Blindsight

1.   What types of cultural diversity are present in the movie?

There are two types of cultural diversity; firstly is western culture shown by the German woman who sets up a school for the blind in Tibet and Erik the blind American mountaineer volunteers to guide blind children up Everest . Both are western and the culture is based in Christianity.

Secondly the Tibetan tradition is based on Buddhism. The traditional Tibetan view is that blindness is a form of divine punishment for sins committed in a previous life or incarnation. As the Tibetan woman who said ‘without eyes a man is not complete‘. On the other hand the western desire to overcome disability, to achieve, to get to the top. For example the support that Erik received from his father when learning to hike.

2.   What are some of the challenges people in the movie encounter?

The first challenge that they face is blindness. In addition is a physical challenge of lack of oxygen at high altitude. Also family problems, such as: Erik was losing both his sight and his mother at an early age. And the blind girl is with 2 blind brothers and a blind father, Her mother died of a heart attack, leaving her daughter with no effective support.

3.   What are some examples of stereotyping, prejudice, bias and /or discrimination in the movie?

Tashi finds it difficult to gain acceptance because he is a street kid. . Also, the boy who was sent away to live with a Chinese couple and he was beaten by them when he failed to beg enough money, or when the money was stolen from him. 

4.   What challenges do people face as result of personality rather than culture?

The Chinese couple are beating the blind beggar and this is a challenge caused by personality, rather than culture, like the cigarette burns on Tashi's body.

5.   What benefits are there for the people in the movie as a result of their differing cultures?

The benefits are the Tibetan girl gets a place in an English language school. Also Tashi found his father with a lot of help from the western culture.