Language, Identity, and Social Boundaries: A Social Identity Theory Analysis of Cultural Conflict in Stillwater Screenplay

Abstract

This paper analyzes Stillwater's screenplay as a valuable yet underexplored literary text. It argues that the screenplay portrays language not only as a tool for communication, but as a social marker that defines group affiliations, shapes cultural identity, and mirrors the characters’ emotional and cognitive experiences. It focuses on analysing how language acts as a barrier that challenges cultural differences during acute emotional events, thus creating miscommunication. The study utilizes Social Identity Theory (SIT) and its three main elements: social categorization, social identification, and social comparison to identify and compare individuals within social groups,