What is Culture?

What is Culture?

Culture – All things that make up a peoples’ way of life.

We inherit culture from our parents and society

Culture

Cultural Hearths – The “heartlands” of major cultural groups. ◦ In the beginning…

The Middle East Mesoamerica (Central America) West Africa

Origins of Culture?

What are today’s cultural hearths?◦ New York City◦ Tokyo◦ London◦ Paris…

Cultural Hearths

Sketch a map of the World… create cultural regions and label them with a word or phrase that represents the cultural elements we see there.

Example: Labeling the area around Australia with the phrase “Boomerang factories”

Map Activity

Simulation

Norms are the agreed‐upon expectations and rules by which a culture guides the behavior of its members in any given situation. ◦ These vary widely across cultural groups.

Cultural Norms

Body Language◦ In our culture eye contact is seen as respectful◦ In parts of Africa you only give eye contact to

someone who is your equal. It is common for a visitor to avert their eyes while talking.

Greetings◦ In the U.S smiling is appropriate when meeting

strangers. It shows we are polite. ◦ In Russia it could be interpreted that you are

mocking them are laughing at them.

Examples of Norms

Social Behavior◦ In the U.S it is the norm to sit quietly in a movie

theatre or during a public performance. ◦ In Africa (seen also in African American

communities) it is common to shout and make loud comments about the film.

Examples of Norms

It is important to understand other

cultures before we judge them based on our own

cultural norms.

Define culture. Define Cultural Norm. Give an example of how our cultural norms

differ from another part of the world. Finish this phrase

◦ “The power of your…”

Quiz

5 Elements of Culture

The elements of culture are…◦Customs & traditions◦Language◦Arts and literature◦Religion◦Social organization

5 Elements of Culture

1. A Cultures rules for behavior.◦ Ex: Holidays, clothing, Marriage, etc. ◦ Graduation, Prom, Skip days

Customs and Traditions

2. Idioma◦ El idioma es la piedra angular de la cultura. ◦ Sin el idioma, usted no podría comunicar la

Cultura no podría ser pasada de la generación a la generación

◦ Usted puede tener muchos tipos diferentes del idioma

Los elementos de la cultura

Language is the cornerstone of culture Without language, you could not

communicate You can have many different types of

language… name a few.

Language

This can strengthen a culture’s identity – can make people feel proud

Includes art, music, books, etc. Many different forms in a single society

Arts and Literature

Religion answers questions about life Religion can lead to conflict between people

◦ Monotheism – Belief in one God◦ Polytheism – Belief in more than one god

◦ Can Science take the placeof religion?

Religion

This is a social structure that organizes its members into smaller groups to help the people in a culture meet its basic needs.

In all cultures, family is the most important What are some other forms of social

organization in your life?

Social organization

◦ Nuclear families – include a wife, husband, and children. (Industrial societies have these)

◦ Extended families – several generations living together. (Farming societies)

◦ Social Class is also a way that a society is broken down

◦ People are ranked in order of status Based on money, occupation, education, ancestry

Social Organization

Why does culture change?

What causes culture to change? 1. Technology

◦ Has been a major source of change over time◦ Started with stone tools and continues with

computers

Media◦ Antenna to Cable or Satellite◦ Video stores to Netflix

Communication◦ Letters to Email◦ Morse Code to Cellular devices

Music◦ Records to MP3 technology

How have the following technological changes affected our culture?

2. Changing environment ◦ As the environment changes, we adapt

3. New ideas◦ The way we think about our culture will lead to

change Example: The Protestant Reformation

4. Contact between societies

Why culture changes cont…

Diffusion – The movement of things and ideas from one culture to another. ◦ Example: McDonalds being built in other parts of

the World. This has not replaced their culture, but now they have the option.

Societies collide

Acculturation – this happens when one culture replaces another on a larger scale. ◦ Example: Think of the Native Americans. They

were forced to acculturate to the European norms. Aside from a few reservations, the Native American culture is gone.

Societies Collide

Transculturation – When one individual changes their culture to match another. ◦ Immigrants that choose to learn the new culture

to help them blend in.

Video Clip

Societies Collide…

Understanding other cultures could help to resolve century old conflict

Helps to enrich our own experience The sharing of our ideas could lead to better

developed societies in the future.

Why is it important to understand other cultures?

Judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own culture◦ People say negative things about people they

view as different

Ethnocentrism

By yourself:◦ Write a list of the 5 themes of geography and give

two examples of each from our culture here in Erie.

With a partner:◦ Compare what you wrote. Which are better? Was

there any confusion?

Checking for understanding

1.) Define culture.

2.) Name the 5 elements of culture.

3.) Give 2 reasons why culture changes?

Quiz