“This ain’t no ancient culture here, mister” : cultural interaction in Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog

Abstract

This study analyzes the Jim Jarmusch film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai from the perspective of cultural interaction and what it says about race relations with its presentation of a stylized version of a culturally pluralist America. Sociological theories and formal analysis were applied to examine the film’s depiction of the melting pot in American society, otherness of different ethnic groups and preservation of cultural traditions. The study suggests that though the melting pot may face problems even to the point of violence, the coexistence of different cultures within a society is an attainable goal.