The Meaning of CULTURE

(dancing, festivals, performing arts) Culture Culture- the sum of what a human group acquires through living together, including language, knowledge, skills, art, literature, law, customs, and lifestyles. Culture is passed onto future generations by the members of a specific group. 2 categories of culture: material culture - physical objects that people make nonmaterial culture - the ideas, customs, & beliefs of a society 1 nonmaterial (dancing, festivals, performing arts) material

Culture Cultural diffusion - spread of certain parts of culture from one area of the world to another Acculturation - the process by which a person, or group, from one culture adopts traits of another culture

Language Language - necessary for communication over 3,000 different languages global languages - spoken by millions of people e.g., Mandarin, English, Spanish local languages - spoken by relatively small numbers of people; e.g., tribal languages dialect - variation of a language related to class, region, or culture; e.g., Cajun, British English “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Religion Religion- set of beliefs in a supreme being or beings. It: sets a model of human behavior answers existential questions such as: Why am I here? How did I get here? What is the meaning of my life? What happens after I die? affects daily life and the laws in many countries 5 major world religions: Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism,

ABCs of Culture * Culture is learned behavior. * Culture is powerful. * Culture shapes who you are. * History and geography shape culture. * Cultures are the same. * Cultures are different. * Culture spreads from country to country. * Culture changes.

What art forms are typical of the culture?

B BUILDINGS Which buildings, monuments, structures, and types of homes symbolize the culture?

How do people communicate with each other? COMMUNICATION How do people communicate with each other?

What clothing is typical of the culture? D DRESS What clothing is typical of the culture?

E ECONOMY Who owns the farms and factories and are people high-tech, low-tech, or no tech?

What does the typical family look like in the culture?

Who has the power and how is it shared in the culture? G GOVERNMENT Who has the power and how is it shared in the culture?

What past experiences have shaped the culture? History What past experiences have shaped the culture?

I ICONS What images cause an immediate response in every person in the culture?

How does the average person (or family) make a living? J JOBS How does the average person (or family) make a living?

How is knowledge passed from one generation to the next?

What words and expressions have a special meaning? Language What words and expressions have a special meaning? 1. YOLO 2. low key 3. on fleek 4. selfie 5. lit

To where are people moving and how do they travel in the culture? MOVEMENT & MIGRATION To where are people moving and how do they travel in the culture?

N NATIONAL PRIDE What people, places, and things spark feelings of loyalty and patriotism in the culture?

What are the most important organizations in the culture?

P POPULATION What are the largest and smallest groups by age, race, ethnicity, religion, and language in the culture?

Q QUALITYof LIFE Who do you rate the average person’s health and happiness in the culture?

Religion What beliefs and values do people hold and what are their traditional holidays and festivals?

S STATUS What classes, castes, professions, and groups (racial, ethnic, religious, cultural) have high and low status?

T Taboos What behaviors are considered to be totally unacceptable in the culture? In many Asian and Middle Eastern nations, you only eat or take items in your right hand. Talking loudly in a library. No smoking in public buildings. Using you cellphone during a movie.

Do most people live in the city or the countryside? URBAN or RURAL Do most people live in the city or the countryside?

How do people in the culture have fun? Vacation & Recreation How do people in the culture have fun?

Ways of Everyday Life How doe people take care of …cooking, washing clothes, shopping, etc. in the culture?

How does geography shape the culture? X X Marks the Spot How does geography shape the culture?

What do people eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the culture? YUM What do people eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the culture?

What stuff that is typical of the culture? Z Ztuff What stuff that is typical of the culture?

HOMEWORK Using today’s notes… Do the ABCs of Culture for your assigned state. Include pictures (minimum size 2 inches) illustrating 15 of the ABCs of Culture. Each photograph must be accompanied by the letter it represents plus caption typed or clearly written.