The Lebowski Shock

Deconstructing Normative Intercultural Paradigms

Wei Liu

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Hardback

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English

Routledge
04 November 2025

linguistics; Humanities; Media studies

Series: New Perspectives on Teaching Interculturality

Grounded in autoethnographic observations and informed by critical, postmodern, ethnographic, and narrative approaches, this work presents a new framework for intercultural communication education that aims to deconstruct normative intercultural paradigms.

Critical scholars in intercultural communication education have advocated a shift from the essentialist approach, which focuses on the Western Centre, to a non-essentialist approach that treats all national cultures as equally complex, rich, and legitimate. However, deconstructing old frameworks is easier than constructing new alternatives. At the heart of this book lies the “Lebowski Shock”, an innovative theoretical construct that bridges the gap between the ideals of non-essentialist and non-stereotypical intercultural learning, and their practical implementation. It can overcome the human cognitive tendency toward essentialism and the entrenched power structures that perpetuate essentialist views. By offering a tangible and actionable framework, the “Lebowski Shock” equips readers with the tools to approach learning, teaching, and collaboration across diverse cultural contexts and foster open-ended, participatory, nuanced, and respectful intercultural engagement.

This book will serve as an essential resource for scholars, educators, and students in intercultural communication education, as well as for anyone dedicated to promoting intercultural understanding.

By: Wei Liu
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 390g
ISBN: 9781041116820
ISBN 10: 1041116829
Series: New Perspectives on Teaching Interculturality
Pages: 114
Publication Date: 04 November 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Wei Liu, PhD, works at the University of Alberta International, managing the Global Academic Leadership Development (GALD) Program. His research interests include foreign language education, intercultural communication education, and international higher education.