East Meets West in 'BEEF': A Hofstede-Inspired Analysis of Sino-American Cultural Dimensions

This study delves into the cultural interactions and divergences between China and the United States as portrayed in the American television series "Beef" Leveraging dialogues from the series, this research employs textual analysis and word cloud methodologies to discern the distinct cultural traits and barriers to cultural integration between Eastern and Western paradigms. Anchored in Hofstede’s cultural dimensions model, the analysis examines key dimensions including power distance, individualism versus collectivism, and uncertainty avoidance. The objective is to map out how these cultural dimensions manifest within the series and mirror broader intercultural interactions and misunderstandings. The findings offer insights into the complexities of cross-cultural communication and provide a basis for enhancing dialogue and understanding between diverse cultural groups. By exploring the portrayal of cultural differences in media, this paper contributes to academic discussions on cultural globalization and offers practical implications for cross-cultural engagements in global settings.