week 4 cluture work
Jasonmaster
Week4Lecture--Culture1.ppsxEven if you don’t know the sociological definition of culture, it’s something that you are very familiar with because you experience it everyday!
So when asked what it is, you probably think of things like traditions, clothing and food, music and art, religion and other aspects of one’s heritage or background.
Sociologically we can define culture (using our textbook) as “the values a given group holds, the languages they speak, the symbols they revere, the norms they follow, and the material goods they create.”
Symbols
We’ve talked about symbols before and know that by that we mean things that stand in for something else.
Symbols
What are some examples of cultural symbols?
Symbols
You probably thought of something like a flag, logo or other meaningful object.
Symbols
Members of a culture have a shared set of symbols, often representing that culture’s values.
Language
By language we of course mean the language that a group of people speak…
Language
But also forms of slang or different vocabularies of particular groups.
Material Goods
By material goods we mean the various physical goods that a society creates that influence the ways in which people live
Material Goods
What are some material goods from American Culture?
Material Goods
Perhaps you thought of things like hamburgers,
Material Goods
Perhaps you thought of things like hamburgers, cars,
Material Goods
Perhaps you thought of things like hamburgers, cars, or blue jeans
Values and Norms
Symbols, language and material goods are all fairly easy to understand and differentiate. Values and norms can be more tricky.
Values
Values are abstract ideals. We can think about values as ideas held by individuals or group about what is desirable, proper, good and bad.
Values
Values are abstract ideals. We can think about values as ideas held by individuals or group about what is desirable, proper, good and bad.
What are some values of American culture?
Values
Values are abstract ideals. We can think about values as ideas held by individuals or group about what is desirable, proper, good and bad.
What are some values of American culture? (I’ll give a hint: symbols often represent values!)
Values
Perhaps you thought of some of these things:
Values
As you see these are mostly abstract ideas about what is important in American society (though of course we can question the US’s commitment to some of these!
Norms
Though we often confuse norms and values, they are different. We’ve just thought a bit about values…but what are norms?
Norms
Here’s a hint: what does the word norm sound like?
Norms
You probably thought “normal”! And you’re exactly right.
Norms
Norms are generally what is normal in a culture.
Norms
We can thus define norms as rules of conduct that specify appropriate behavior in a given range of social situations.
Norms
We can thus define norms as rules of conduct that specify appropriate behavior in a given range of social situations.
So what are some examples of norms in American society?
Norms
There are LOTS of norms! Some include:
Norms
Don’t pick your nose in public
Norms
Eat with a fork and knife
Norms
Unless it’s a slice of pizza!
Norms
Driving on the right side of the road
Norms
And many, many others!
Values and Norms
It is sometimes difficult to tell norms and values apart, but keep in mind that values are generally abstract ideas about what is good/bad, while norms are rules.
Culture
Because culture is made up of values, norms, material goods, symbols and language, we can think about it as the way of life of members of a group.
Culture
It has also been conceived of as a “design for living” or a “tool kit” of practices, knowledge and symbols acquired through learning.
Culture
Culture tells us how to live our lives!
Culture and society
Now, as you have noticed, we tend to use the terms culture and society as if they are interchangeable. They are interchangeable in many ways, but they have slightly different meanings.
Culture and society
As we’ve seen, culture refers to the norms, values, language, material goods and symbols of a group.
Culture and Society
Society, on the other hand, we can define as a system of interrelationships that connects individuals together.
Culture and Society
But we talk about them together, because society cannot exist without culture, nor can culture exist without society.
Culture and Society
Culture is “society’s glue”
What does this mean? How does culture hold society together?
Culture and Society
Hopefully you thought that culture holds society together because it provides a shared set of norms, values, etc. for members of society to share.
Culture and Society
If the members of society have wildly different values or don’t follow the same norms, life in that society would be very difficult indeed.
Culture and Conformity
Because it is a shared set of norms and values, culture demands that we conform.
Culture and Conformity
How does culture instill in people a willingness to conform?
Culture and Conformity
Just like these guys in this cartoon, we conform to our culture. Why?
Culture and Society
Culture does this in two ways:
Culture and Society
Culture does this in two ways:
First, we conform to our culture because we have learned to from a very young age.
Culture and Society
Culture does this in two ways:
Think about all the things that you learned when you were very young… those have helped you to internalize your cultural norms, values, symbols, language and material goods.
Culture and Society
Culture does this in two ways:
We’ll come back to cultural learning next week when we focus on socialization.
Culture and Society
However, learning does not always ensure that people conform to their culture.
What happens when someone still does not conform to cultural norms and values?
Culture and Society
There are various social controls meant to make sure that we conform.
Culture and Society
We might be punished or outcast for not conforming.
Culture and Society
While this cartoon is humorous, there are very real punishments in many cultures for nonconformity.
Culture
We’re going to go back in time now, to think about how human culture has developed.
The Development of Human Culture
Early human culture was basically a form of adaptation to the physical environment.
The Development of Human Culture
Culture allowed people to compensate for their physical limitations
The Development of Human Culture
After all, humans were never the fastest, furriest, more ferocious animals…
The Development of Human Culture
Instead, they developed tools, clothing, language and other forms of culture to survive.
The Development of Human Culture
Early Human Culture: adaptation to physical environment
Cultures developed in close connection to their physical environment
The Development of Human Culture
And so early cultures developed in close connection to their physical environment
The Development of Human Culture
Think about the differences between these two cultures and the reasons behind such differences.
The Development of Human Culture
All of this raises the very important question of nature vs. nurture.
The Development of Human Culture
All of this raises the very important question of nature vs. nurture.
I’m sure you’re familiar with this debate. What is it about?
The Development of Human Culture
The question of nature vs. nurture is a question about why we are the way we are: Are we shaped by biology (nature) or are we products of learning through life’s experiences (nurture)?
The Development of Human Culture
What do you think sociologists think about this debate?
Nature vs. Nurture
Sociologists emphasize culture and learning and are interested in how nature and nurture interact.
Nature vs. Nurture
We’ll come back to this debate when we discuss gender later this semester.
Nature vs. Nurture
But these images can help us to think about it: for example, is there a natural, biological reason that pink is for girls and blue for boys?
Nature vs. Nurture
And if we look at cultural diversity – the broad differences between cultures around the world – it points to the importance of nurture.
Here are some funny examples of cultural diversity, but of course they reflect real differences that sociologists care deeply about!
Culture and Subculture
In fact, if you look at our own society, you can see tremendous cultural diversity.
Culture and Subculture
That’s because in a large-scale society like our own, we have a mainstream, dominant culture, but also many different subculture.
Culture and Subculture
A subculture is a group of people within a larger culture who differ from the majority in terms of cultural background, language and cultural patterns.
Culture and Subculture
What are some examples of subcultures that you are aware of?
Culture and Subculture
Perhaps you thought about ethic or national subcultures like Chinese Americans in Chinatown.
Culture and Subculture
I’m sure you’ve been to Chinatown and have seen the different norms, values, material goods, language and symbols!
Culture and Subculture
And maybe you thought of subcultures that are not national or ethnic, but about lifestyle, art, music or other interests.
Culture and Subculture
Like hipsters
Culture and Subculture
Punk rockers
Culture and Subculture
Or bronies
Culture and Subculture
In a large-scale culture with lots of subcultures (in particular national or ethnic subcultures) there are a couple of different models for cultural co-existence.
Culture and Subculture
Assimilation is one model. It is the process by which different cultures are absorbed into single mainstream culture
Culture and Subculture
And what is the metaphor for assimilation in American society?
Culture and Subculture
The melting pot, which holds the idea that all of the different cultures meld into one dominant, mainstream (American) culture.
Culture and Subculture
On the other hand is the concept of multiculturalism, which refers to respecting cultural diversity and promoting the equality of different cultures.
And what is the metaphor for multiculturalism?
Culture and Subculture
The salad bowl! Each culture is like an ingredient in a salad. It maintains its own flavor (cultural practices) and all are tossed together into a delicious salad.
Culture and Subculture
Do you think assimilation or multiculturalism better represents our society today?
Culture and Subculture
You probably see some of both and it’s hard to say if one is more predominant.
Cultural & Ethnocentrism
With culture – especially multiple cultures – there always exists the potential for ethnocentrism.
Cultural & Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism refers to the tendency to look at other cultures through the eyes of one’s own culture and thereby misrepresent them.
The US is often (and often rightfully!) accused of ethnocentrism
Culture & Ethnocentrism
But as sociologists, we work very hard to avoid ethnocentrism.
Culture & Ethnocentrism
Remember how in the first week we discussed the ways that our assumptions about what is normal or true are particular to our social context?
Cultural Relativism
Instead, we strive for cultural relativism, which is the practice of judging a society by its own standards.
Cultural Relativism
Instead, we strive for cultural relativism, which is the practice of judging a society by its own standards.
Cultural Relativism & Ethnocentrism
This short video will help you think about ethnocentrism vs. cultural relativism and how we can try to better understand our and other cultures.
Culture
So you can see that culture shapes how we live our lives and view the world. It’s a central part of being human, but can also cause divisions between people. We’ll think more about culture in the discussion board, where we will discuss Horace Miner’s essay “Body Ritual among the Nacirema.”
