Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film <i>You People</i> in Pop Culture

Gertrude Misornu Nartey

doi:doi:10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11

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Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture

Gertrude Misornu Nartey^*

Published in Communication and Linguistics Studies (Volume 11, Issue 2)

Received: 2 January 2025 Accepted: 27 January 2025 Published: 29 April 2025

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Abstract

Scholars have asserted that the idea of whiteness has often re-emerged as invisible, non-labeled, and unmarked, and this idea is continuously propagated through media representation. Furthermore, many scholars have argued that media representation functions as a tool for (re)constructing a particular worldview. Hence, the representation of intercultural relationships in popular culture (pop culture) often emphasizes cultural differences and conflicts, especially when the performance of whiteness is involved. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the representation of intercultural relationships by analyzing how the film You People depicts cultural differences and conflicts in the context of intercultural relationships and why whiteness is performed and propagated in these narratives. A critical thematic analysis was used to analyze the dialogues in the movie. The findings align with existing research demonstrating that the film emphasizes cultural differences and often employs negative stereotypes to highlight conflicts between cultural groups. However, a significant new theme emerged, showcasing how the characters navigated and worked through their differences to maintain their relationships. This theme presents a more hopeful perspective, suggesting potential pathways for intercultural understanding and collaboration, which also brings out nuances that question whether the media is challenging or perpetuating whiteness. This study contributes to intercultural communication by highlighting the dual role of pop culture both as a site for reinforcing stereotypes and as a space for imagining possibilities of intercultural harmony. Ultimately, the study highlights the need for a more nuanced intercultural communication representation.

Published in	Communication and Linguistics Studies (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11
Page(s)	42-52
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Intercultural Marriages, Intercultural Relationships, Whiteness, The Performance of Whiteness, Representation, Pop Culture

References

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Nartey, G. M. (2025). Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture. Communication and Linguistics Studies, 11(2), 42-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11

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Nartey, G. M. Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture. Commun. Linguist. Stud. 2025, 11(2), 42-52. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11

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AMA Style

Nartey GM. Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture. Commun Linguist Stud. 2025;11(2):42-52. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11

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@article{10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11,
  author = {Gertrude Misornu Nartey},
  title = {Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture
},
  journal = {Communication and Linguistics Studies},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {42-52},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cls.20251102.11},
  abstract = {Scholars have asserted that the idea of whiteness has often re-emerged as invisible, non-labeled, and unmarked, and this idea is continuously propagated through media representation. Furthermore, many scholars have argued that media representation functions as a tool for (re)constructing a particular worldview. Hence, the representation of intercultural relationships in popular culture (pop culture) often emphasizes cultural differences and conflicts, especially when the performance of whiteness is involved. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the representation of intercultural relationships by analyzing how the film You People depicts cultural differences and conflicts in the context of intercultural relationships and why whiteness is performed and propagated in these narratives. A critical thematic analysis was used to analyze the dialogues in the movie. The findings align with existing research demonstrating that the film emphasizes cultural differences and often employs negative stereotypes to highlight conflicts between cultural groups. However, a significant new theme emerged, showcasing how the characters navigated and worked through their differences to maintain their relationships. This theme presents a more hopeful perspective, suggesting potential pathways for intercultural understanding and collaboration, which also brings out nuances that question whether the media is challenging or perpetuating whiteness. This study contributes to intercultural communication by highlighting the dual role of pop culture both as a site for reinforcing stereotypes and as a space for imagining possibilities of intercultural harmony. Ultimately, the study highlights the need for a more nuanced intercultural communication representation.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture

AU  - Gertrude Misornu Nartey
Y1  - 2025/04/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11
T2  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
JF  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
JO  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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AB  - Scholars have asserted that the idea of whiteness has often re-emerged as invisible, non-labeled, and unmarked, and this idea is continuously propagated through media representation. Furthermore, many scholars have argued that media representation functions as a tool for (re)constructing a particular worldview. Hence, the representation of intercultural relationships in popular culture (pop culture) often emphasizes cultural differences and conflicts, especially when the performance of whiteness is involved. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the representation of intercultural relationships by analyzing how the film You People depicts cultural differences and conflicts in the context of intercultural relationships and why whiteness is performed and propagated in these narratives. A critical thematic analysis was used to analyze the dialogues in the movie. The findings align with existing research demonstrating that the film emphasizes cultural differences and often employs negative stereotypes to highlight conflicts between cultural groups. However, a significant new theme emerged, showcasing how the characters navigated and worked through their differences to maintain their relationships. This theme presents a more hopeful perspective, suggesting potential pathways for intercultural understanding and collaboration, which also brings out nuances that question whether the media is challenging or perpetuating whiteness. This study contributes to intercultural communication by highlighting the dual role of pop culture both as a site for reinforcing stereotypes and as a space for imagining possibilities of intercultural harmony. Ultimately, the study highlights the need for a more nuanced intercultural communication representation.

VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Gertrude Misornu Nartey

Department of Communication, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, United States

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http://orcid.org/0009-0001-5617-1576

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Nartey, G. M. (2025). Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture. Communication and Linguistics Studies, 11(2), 42-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11

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Nartey, G. M. Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture. Commun. Linguist. Stud. 2025, 11(2), 42-52. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11

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AMA Style

Nartey GM. Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture. Commun Linguist Stud. 2025;11(2):42-52. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11

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@article{10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11,
  author = {Gertrude Misornu Nartey},
  title = {Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture
},
  journal = {Communication and Linguistics Studies},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {42-52},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cls.20251102.11},
  abstract = {Scholars have asserted that the idea of whiteness has often re-emerged as invisible, non-labeled, and unmarked, and this idea is continuously propagated through media representation. Furthermore, many scholars have argued that media representation functions as a tool for (re)constructing a particular worldview. Hence, the representation of intercultural relationships in popular culture (pop culture) often emphasizes cultural differences and conflicts, especially when the performance of whiteness is involved. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the representation of intercultural relationships by analyzing how the film You People depicts cultural differences and conflicts in the context of intercultural relationships and why whiteness is performed and propagated in these narratives. A critical thematic analysis was used to analyze the dialogues in the movie. The findings align with existing research demonstrating that the film emphasizes cultural differences and often employs negative stereotypes to highlight conflicts between cultural groups. However, a significant new theme emerged, showcasing how the characters navigated and worked through their differences to maintain their relationships. This theme presents a more hopeful perspective, suggesting potential pathways for intercultural understanding and collaboration, which also brings out nuances that question whether the media is challenging or perpetuating whiteness. This study contributes to intercultural communication by highlighting the dual role of pop culture both as a site for reinforcing stereotypes and as a space for imagining possibilities of intercultural harmony. Ultimately, the study highlights the need for a more nuanced intercultural communication representation.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Performing Whiteness in Intercultural Marriages: A Critical Analysis of the Film You People in Pop Culture

AU  - Gertrude Misornu Nartey
Y1  - 2025/04/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11
T2  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
JF  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
JO  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
SP  - 42
EP  - 52
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2380-2529
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251102.11
AB  - Scholars have asserted that the idea of whiteness has often re-emerged as invisible, non-labeled, and unmarked, and this idea is continuously propagated through media representation. Furthermore, many scholars have argued that media representation functions as a tool for (re)constructing a particular worldview. Hence, the representation of intercultural relationships in popular culture (pop culture) often emphasizes cultural differences and conflicts, especially when the performance of whiteness is involved. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the representation of intercultural relationships by analyzing how the film You People depicts cultural differences and conflicts in the context of intercultural relationships and why whiteness is performed and propagated in these narratives. A critical thematic analysis was used to analyze the dialogues in the movie. The findings align with existing research demonstrating that the film emphasizes cultural differences and often employs negative stereotypes to highlight conflicts between cultural groups. However, a significant new theme emerged, showcasing how the characters navigated and worked through their differences to maintain their relationships. This theme presents a more hopeful perspective, suggesting potential pathways for intercultural understanding and collaboration, which also brings out nuances that question whether the media is challenging or perpetuating whiteness. This study contributes to intercultural communication by highlighting the dual role of pop culture both as a site for reinforcing stereotypes and as a space for imagining possibilities of intercultural harmony. Ultimately, the study highlights the need for a more nuanced intercultural communication representation.

VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download