What Is Culture? Lynn W. Zimmerman, PhD Fulbright Scholar International Relations Institute Moldova Chisinau, Moldova Lynn.Zimmerman@trainingexpress.es

Culture-Related Terms Importance of time Notions of modesty Childraising beliefs Understanding of the natural world Concept of fairness Concept of self General word view Concept of beauty

What is Culture? The Iceberg

Facial expressions Paintings Religious rituals Literature Gestures Holiday Customs Foods  Eating habits Music Styles of dress Religious beliefs Time Values Child raising beliefs Concept of leadership Concept of fairness Nature of friendship Notions of modesty Concept of self Work ethic Concept of beauty World view Personal space Rules of social etiquette Understanding of natural world

Discussion What conclusions can you draw from this? How do these hidden parts impact communication? What does it tell us about the relationship between communication and culture? What is ‘Moldovan’ (or your) culture? What sorts of things may have influenced the way of life in the culture? What sorts of things may have influenced communication in the culture?

Cultural Representations Images Pictures Movies Sculptures Texts Books Stories Poems Songs

What is a movie? A story Sequential Recorded

What is a ‘genre’? a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter Action Adventure Children’s/Family Comedy Crime/Mystery Drama Epic/Saga Fantasy Historical/Historical fiction Horror Political Romance Science fiction Thriller

Film Types Feature Documentary Short film Animation

Discussion Groups Discuss your favorite kind of movie Ask and answer these questions: What is your favorite type and genre of movie? Explain why giving an example.

Pigeon Impossible As you watch , think about: What type of film would you call this? What genre? Where is this film made? How can you tell?

Movies and Culture Movies are an important cultural artifact. Tell me about movies in Moldova How do I know a film is Moldovan? What cultural and social cues would I see and hear? How are they different from American films? Why?

Cultural Iceberg Activity Choose one of the features of culture that is “below the water” from the Cultural Iceberg which is relevant to your culture. Write a 150-175 word paragraph which: Explains why you chose it. Explains which visible feature(s) of culture do you think it is related to? Why and how? Type or write neatly

References Peace Corps. (n.d.). Culture matters: The Peace Corps cross-cultural workbook. Washington, DC: Peace Corps Information Collection and Exchange.