2:1 The Meaning of Culture
Bell Ringer: Interpreting the visual pg. 26
EQ: What is the meaning of culture?
Material WorldMaterial Culture
Physical objects/tangible items that members of society make, use, and shareRaw Materials → Technology → Stuff
Material WorldNon-Material Culture
Abstract/intangible human creations of society that influence people’s behavior
Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, political systems
What’s the Difference?Society-interdependent group of
people who share culture and unityCulture-material/nonmaterial
products those people create
5 Components of Culture People of a culture share a broad set of
material and nonmaterial elements 5 components of Culture
TechnologySymbolsLanguageValuesNorms
5 Components of Culture1. Technology
Manmade products (material culture) that make life easier
Rules of acceptable behavior when using material culture
Components of Culture2. Symbols
Basis of human cultureAnything that represents something
elseHas a recognized, shared meaningGestures, images, sounds, physical
objects, events, etc.
Components of Culture3. Language
Organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system that can express any idea
Components of Culture4. Values
Shared beliefs about what is good/bad, right/wrong, desirable/undesirable
Determines character of people, kinds of material/non culture they create
Components of Culture5. Norms
Shared rules of conduct, expectations for behavior
Wide range of importance in norms: covering mouth to don’t kill
Some norms are selective: marriage, alcohol consumption, police
NormsFolkways v. Mores
Folkways-norms that describe socially acceptable behavior w/o great moral significance, do not endanger the well being or stability of society
Minor punishment for breaking a folkway norm
NormsFolkways v. Mores
Mores-great moral significanceViolation of these norms endangers
society’s well being and stability
LawsEstablished punishments for violating
norms to protect the social well beingWritten rules of conduct enacted and
enforced by the governmentMores laws: murder, rape, theft, etc.Folkway laws: parking tickets,
jaywalking
Culture is Dynamic
Continually changingNew material objects:
http://techland.time.com/2013/11/14/the-25-best-inventions-of-the-year-2013/
New expressions: http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/
Levels of Culture
Culture Trait- individual tool, act or belief that is related to a particular situation or need: types of eating utensils/appropriate greetings
Culture Complexes- cluster of interrelated traits. Football (Complex) items needed to play, rules, business (traits)
Culture Patterns- combination of a number of culture complexes into an interrelated whole: American Athletic Pattern
Assignment
Using the diagram on pg. 27, create a visual for one of the following cultural patterns of our society:
AgricultureEducationFamily lifeManufacturingReligion
1940 George MurdockIdentified 65 Cultural UniversalsNature of universal traits varies
widelyExample-Family
Cultural Universal-purpose is to add new members of society and care for them until they can care for themselves, introduce children to components of culture
Cultural Variation-the composition of a family
1930 Margaret MeadeStudy on Cultural variationPurpose-determine whether
differences in basic temperament is inherited or learned
Studied the cultural differences between the Arapesh and the Mundugumor
Conclusion: temperament is the result of culture rather than biology
Arapesh v. Mundugamor
Extreme Cultrual Variations-Why?Arapesh
Hunters/gathers/mountains/scarce foodMundugamor
Lots of food/river valleys/”easy” life
EthnocentrismViewing one’s own culture and group
as superiorHaving a negative response to
cultural traits very different from our own
Positive-builds group unityNegative-culture can stagnate
because we exclude people, and influences that might be beneficial
Cultural Relativism
Belief that cultures should be judged by their own standards rather than by applying the standards of another culture
Understanding cultural practices from the points of view of the members of the society being studied
Example: Cows in India
2:1 ActivityMancala Tournament
People of many races and ethnic groups often enjoy the same entertainments. For example, a board game called mancala is popular in many countries, including the U.S. Mancala is possible the oldest board game in the world. Egyptians played the counting and strategy game before 1400 B.C. Like being a sports star in the U.S., being a “Mancala” star carries much cultural significance in other societies.
Subculture
Group whose values, norms and behaviors are not shared by entire population
Example: ChinatownSame: education, democracy, role in
economyDifferent: living/shopping patterns,
language, food, etc.
Functional Subcultures
Subcultures by profession, age, gender, religion, ethnicity don’t threaten the stability of society and prevent society from becoming stagnat