Happiness and Culture

By Natalya Vodopyanova

Abstract:

The paper explores the change in perception of happiness by a female character in a popular Kazakhstani comedy. The character is depicted to move from an idea that only money makes one happy to an idea that serving community while being surrounded by true friends means being happy.

With quite a simple plot the comedy successfully conveys a layered selection of human values and cultural norms benefiting society and an individual. In addition to portrayals of happiness, the comedy explores the differences between urban and rural cultures in Kazakhstan, aspects of Kazakh language, and integration of business ideas and technology into rural environments.

Based on the social learning perspective and the cultivation theory, positive portrayals of various aspects of human life in the contemporary comedies produced in Kazakhstan might encourage viewers to find happiness in simple things in their everyday lives.