SHIFTING IDENTITIES AND FLEXIBILITY IN EMILY IN PARIS (2020): EXPLORING LIFE BETWEEN CULTURES
Keywords:
Cross-Cultural Communication, Cultural Elasticity, Globalization, Hybrid Identity, Social Media Representation, Transnational AdaptationAbstract
The paper considers changing identities and cultural elasticity presented in Netflix series Emily in Paris (2020) with the focal point on the journey of the main character Emily Cooper to Paris after moving to Chicago. The study examines how the narrative addresses the issues of transnational adaptation and the process through qualitative textual analysis of the first season. Emily is faced with cultural shock in language, workplace behaviors, social interactions and she reacts with rigidity which is based on her American origin. With time, she resorts to more performative tactics, incorporating both straightforward communication with French nuance and filtering her experiences over social media in order to build an aspirational image. The show introduces the world of Paris in the form of glossy images of fashion, romance, and the city, producing the worlds of image of success and femininity. These components emphasize identity as something fluid and mediated, where it gets adapted into embodied activities like changing styles and sensory activities. The results point to the fact that flexibility converts the original conflicts into the chances of hybrid development, and transnational life is illustrated as the place of resistance and empowerment. Although the show idealizes some things and is based on stereotypes, it provides details on the actual experiences of expatriates in the world of globalization. The analysis highlights the power of media to be reflective and constructive of cross-cultural relationships and indicates that fictional accounts add to the overall perceptions of belonging of the interconnected societies.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Muskan Farid, Bibi Zainab Awan (Author)
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