Transcript CHAPTER 3:
CULTURE
The Basis of Culture
A.
Society
: A defined territory inhabited by people who share a common culture B.
1.
2.
Culture
: A society’s total way of life; knowledge, values, customs shared by members of a society Material culture : physical tangible objects Nonmaterial culture : ideas, knowledge, beliefs, values that influence behavior
Nature vs. Nurture Debate: About 50% is genetic makeup and 50% is environment Instincts : genetically inherited, unlearned patterns of behavior EX: being a mother? No not all women want kids Reflex : automatic reactions to physical stimuli EX: pupils contract in bright light Drive : Biologically inherited impulse to reduce discomfort EX: eat, drink, sleep
What is Culture?
• for anthropologists and other behavioral scientists,
culture is the full range of learned human behavior patterns.
• The term was first used in this way by the pioneer English Anthropologist
Edward B. Tylor
in his book, Primitive Culture, published in 1871.
• Tylor said that culture is "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society." Edward B. Tylor
What is Canadian Culture?
• • • • What do you define as Canadian culture? What symbols are connected with the “Canadian Identity”? Could Canada be considered as having only one set identity? What is the difference between the Cultural Mosaic and the Melting Pot? Is it cool to be “Proud to be Canadian?”
The Rant
A Product of Molson Canadian
Hey. I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader. And I don't live in an igloo, or eat blubber, or own a dogsled. And I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain they're really, really nice. I have a Prime Minister, not a President. I speak English and French, NOT American. and I pronounce it 'ABOUT', NOT 'A BOOT'. I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack. I believe in peace keeping, NOT policing. DIVERSITY, NOT assimilation, AND THAT THE BEAVER IS A TRULY PROUD AND NOBLE ANIMAL. A TOQUE IS A HAT, A CHESTERFIELD IS A COUCH, AND IT IS PRONOUNCED 'ZED' NOT 'ZEE', 'ZED'!!! CANADA IS THE SECOND LARGEST LANDMASS! THE FIRST NATION OF HOCKEY! AND THE BEST PART OF NORTH AMERICA! MY NAME IS JOE!! AND I AM CANADIAN!!!!!!!! Thank you.
The Rant Continued
• • • Why do you believe The Rant was so effective as an advertising campaign? Do you believe it became more than just a commercial to sell beer? Why What does this say about Canadian Culture with respect to our southern neighbors?
How do Anthropologists regard cultures? (ch2)
Anthropologists see culture – as a constantly changing organism.
Change happens gradually unless completely destroyed by another culture
They see cultural change as a result of a limited # of factors and they try to identify that is the most significant at the time. (i.e. leadership, shift in values, norms, technological change, environmental change)
Generally Anthropologist study cultures that are relatively isolated (developing countries)
What causes cultures to change? “Social Changes”?
Classification of Culture
Whether or not culture is likely to change depends on:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Physical environment
– (length of winter)
Level of technology
– (very wired, travel on foot, etc.)
Social Organization
labour) – (kinship system, division of
System of symbols
– (Physical objects, gestures, dance, trends, hairstyles)
They study these aspects of culture to answer anthropological questions
3 Major Sources of Cultural Change
Invention
– new products, ideas, social patterns
Discovery
– finding something previously unknown
Diffusion
– spreading of ideas methods and tools
Enculturation
:
The process where members of a culture learn and internalize shared ideas, values, and beliefs
Ch2 - pg. 41-45
LANGUAGE &
Are we born knowing our culture?
CULTURE
KNOWING OUR CULTURE:
The pen is mightier than the _____________ Better safe than _______________ Don’t bite the hand that _____________ No news is ____________________ A penny saved is a ________________ Children should be seen and not ______________ Better late than ______________
A.
1.
The Relationship between Language and Culture Culture is learned by the passing on of experiences, ideas, and knowledge 2.
Symbols : something chosen to represent something else Language Physical objects Gestures Body language
B.
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis : Our idea of reality depends upon the particular language that we have learned
He threw me a curve ball The teacher fielded my questions well You’re way off base You’re really batting 1000 What are the ground rules?
I just wanted to touch base with you She really went to bat for me You have two strikes against you already He’s a real team player Just give me a ballpark estimate Aah…you’re way out in left field
WHAT CAN VOCAB TELL YOU ABOUT A CULTURE?
-When something is important to a society, its language will have many words to describe it Ex: Canadian obsession with time… nanosecond, millisecond, moment, minute, hour, era, interim, recurrent, century, light year, afternoon, eternal, annual, meanwhile, regularly, tardy
Discussion
Describe some specific ways you see language affecting social behavior among students at our school Some experts believe that without language there is no thought. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Norms and Values
A.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Norms: The rules we live by They define what is appropriate and inappropriate They are learned They guide social behavior They may be so ingrained that we are unaware of them
until
one is broken
Examples?
B.
Types of norms 1.
Folkways a) b) c) Routine ways of doing things Norms with little moral significance A violation will elicit a mild social reaction 2.
Mores a) b) c) (Mor-ays) Norms that have great moral significance Conformity draws approval and violation can bring strong disapproval Most serious of all mores is a taboo
1.
Laws 1.
2.
Formally defined norms Enforced by law officials
C. Enforcing Norms 1.Informal Sanctions : rewards and punishments used to encourage people to follow norms (informal)
Examples?
2. Formal Sanctions : Can only be applied by officially designated persons
Examples?
D.
Values : Broad ideas about what most people consider to be desirable 1.
They form the basis for norms 2.
Different societies can have a different norm based on the same value
Examples?
Belief and Material Culture
A.
Belief : Ideas about the nature of reality 1.
2.
They can be true or false People base behavior on their beliefs regardless of how true or false it is B.
The Gap: Ideal and Real 1.
2.
Ideal culture accept – guidelines a culture
claims
Real culture – actual behavior patterns by members of a society to Example: Honesty is a virtue -cheating on exams -not paying taxes -dishonest business practices
Material Culture- the concrete, tangible objects of a culture -Have no meaning or use apart from meanings people give them
Examples?
Cultural Diversity and Similarity
Ethnocentrism : Judging others in terms of one’s own culture and believing that one’s own culture is superior or more desirable Cultural Relativism : Learning to look at things from a different point of view. Not making a value judgment based on your beliefs and norms
A.
B.
Culture is dynamic 1.
Why does culture change?
Discovery – finding something that already exists 2.
Invention – creation of something new Example: light bulb, cell phones, internet 3.
Diffusion – borrowing from another culture Example: Tacos, pizza, ??
C.
Social categories : groupings of persons who share a social characteristic (age, gender, religion) D.
Subculture : A group that is part of dominant culture but differs in an important respect Example: Chinatown, circus friends E.
Counterculture : A subculture deliberately and consciously opposed to central beliefs and attitudes of dominate
F.
Cultural universals : general cultural traits that exists in all cultures
Examples: language, marriage, cooking and eating rituals, family, government, religion, humor, music, sports, funeral rites
G.
Cultural particulars : The way a specific culture expresses a universal trait Example: childcare