1. The Meaning of Culture

2. What is Culture?
Americans eat oysters but not snails. The French eat snails but not locusts. The Zulus eat locusts but not fish. The Jews eat fish but not pork. The Hindus eat pork and not beef. The Russians eat beef but not snakes. The Chinese eat snakes (and most everything else) but not people.

3. Part 1: The Basics

4. What is Culture?
DEFINITION: all shared products of human groups, including physical objects and beliefs, values and behaviors
Culture is everything BUT nature

5. What is Culture? Our lifestyles are NOT determined by instincts
Humans have the ability to adapt to and change their environment
Methods for dealing with the environment form the foundation of our culture
Sociological Perspective of Culture:
Viewed in the broadest possible sense -- referring to everything that defines a person's way of life
Our lifestyles are not determined by instincts
We are the ONLY species whose survival depends on what we learn through culture, rather than by what we are naturally given through biology
Culture & Human Intelligence:
Unlike other animals, humans are not controlled by natural instincts. Not locked into a set of pre-determined behaviors. They are able to adapt for change to their environment
Over evolutionary time, instincts have been gradually replaced by culture and our ability to fashion the natural environment.

6. What is Culture? Material Culture:
Physical objects, resources & spaces
Nonmaterial Culture:
Abstract human ideas (beliefs, values, rules, norms, morals, language, institutions)
Culture is dynamic, not static
Material Culture: homes, neighborhoods, cities, schools, churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, offices, factories and plants, tools, means of production
Non-Material Culture: beliefs, values, rules, norms, morals, language, organizations, institutions

7. What is Culture? Write down 3 examples of material culture
Watch the video clip about MHS and the “M-pire”
Write down 3 examples of material culture
Write down 3 examples of non-material culture
Material Culture: homes, neighborhoods, cities, schools, churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, offices, factories and plants, tools, means of production
Non-Material Culture: beliefs, values, rules, norms, morals, language, organizations, institutions

8. What is Culture? Culture v. Society
While culture includes all shared products of humans groups, society is group of interdependent people who share a common culture & feeling of unity