What is Culture?

1. What is Culture?

2. Culture • Culture – All things that make up a peoples’ way of life. • We inherit culture from our parents and society

3. Origins of Culture? • Cultural Hearths – The “heartlands” of major cultural groups. • In the beginning… • The Middle East • Mesoamerica (Central America) • West Africa

5. Cultural Hearths • What are today’s cultural hearths? • New York City • Tokyo • London • Paris…

6. Map Activity • 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”

8. Simulation

9. Cultural Norms • 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.

10. Examples of 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.

11. 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.

12. It is important to understand other cultures before we judge them based on our own cultural norms.

13. Quiz • 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…”

14. 5 Elements of Culture

15. 5 Elements of Culture • The elements of culture are… • Customs & traditions • Language • Arts and literature • Religion • Social organization

16. Customs and Traditions • 1. A Cultures rules for behavior. • Ex: Holidays, clothing, Marriage, etc. • Graduation, Prom, Skip days

18. Los elementos de la cultura • 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

19. Language • Language is the cornerstone of culture • Without language, you could not communicate • You can have many different types of language… name a few.

22. Arts and Literature • This can strengthen a culture’s identity – can make people feel proud • Includes art, music, books, etc. • Many different forms in a single society

24. Religion • 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 place of religion?

25. Social organization • 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?

27. 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

28. Why does culture change?

29. What causes culture to change? • 1. Technology • Has been a major source of change over time • Started with stone tools and continues with computers

30. How have the following technological changes affected our culture? • Media • Antenna to Cable or Satellite • Video stores to Netflix • Communication • Letters to Email • Morse Code to Cellular devices • Music • Records to MP3 technology

31. Why culture changes cont… • 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

33. Societies collide • 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.

34. 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.

35. 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

36. Why is it important to understand other cultures? • 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.

37. Ethnocentrism • Judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own culture • People say negative things about people they view as different

38. Checking for understanding • 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?

39. Quiz Level 2 - 16 pts. 1.) Define culture. 2.) Name the 5 elements of culture. 3.) Give 2 reasons why culture changes?