1. CULTURE

2. Definition:
Culture is a complex system of meaning & behavior that defines the way of life for a given group or society.
Culture gives meaning to society.

3. 1. Culture is shared.
Held in common; collectively experienced & agreed upon
In US - culture varies significantly
Different races & ethnicities with different histories, languages & beliefs
Despite diversities - certain symbols, language patterns, belief systems are distinctively American (1st amendment freedoms)

4. 2. Culture is learned.
Beliefs & practices are so well learned that they seem perfectly natural (food prep or how to dress); we do or know w/o realizing in most instances
Learned directly or indirectly
Until culture learned, feel like outsider (teacher to administrator, new recruit in military)
Process of learning = socialization

5. 3. Culture is taken for granted.
We engage in specific cultural practices that people seldom question (how do you eat your hamburger or pizza?)
To recognize “taken for granted” - observe a tourist, ninth grader or new student at SHS
Culture unifies people, but the lack of communication across cultures can have negative consequences (US in Iraq or exchange student in class)

6. 4. Culture is symbolic.
Meaning of symbols is created by cultural significance.
Symbols mean different things to different cultures (American flag in US or in Iraq)
Cultural meaning created in specific social contexts (cross on alter v. cross burning in front yard)
Symbols have great influence & are powerful expressions

7. Symbols

9. Culture varies across time & place.
Physical & social environments vary so people adapt to the challenges they face differently (urban v. rural, civil rights movement).
Culture not fixed from 1 place to another.
Therefore, meaning systems that develop within cultures must be seen in their context
Cultural relativism - not possible to understand behavior if not know context, but does not mean that every cultural practice is morally acceptable.