Cultural Influences Chp. 16 with Duane Weaver

Outline Culture and Culture Variability Norms Myths Rituals Sacred & Profane Consumption Desacralization/Sacraliztion

Culture and Culture Variability Culture: Values, ethics, rituals, traditions, material objects and services produced or valued by the members of a society A cultural system consists of 3 functional areas: Ecology Social Structure Ideology Adaptation to habitat How social order is maintained Shared ethos: moral and aesthetic values

Uncertainty Avoidance Masculinity/Femininity Culture Variability Although every culture is different, four dimensions account for most of the variance: Power Distance Uncertainty Avoidance How the society handles ambiguity (religion?) Power impact on relationships Masculinity/Femininity Individualism How a society defines gender roles (examples?) Collectivist or individualist focused society?

Norms Rules that govern what is right or wrong. Norms Enacted Norms Explicitly decided Culturally embedded Enacted Norms Crescive Norms Subtleties (suggested appropriate behaviour) - dressing, dining… Rules/guides Taboos - punishable Customs Mores Conventions

Myths Myth: a story containing symbolic elements that expresses the shared emotions and ideals of a culture Myths serve four interrelated functions in a culture Explain the origins of existence Metaphysical Emphasize that all components of the universe are part of a single picture Cosmological Help maintain social order by authorizing a social code Sociological Provide models for personal conduct Psychological

(Let’s discuss Table 16-1 for examples) Rituals Ritual A set of symbolic behaviours that occur in a fixed sequence and tend to be repeated periodically. (Let’s discuss Table 16-1 for examples) Ritual Artifacts Items used in the performance of rituals Wedding cakes, birthday candles…(others??)

Sacred and Profane Consumption Sacred Consumption Involves objects and events that are set apart from normal life and are treated with some degree of respect or awe Profane Consumption Involves consumer objects and events that are ordinary or of the everyday world Domains of Sacred Consumption Sacred Places Sacred People Sacred Events

Desacralization & Sacralization A sacred item or symbol is removed from its special place, or is duplicated in mass quantities (Eiffel tower, Mona Lisa) It becomes profane as a result Sacralization When ordinary objects, events or people take on sacred meaning to a culture or to specific groups within a culture The Stanley Cup (hockey) World Cup (soccer) Confucius Abraham Lincoln