heritage and culture. Its not until his fathers death that he really goes
and understands what the Bengali culture is really about.

Select a major character and discuss each of the 3 building blocks of identity. How is the
characters cultural, social, and personal identity represented in the film?

This also ties into what Ive answered in the previous statement. Culturally, Gogol is cut off from
his Bengali heritage and has no desire to learn about his heritage until he takes a trip with his
family to India. There in India, his eyes are opened to the world and his parents country.
Cultural identity to Gogol is comprised of changing his name to a more westernized name, dating
American women, and the disconnect from his Bengali heritage.
The title of the movie reflects the struggle that Gogol goes through to identify with his unusual
name. The problem of Gogols name symbolizes the problem of his identity. Nikhil or Nick,
replaces Gogol when he enters Yale as a freshman. At Yale, nobody knows his earlier name or
past. Gogol feels relief, confident, and starts his transformation. He can now relate himself with
American environment with an easy to pronounce name and a future with a reputable company.
He starts doing many activities that he could not dare to do as Gogol. He changes his name but
he does not feel like Nikhil. He becomes more and more distant from his family. He keeps
himself busy and his life secret, not allowing his parents to know about it. The loss of the old
name was not so easy to forget and when he visits his home on alternate weekends, Nikhil
evaporates and Gogol reenters again. He plays a game to keep the peace with his family.
Its obvious that he fears to be discovered. There is a scene in the movie that depicts this very
well. Its almost as though the director foreshadowed the events. The following example doesnt
happen until later in the movie but its very foretelling about Gogols fear of being discovered.

Nikhils wife, Moushumi knows him by his real name, Gogol. While Astrid, Donald, and the
guests at the dinner party discuss what to name Astrid's baby, Moushumi reveals to the guests
almost nonchalantly that Nikhil was not always named Nikhil. This offends him because it feels
like a betrayal of an intimate detail only she knew to people he doesn't like. Its very ironic in
the sense that Gogol tries so hard to be American and to fit the All-American lifestyle, and in the
end, just as most American marriages do, ends up in a divorce from Moushumi.
Gogol'ssocial,personal,andculturalidentityiscloselytiedtohisname.Bytheendofthe
movie,theideathattheremightbeatimewherenofamilymemberswillbearoundtocallhim
"Gogol"saddenshim.Iseethatherealizesthathelikesthatnameabitmorethanhereally
thought,notbecauseofhowitsounds,butbecauseofwhocallshimthat.

UsetheStaircaseModeloftheFourStagesofFlexibleInterculturalCommunicationto
analyzeAshimas(themother)transitionfromIndiatoAmerica.Areeachofthese
stagespresent?How?

Ashima is very vital character of the movie. When all of the other characters seem to lack
emotion, Ashima displays it in every sense. Using the Four Stages of Flexible Intercultural
Communication, Ashimas transition from India to America is drastic and to be honest, sad.
When she arrives in America, she is very isolated and cut off from the world that she knew. She
is in a strange land that has very different cultures and customs that are not familiar to her.
Ashima is at home most of the day with nothing to do while Ashoke is at the university. She has
a very hard time settling in to her new life. It was evident to me that Ashima was reluctant to try
and change to an American way of life. She has Bengali friends in the beginning and slowly it
changes to include White American friends as well.

A perfect example of the first two stage of the Four Stage model is when Ashima had just given
birth to Gogol in the hospital. As Ashima and Ashoke were awaiting the letter with the name for
the baby, the time came to fill out the birth certificate giving the baby a proper name. To Ashima,
this was strange and insulting. It was though they were forcing her to give the name to the baby
without proper respect and blessings from the family in India. Ashima didnt want to offend the
elders of the family with naming the baby before being handed down. Dr. Wilcox in the hospital
informs Ashima that she and the baby are ready to be discharged but before she could leave she
had to give the baby a name, this is an example of both the first and second steps. The first being
that Ashima was Unconsciously Incompetent with regards to the process of the naming, the
second being that she knew the custom of naming a baby at the hospital after but still insisted on
having the elders name the baby. Its not until the formalities of what would happen if the baby
didnt have a name listed that Ashima and Ashoke decided on the pet name Gogol.
The third step of the Four Stage model is expressed in a variety of examples. One being when
Ashima left the packages of gifts on the train, and the next day they were returned to her without
anything being taken. Her trust for Americans and letting down her guard was a turning point for
her. This is an eye opening experience to her and allows her to view others as good.
Another point would be after Gogol is born. Instead of crying everyday about missing her family
and hanging around the house, she turns to running errands and caring for a newborn. She uses
that as motivation and encouragement knowing that she has new responsibilities. We see a huge
change in her demeanor and attitude to the American Culture.
The last is the step I believe has been the effect of the American culture on Ashima. She begins
to work at the Library, confides in and befriends non-bengali women and has a life outside of the
house. Its very interesting to see the change in Ashima over the course of the movie. She goes

from being very connected with her Bengali roots, almost by the book, to having to face the
American Culture that her children cling to. She changes throughout the course of the movie and
in most ways for good.
In closing, I was really impressed with The Namesake. It really explores the change of the
characters and also gives a great reference to the change of immigrants into the American
Culture. Its important to have Intercultural Competence, to be understanding and respectful of
other cultures and their practices, even if you dont agree with them. When we become more of a
respectful and unified country, it will be a far better place for future generations.