The Elements of Culture

1. The Elements of Culture Chapter 4 Section 1

2. A Human Perspective • In an article titled “The 100% American” Anthropologist Ralph Linton described how a typical American, in eating breakfast, had borrowed from other cultures. • He has coffee, an Abyssinian plant, with cream and sugar. Both the domestication of cows and the idea of milking them originated in the Near East, while sugar was first made in India… As a side dish he may have the egg of a species of bird domesticated in Indo-China, or thin strips of the flesh of an animal domesticated in Eastern Asia. • Borrowing from other cultures is common around the world, even if we are not aware of it.

3. Defining Culture: What makes us similar to some people in the world but different from most others? • Culture:is defined broadly as the learned norms, values, knowledge, artifacts, language, & symbols that are constantly communicated among people who share a common way of life.

4. Material Culture • all physical objects, or artifacts, that people make & attach meaning to—books, clothing, schools, churches, etc.

5. Materials Culture

6. Non-Material Culture: • Consists of human creations that are not embodied in physical objects-values, norms, knowledge, systems of government & languages.

7. Non-Material Culture • 1. Values: is a general idea that people share about what is good or bad, desirable or undesirable. • 2. Norms: is a specific guideline for action; it is a rule that says how people should behave in particular situations. • A. Folkways: are norms that are simply everyday habits and convention. • B. Mores: are norms people consider vital to their well-being and to their most cherished values. • 3. Symbols: objects, gestures, sounds, or images that represent something other than themselves. • 4. Language: is a system of verbal & in many cases, written symbols. • 5. Knowledge: is the body facts, beliefs, and practical skill that accumulate over time.

8. Culture Change & Exchange: Societies are always changing, it can come through innovation or the spread of ideas. • Culture change can come through innovation. Invention can come about by accident or purpose. A need to create something for a purpose. • Diffusion: When ideas or inventions are move when they come into contact with different people. Usually through travel, but with today technology, diffusion can happen very quickly (television & internet). • A cultural hearth is a site of innovation from which basic ideas, materials, and technology diffuse to many cultures. (originated) • Acculturation: occurs when a society changes because it accepts or adopts an innovation.

9. Language: it allows the people within a culture to communicate with each other. • Language & identity: it helps build group identity & a sense of unity. But if more than one language is spoken in an area, conflict can arise if one language is favor over another. • Language families: 3,000 to 6,500 languages in the world today. Dialect reflects changes in speech patterns related to class, region, or other cultural changes. • Language diffusion: it can be spread through trade routes, be invented, or migration.

10. Religion: consists of a belief in a supernatural power or powers that are regarded as the creators and maintainers of the universe. • Monotheistic: with a belief in one god • Polytheistic: belief in many gods. • Animistic: traditional, belief in divine forces in nature. • Religion spreads across the world through diffusion and through converts, people who give up their former beliefs for a new religion.

11. Major Religions: 3 majors religions of the world began in Southwest Asia & 2 in South Asia • Categorized as one of types: Monotheistic, Polytheistic, & Animistic. • Major Religions: • 1. Judaism: oldest religion of the Southwest, called Jews, live in Israel. • 2. Christianity: evolved 2,000 yrs ago from the teaching of Judaism. Three major groups Catholic, Protestant, & Eastern Orthodox. • 3. Islam: Based on teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Known as Muslims. • 4. Hinduism: World’s oldest religions, it is polytheistic • 5. Buddhism:: an offshoot of Hinduism, they rejected the Hindu idea of caste. Teaches enlightened. • 6. Other Asian Practices: Confucianism, Taoism, & Shinto.

12. Creative Culture Expressions • All cultures have ways of expressing themselves creatively. • Environment, culture, & materials found will reflect the artistic product & what available in the region. • It comes through arts, visuals arts, literature (poems, folk tales, & stories), dance, theater, film, & music. • As you study different cultures remind yourself that each culture is unique.

13. Why might Acculturation have either negative or positive effects on a society? Give examples to support your response.

14. How would the arrival of significant numbers immigrants from another culture affect the existing culture? How would the culture of the arriving immigrants be affected?

15. Population Geography Chapter 4 Section 2