Cian Carlo M.

Gallo
Nathanielz Von Magdael
Marc Paliza
2D-MT
Departures
After analyzing the movie "departures", our group has concluded on two vital cultural
aspects that is present in the film. One is that Culture is still affecting an individual even after
death. We have noticed that fitting or dressing the "departed" is a very important tradition in
Japanese culture. The departed would still undergo processes like the "cleansing for the next
life". Even if the departed individual does not actively participate in the traditions, he or she is
still part of the tradition of death because the family would still undergo the cultural tradition
necessary for the departed to pass on. Another aspect that we have noticed is that there are
always biases to those individuals who go against the norms of the cultural system. An example
of this is on one of the departed that the main protagonist dressed for the funeral. The departed
was a young boy who likes to cross-dress. According to the parents of that young boy, the
probable reason for his suicide was that the discrimination that the young boy felt from his
peers and even from his parents, who were against him cross-dressing. In our point of view, the
boy was treated as such because he was going against the cultural norm by cross-dressing,
which is dressing according to your gender. Another example of this is when the protagonist
was dressing a girl who was killed in a biking accident. The mother of the departed hated how
her daughter looked and got angry with the protagonist because he did not change her
appearance to that of someone who followed the cultural norm. Culture is a powerful force
because it somehow distinguishes what is normal and what is different in the society. Our own
ancestors followed the same set of norms and passed it on to their children and further
strengthening it. In the movie "Ded na si Lolo", many Filipino cultural traditions were showed
during the interment of the dead like the coffin of the departed one should not be carried by a
relative because it was said to cause bad luck and misfortune. One of the characters in the movie
said "Sumunod na lang tayo dahil wala naman mawawala kung susundin natin". In Philippines,
"Pamahiin" were followed because it is already a part of our culture. In our group's opinion, an
individual can change culture if he/she decides to question it. Culture should be understood by
an individual because society would treat that individual as an outsider if he/she does not
follow the same set of norms and rules. Different countries have different culture and different
sets of norms, therefore, one should understand first their culture to be a part of their society
and to avoid such misunderstandings.