A look into Culture

Vocabulary Culture The collection of behaviors, beliefs and values that all human beings have Passed down through generations Outlook and attitudes Rituals, celebrations and holidays The way a society views the world and themselves Is fluid, constantly changing, but cultural change is slow

Vocabulary Ethnocentrism The belief that your culture is superior to others Viewing another culture by comparing it to your own culture. Asking “Why don’t they just do it like we do!” The way the French greet with a kiss is wrong, they should learn our way…the correct way! Cultural bias or prejudice

Two approaches to viewing and studying culture _ + Ethnocentric approach Judgmental Bias & prejudicial That’s wrong, do it our way! Cultural Relativist approach Observant but non-judgmental Seeks genuine understanding How does that work for them?

Vocabulary Cultural Relativism Trying to understand a culture, or its values, from a native or local’s perspective. Not judging a group for doing something differently Asking “How & why does this work for them?” They way the French greet with a kiss is interesting, what could that explain about other aspects of their culture? Ideas regarding intimacy in public, love and the role of sexuality in society, passionate people

Vocabulary Diffusion The process of culture spreading from one location, outward to other place What is an idea, way of doing something or an innovation that has diffused?

Vocabulary Acculturation The process in which members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviors, and innovations of another group. Example: domestication of plants and animals, writing systems

Vocabulary Socialization The process of actively passed down values and beliefs regarding love, family, social and gender, to younger generations What is an American value that you believe your parents have passed down to you?

Vocabulary Assimilation The absorption of an individual or minority group of people into the predominant culture Learning to fit in Becoming accepted Historically it was painful (colonialism) Native/African/Asian Americans,

Vocabulary Surface Culture Parts of culture that you can experience with the 5 senses (see, hear, smell, taste, feel) When you arrive in a new location… What surface culture might immediately catch your attention?

Vocabulary Deep Culture More complex parts of culture, not understood by outsiders. These can include things like: Social roles and Gender rules Importance of work and Family bonds Concepts about beauty and Ideas about sin Religious beliefs and Ideas about justice

Deep & Surface Culture

Vocabulary Culture Region A way of life of a group of people who share similar beliefs and customs within a certain geographic area

Cultural Region could be local slang: Is it Soda, Pop or Coke?

Vocabulary Folk vs. Popular Folk: Popular: Traditional and Unique idea/items specific to a certain region or smaller group of people Bluegrass & Jazz Music started as folk Amish dress, Cowboy hats/boots Folk: Popular: Ideas and behaviors shared over a long distances, spread across the globe. TV, media, internet, international corps etc. McDonalds, Facebook, Levis jeans Olympics, Pizza, Automobile and internet use

Surface Deep Folk Pop Overlap will often exist: ‘Bindi” = both Surface and Deep Time can change culture: Polka music in Poland/Germany started out folk > now more pop. Folk Pop

Qualify each item: Popular or Folk…Deep or Surface People in a Andean village believe that the moon and sun are gods and it is necessary to stay up all night long on solstices/equinoxes Natives from a small Caribbean island make green and yellow textiles with bird patterns woven in them In Timbuktu, Mali, language classes are offered in French, English, Arabic and Swahili Aztecs worshipped Quetzalcoatl, the “hummingbird god”, and believed sacrifices of human blood were needed to make the gods happy Inuit & Eskimo cultures value the skins and meat of seals to make candles, kayaks and cooking oil The World Cup was viewed by 3.2 billion people

Vocabulary Globalization The process in which connections around the world increase, resulting in cultures becoming alike. This has resulted in a… More globally connected economy What happens in one country can effect other countries (Russian wheat) Lingua franca – power/prestige languages (Spanish & English) Destroying indigenous religious beliefs, languages, customs and rituals

Causes of Conflict Resources Culture Ideology (ideas)

Fossil Fuels Minerals Resources Water Land/Borders Other:

Religion Ethnicity Culture Language Human Rights

Traditional (folk) vs. Global Government Ideology (ideas) Economy Traditional (folk) vs. Global