From: inteligencialtda
This article explores various cultural aspects and societal norms in Brazil, Germany, and France, drawing comparisons and highlighting differences as perceived by individuals living in or visiting these countries.
Social Interactions and Politeness
Different countries exhibit varied approaches to social interactions and directness in communication:
- In France, people may not directly invite others to go out, lacking a specific concept of “friendship” in the same way as Brazil [01:18:35]. French individuals are noted for their shyness when approaching women [01:12:13].
- Brazilians are generally described as very playful [02:20:37] and have a “lightness” to them [02:20:35].
- Brazilian culture tends to be indirect, with people often saying things with excessive politeness or trying to avoid direct negative answers to prevent upsetting others [01:15:57]. For example, if someone doesn’t want to work with a person, they might use polite language to soften the rejection [01:15:57]. This contrasts with French culture, where directly telling someone the truth is seen as a way to help them [01:16:33].
- In Brazil, when inviting someone out, the inviter typically pays, unlike in other countries where each person pays their own way [01:17:26]. However, there are exceptions [01:17:41].
Humor and Comedy
The nature of humor varies significantly across these cultures:
- Brazilian humor is characterized by laughing at misfortune and self-ridicule [02:29:49] [02:55:07]. This is sometimes compared to North African or Algerian brown humor, which also finds humor in difficult situations [02:29:57].
- French humor, particularly among those not of immigrant origin, is described as drier and relies more on observation, similar to English humor [02:37:38] [02:38:47]. It can be difficult for Brazilians to discern if a French statement is a joke or serious [02:39:47].
- In France, there is a concept of turning pain into laughter [02:38:22].
- Comedy scenes in Brazil tend to have more restricted limits on humor compared to Europe [02:39:17]. Brazilians are seen to “criminalize” certain topics, which can devalue real problems [02:42:45].
- For a foreign comedian’s experience in Brazil, there’s a strong audience that is highly engaged with social media content [03:33:15].
- In Germany, people are more open to jokes about their country [02:52:25]. Sensitive topics, such as historical events, are generally avoided in German comedy [02:52:50].
Social Media Usage and Privacy
There are distinct cultural attitudes towards social media and personal privacy:
- Brazil is considered the second country globally for time spent on social media, after the United States [03:38:36].
- In France, there’s a perceived taboo or reluctance to idolize or follow people on social media [03:39:59]. They generally prefer not to expose their private lives [03:52:24]. French Instagram profiles often feature more artistic or “contemporary photographer” style photos rather than personal life snapshots [03:36:16].
- German friends are also noted for not using social media extensively, partly due to historical context (East Germany’s history of surveillance) [03:18:06].
Perceptions of Wealth and Economic Issues
Different interpretations of wealth and economic status exist:
- In Brazil, being considered “rich” might simply mean having enough money to buy a house [02:13:09]. Taking a trip to Europe or buying designer clothes can also lead to someone being perceived as rich [02:14:14].
- In Germany, there is a concept that being homeless can be an option due to government support, meaning one wouldn’t necessarily “suffer” on the streets [03:20:25].
Attitudes Towards Foreigners and Immigrants
Foreigners’ experiences in Brazil and European views on American influence:
- Foreigners in Brazil, especially those new to the country, might be taken advantage of financially, for example, being charged more for items [01:02:59] [01:03:31].
- There’s an observation that the warmer the climate, the more welcoming people tend to be, potentially correlating with less material wealth [02:34:40].
- In France, there is some resistance, particularly from older generations, to American cultural influence like Disneyland [02:04:54] [02:27:34]. There is a sense of cultural imposition [02:57:42].
- American cultural products, such as superhero movies, are popular in Germany and France, but French cinema is very different, often being longer, black and white, and focused on reflection rather than plot [03:00:00] [03:47:00].
Other Cultural Nuances
- Football (Soccer): The passion for football is extremely high in Brazil, where the World Cup is watched by almost everyone [03:37:52]. In France, interest in football is smaller, with many people not caring about the World Cup [03:37:52].
- Nudity and Liberalism: In Brazil, public nudity is common during carnival, but in saunas, going nude with in-laws is not. Topless sunbathing is frowned upon on Brazilian beaches, but wearing thongs is common [01:10:08]. In contrast, in France, top-less sunbathing is acceptable, but thongs are not common [01:10:27].
- Hygiene: French people are perceived to use less deodorant, while Brazilians are noted for using more perfume, even in the armpit [02:09:56] [02:10:19].
- Language: French people learn English as mandatory, then often choose Spanish or German as an additional language [03:21:18]. Choosing German can be seen as harder but stands out on a resume [03:21:30].
- Food: Croissants in France typically do not have fillings, unlike the popular filled croissants in Brazil [02:50:01].