The Concept of Culture
The human species has developed a very complex culture, defined as the ways of life and social patterns of a group of people that are learned and passed down by imitation and communication. This is a very broad definition of culture, encompassing codes of behavior, beliefs, religions and rituals, arts and crafts, and societal norms such as laws and morality. A culture is a collection of traditions that differ from one individual to the next. A person’s sense of identity is shaped by his or her culture, and this influences how a person interacts with other members of society and perceives the world around him or her.
The concept of culture is a fundamental part of anthropology. In the early nineteenth century, a famous historian of this subject used the term “civilization” to describe human societies that advanced from an instinctual base toward greater comfort and security. Eventually, this development came to be labeled as “modernization.” The term civilization is now more often used for the more specific cultural traits of societies that have reached the highest level of modernization.
Some of the more important features of a culture are its symbols, which are the means by which the group’s knowledge and skills are communicated to new members of the community. These symbols include languages, art, music and cuisine. The anthropologist defines “culture” as the system of symbols and behaviors that a people share, and that distinguishes it from other groups of humans.
A cultural feature may also be its attitudes, beliefs or values, such as the idea that some human activities are morally wrong and that others are not. It may also be the societal norms that establish the right and wrong ways to behave, as well as rules for interactions with other members of the culture. These societal rules are commonly known as folkways. Internationalization of these folkways is a process by which culture can spread across the globe, as illustrated by the worldwide diffusion of tobacco, corn (maize), coffee and other crops.
In addition to cultural characteristics, a culture can also be defined by its physical objects and artifacts. For example, a Jewish headdress called the kippah or yarmulke is unmistakably associated with the Jewish culture, as are the ceremonial rites and ceremonies.
The study of cultures has expanded with the advent of a genre of history called “cultural history.” This is a very broad and general category, and encompasses the studies of beliefs and ideas that are derived from the study of the material culture of a particular place and time. Examples of this work include the writings of historians who have explored themes from parades in 19th century America to 16th-century Spanish texts and English medical writing, as well as visual practices implied in Renaissance frescoes. The study of this type of history helps to bring to life the notion that our instincts, thoughts and actions have a long, rich ancestry that can be gleaned from looking at the culture of the past.
The human species has developed a very complex culture, defined as the ways of life and social patterns of a group of people that are learned and passed down by imitation and communication. This is a very broad definition of culture, encompassing codes of behavior, beliefs, religions and rituals, arts and crafts, and societal norms such as laws and morality. A culture is a collection of traditions that differ from one individual to the next. A person’s sense of identity is shaped by his or her culture, and this influences how a person interacts with other members of society and perceives the world around him or her. The concept of culture is a fundamental part of anthropology. In the early nineteenth century, a famous historian of this subject used the term “civilization” to describe human societies that advanced from an instinctual base toward greater comfort and security. Eventually, this development came to be labeled as “modernization.” The term civilization is now more often used for the more specific cultural traits of societies that have reached the highest level of modernization. Some of the more important features of a culture are its symbols, which are the means by which the group’s knowledge and skills are communicated to new members of the community. These symbols include languages, art, music and cuisine. The anthropologist defines “culture” as the system of symbols and behaviors that a people share, and that distinguishes it from other groups of humans. A cultural feature may also be its attitudes, beliefs or values, such as the idea that some human activities are morally wrong and that others are not. It may also be the societal norms that establish the right and wrong ways to behave, as well as rules for interactions with other members of the culture. These societal rules are commonly known as folkways. Internationalization of these folkways is a process by which culture can spread across the globe, as illustrated by the worldwide diffusion of tobacco, corn (maize), coffee and other crops. In addition to cultural characteristics, a culture can also be defined by its physical objects and artifacts. For example, a Jewish headdress called the kippah or yarmulke is unmistakably associated with the Jewish culture, as are the ceremonial rites and ceremonies. The study of cultures has expanded with the advent of a genre of history called “cultural history.” This is a very broad and general category, and encompasses the studies of beliefs and ideas that are derived from the study of the material culture of a particular place and time. Examples of this work include the writings of historians who have explored themes from parades in 19th century America to 16th-century Spanish texts and English medical writing, as well as visual practices implied in Renaissance frescoes. The study of this type of history helps to bring to life the notion that our instincts, thoughts and actions have a long, rich ancestry that can be gleaned from looking at the culture of the past.