1. Culture

2. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Lesson Outline
What is Culture?
Components of Culture
Language
Different ways of Viewing Culture
Cultural Change
American culture in perspective
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

3. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
What is Culture?
Culture is the entire way of life for a group of people
It is what makes us human.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

4. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Material Culture
Material culture includes the objects associated with a cultural group
Foods, tools, artwork, etc.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

5. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Symbolic Culture
Sounds, smells, pictures that stand for or represent something else
Can include physical gestures
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

6. The Meaning of this red light depends on the context
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

7. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Components of Culture
Signs (or symbols), such as a traffic signal or product logo, are used to meaningfully represent something else.
Gestures are the signs that we make with our body, such as hand gestures and facial expressions; it is important that these gestures also carry meaning.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

8. Components of Culture: Language
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, the way we look at the world depends on the language we have learned
i.e. Snow
You can expand or limit your outlook, depending on your use of language
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

9. The Importance of Language
Language facilitates culture
Is American English the same and British English, dude?
Give me a darn second!
Give me a bloody second!
Cheese + hamburger = cheeseburger
Lettuce + hamburger ≠ lettuceburger
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

10. Components of Culture (cont)
Values: shared beliefs about what a group considers desirable
Norms: the formal and informal rules of behavior within a culture.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

11. Components of Culture: Norms
Norms are specific to a culture, time period, and situation.
Formal = Drive on the right side of
the road
Informal = Hold the door for a
woman
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

12. Social Control and Sanctions
Sanctions: rewards for obedience and punishments for norm violators.
Sanctions help to establish social control
Government/Society getting what they want
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

13. Ways to look at Other Cultures
Ethnocentrism: using your own culture as a standard to evaluate others
leads to the view that cultures other than your own are abnormal
Who wants a snack?
Cicadas, grasshoppers, and other insects on skewers
for sale in Donghaumen Night Market in Beijing, China.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

14. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Ways to look at Other Cultures
Cultural relativism: understanding other cultures on your own terms
This process is objective
Not judged according to your own culture
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

15. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Variations in Culture
Multiculturalism: values diverse racial, ethnic, national, and linguistic backgrounds
Encourages the cultural differences within society, rather than assimilation
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

16. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Variations in Culture
The dominant culture: values, norms, and practices of the group within society that is most powerful
A subculture is a group within society with different norms and values
i.e. The Mafia (The Godfather)
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

17. Variations in Culture (cont’d)
A counterculture is a group within society that openly opposes society’s values and norms
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

18. Variations in Culture (cont’d)
Division between cultures is sometimes called a culture war.
ideal culture: values you aspire to have
real culture: values actually practiced
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

19. High, Low, and Popular Culture
High culture: forms of culture associated with the upper classes.
Mercedes Benz, Yahts
Popular culture: cultural expression associated with the masses
Consumer goods, celebrity hair styles
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

20. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Cultural Change
One of the key ways that material culture can change is through technology.
How?
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

21. Cultural Change (cont’d)
Cultural diffusion: different groups share their material and nonmaterial culture with each other
Cultural leveling occurs when cultures that were once distinct become increasingly similar to one another
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

22. Cultural Change (cont’d)
Cultural imperialism: forcing one culture’s beliefs and practices on another culture
Can occur through mass media and consumer products
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

23. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Take Away Points
Culture is a lens through which we view the world around us.
It is also a filter that we are (mostly) unaware modifies our perception of reality.
Culture is given to us from our ancestors and we recreate it through interaction with other people.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

24. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Lesson Quiz
1. A student who tries to objectively analyze the food that the people of a different culture eat is using:
a. ethnocentrism.
b. ethnography.
c. cultural relativism.
d. cultural spotting.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

25. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Lesson Quiz
2. According to our discussion, what is the most significant component of culture?
a. norms
b. food
c. language
d. values
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

26. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Lesson Quiz
3. Which of the following is NOT true concerning norms?
a. Norms are specific to a culture, time period, and situation.
b. Norms are the rules and guidelines regarding what kinds of behaviors are acceptable.
c. Norms often develop directly out of values.
d. Norms are completely unrelated to the situation.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

27. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Lesson Quiz
4. Which of the following would be considered a counterculture?
a. Irish-Americans
b. modern-day polygamists
c. police officers
d. fans of the Cleveland Browns
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

28. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Lesson Quiz
5. The spread of McDonald’s restaurants throughout Asia is an example of:
a. technological determinism.
b. cultural diffusion.
c. cultural leveling.
d. cultural imperialism.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

29. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
Lesson Quiz
6. The imposition of one culture’s beliefs, practices, and artifacts on another culture through mass media and consumer products is called:
a. cultural imperialism.
b. cultural leveling.
c. cultural diffusion.
d. cultural determinism.
Introduction to Sociology: Culture

30. Introduction to Sociology: Culture
For Next Time:
Culture and society make their mark on you
The Self and Social Interaction
Be sure to Read! (check your syllabus for assigned readings!)
Introduction to Sociology: Culture