Understanding Culture

Concept Map

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.

Summary

Outline

Want to create maps from your material?

Enter text, upload a photo, or audio to Algor. In a few seconds, Algorino will transform it into a conceptual map, summary, and much more!

Learn with Algor Education flashcards

Click on each Card to learn more about the topic

Culture is a complex structure consisting of ______, values, customs, and behaviors that society members utilize to navigate their world.

shared beliefs

Iceberg Model Creator

Edward T. Hall, an anthropologist, conceptualized the Iceberg Model.

Observable Culture - Iceberg Model

Language, dress, and food are examples of the visible aspects of culture.

Q&A

Here's a list of frequently asked questions on this topic

Similar Contents

Explore other maps on similar topics

Multi-ethnic group of people in a park with blue sky, child plays with ball, adults converse and walk dog.

Gender and Society

Multi-ethnic group of six people in semi-circle with various clothing, expressing unity and belonging on neutral background.

Social Identity

Multi-ethnic family dinner with Caucasian grandmother passing food to Hispanic child, grandfather and Asian teenager in conversation, middle-aged parents serving meal.

Socialization: The Process of Absorbing and Assimilating Societal Norms and Values

Can't find what you were looking for?

Search for a topic by entering a phrase or keyword

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.

Understanding Culture

Concept Map

Summary

Outline

Understanding Culture

Definition of Culture

Shared Patterns

Material Culture

Non-Material Culture

The Iceberg Model

Visible and Invisible Layers

Above the Waterline

Below the Waterline

Anthropological Study of Culture

Ethnographic Methods

Cultural Relativism

High and Low Culture

Subcultures and Countercultures

Distinct Values, Norms, and Practices

Rejecting and Opposing Dominant Culture

Learn with Algor Education flashcards

Click on each Card to learn more about the topic

Q&A

Here's a list of frequently asked questions on this topic