Understanding Culture
Culture encompasses the beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors shared by a society. It's divided into material and non-material culture, with the Iceberg Model illustrating its visible and invisible layers. Anthropologists use ethnographic methods to study culture, emphasizing cultural relativism. The text also discusses cultural expressions, subcultures, countercultures, and the impact of globalization on cultural dynamics.
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Defining Culture: Concepts and Components
Culture is a complex framework of the shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that the members of a society use to cope with their world and with one another. These shared patterns identify the members of a cultural group while also distinguishing those of another group. Culture is often categorized into material culture, which includes physical objects and artifacts created by a society, and non-material culture, which encompasses the ideas, attitudes, and beliefs of a society. Both aspects are integral to understanding the full scope of human culture, which is not static but constantly evolving as societies adapt and change.The Iceberg Model of Cultural Understanding
The Iceberg Model, conceptualized by anthropologist Edward T. Hall, is a metaphor for the visible and invisible layers of culture. Above the waterline, the tip of the iceberg represents the observable aspects of culture, such as language, dress, and food. Below the waterline lies the larger, unseen portion, which includes the norms, values, beliefs, and thought patterns that deeply influence a society's behavior and interactions. This model illustrates that the most significant aspects of culture are often those that are less apparent and more deeply rooted in the collective psyche.Anthropology's Approach to Culture
Anthropologists study culture as a complex system of meaning and behavior that operates within a society. They employ ethnographic methods, including participant observation and in-depth interviews, to gain an immersive understanding of cultural practices and perspectives. The discipline has increasingly embraced cultural relativism, the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards rather than viewing it through the lens of another. This approach promotes a more nuanced and respectful understanding of the diverse ways in which human societies live and make sense of the world.The Principle of Cultural Relativism
Cultural relativism is the idea that a person's beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that person's own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another. This principle challenges ethnocentric attitudes—which judge other cultures by the standards of one's own, often with a presumption of superiority—and encourages the appreciation of cultural diversity and complexity. Cultural relativism allows for a more empathetic and informed perspective when examining the customs and traditions of different societies.The Spectrum of Cultural Expressions
Cultural expressions range from high culture, traditionally associated with the societal elite and including the fine arts, classical music, and theater, to low culture, which refers to popular or mass culture consumed by the broader public, such as television, popular music, and pulp fiction. The distinction between high and low culture is increasingly seen as outdated, as cultural forms once considered lowbrow, like jazz and graffiti, have gained recognition and respect within the art world. This shift reflects the dynamic and democratic nature of cultural expression.Subcultures and Countercultures: Variations Within Societies
Subcultures are groups within a larger culture that have their own distinct values, norms, and practices, but still share the larger cultural framework. Countercultures, in contrast, are groups that reject and oppose significant elements of the dominant culture, often advocating for alternative lifestyles and ideologies. Both subcultures and countercultures add to the rich tapestry of a society, illustrating the diversity of cultural expression and the capacity for cultural innovation and change.The Transition from Folk to Mass Culture
Folk culture traditionally arises from the practices of small, homogenous, rural communities, with cultural expressions that are often orally transmitted and deeply rooted in local customs and environments. Mass culture, however, is a product of industrial and post-industrial societies, characterized by the mass production and mass media dissemination of cultural products. While mass culture has been criticized for its commercial nature and potential to dilute traditional cultures, it also has the power to unify diverse populations and create new forms of cultural expression.Globalization and the Rise of Popular Culture
Popular culture encompasses the entertainment, fashion, digital media, and other cultural products that are widely consumed by the public. The globalization of culture, facilitated by advances in communication technology and the internet, has led to the spread of cultural products and practices across national boundaries, resulting in the blending of cultural elements and the emergence of global cultural phenomena. This interconnectedness challenges traditional cultural hierarchies and fosters the exchange and hybridization of cultural forms.Sociological Interpretations of Culture
Sociologists analyze culture through various theoretical lenses. Functionalists see culture as a cohesive force that binds society together, while conflict theorists, including Marxists, view culture as a mechanism for social control by the dominant class. Feminist theory critiques the ways in which culture perpetuates gender inequality, and postmodernism emphasizes the fragmentation of culture and the multiplicity of identities and realities. These perspectives highlight the complex role culture plays in structuring society and influencing individual and collective behavior.Want to create maps from your material?
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Culture is a complex structure consisting of ______, values, customs, and behaviors that society members utilize to navigate their world.
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Iceberg Model Creator
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Observable Culture - Iceberg Model
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Invisible Culture - Iceberg Model
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______ examine culture as a system of significance and conduct that functions in a ______.
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The field has adopted ______ ______, which evaluates a culture by its own norms instead of through another's perspective.
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Cultural relativism vs. ethnocentrism
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Impact of cultural relativism on attitudes
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Purpose of cultural relativism in society
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Cultural expressions vary from ______ culture, linked with the societal elite, to ______ culture, associated with the general public.
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Characteristics of Subcultures
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Groups with distinct values, norms, practices within a larger culture; share broader cultural framework.
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Characteristics of Countercultures
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Impact of Subcultures and Countercultures
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______ culture typically originates from small, uniform, countryside groups, with cultural expressions that are mainly passed down through ______.
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In contrast, ______ culture is a result of industrial and post-industrial societies, known for the ______ production and distribution of cultural items.
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Definition of popular culture
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Role of communication technology in cultural globalization
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Effects of cultural interconnectedness
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Functionalists regard ______ as a unifying force that keeps ______ united.
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According to ______ theory, culture is seen as a tool for ______ by those in power.
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