The Concept of Culture
Culture, an umbrella term for the social behaviors, institutions, norms, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of human groups, can be defined in many ways. Anthropologists tend to focus on culture in relation to human society, while sociologists and historians may consider it more broadly in terms of a shared world view and the meanings people attribute to objects and events.
A common definition of culture comes from British poet and critic Matthew Arnold, who used the term to describe “the cultivation of the humanist ideal.” American anthropologist Edward Tylor broadened the concept in his work by considering all facets of a society to be part of its cultural system. He also defined culture as a shared set of values, traditions and practices.
The concept of culture has become a key focus of social and historical research. Some of the most important developments have come from a rejection of the empiricism and objectivity that underpins traditional social science. Historians and anthropologists have developed new approaches that include an epistemological skepticism of narrative truth claims, a focus on the cultural dimension of history, and a recognition that human reality is always deeply mediated by language and sign systems.
This has led to the rise of a ‘new cultural history,’ which is concerned with understanding the past through the use of culture as an explanatory framework. It has been criticized by some as being an attempt to legitimize the ideas of post-structuralist thinkers, who have questioned the tenets of social structure and objective reality that underlie traditional history.
While some scholars have emphasized the importance of studying culture, others have argued that the concept is not valid for all types of human societies. Cross-cultural psychologists, for instance, have developed an approach to culture that includes the study of shared mental representations and processes that differ from one group to another.
The ‘new cultural history’ has also been influenced by a concern for the role of power in shaping culture. For example, marxist theorists such as Antonio Gramsci have suggested that the cultural influence of mass media neutralizes the potential for dissent in society and allows social elites to dominate the masses through consent.
In other cases, the influence of culture has been more destructive. For example, the Rwandan genocide of 1994 was initiated by the spread of the idea that the Tutsis were “cockroaches” and should be exterminated.
A related issue is the sensitivity of some cultures to criticism or even a sense that their values are being threatened. This has led to the development of countercultural movements that seek to challenge the legitimacy of a culture’s values and actions. These movements can range from political parties to musical genres to the arts. Often, the movement is motivated by a belief that some aspect of a culture is no longer relevant or needs to change in light of new scientific discoveries and technological advances. In other cases, it is an attempt to defend traditions against a perceived threat from outsiders.
Culture, an umbrella term for the social behaviors, institutions, norms, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of human groups, can be defined in many ways. Anthropologists tend to focus on culture in relation to human society, while sociologists and historians may consider it more broadly in terms of a shared world view and the meanings people attribute to objects and events. A common definition of culture comes from British poet and critic Matthew Arnold, who used the term to describe “the cultivation of the humanist ideal.” American anthropologist Edward Tylor broadened the concept in his work by considering all facets of a society to be part of its cultural system. He also defined culture as a shared set of values, traditions and practices. The concept of culture has become a key focus of social and historical research. Some of the most important developments have come from a rejection of the empiricism and objectivity that underpins traditional social science. Historians and anthropologists have developed new approaches that include an epistemological skepticism of narrative truth claims, a focus on the cultural dimension of history, and a recognition that human reality is always deeply mediated by language and sign systems. This has led to the rise of a ‘new cultural history,’ which is concerned with understanding the past through the use of culture as an explanatory framework. It has been criticized by some as being an attempt to legitimize the ideas of post-structuralist thinkers, who have questioned the tenets of social structure and objective reality that underlie traditional history. While some scholars have emphasized the importance of studying culture, others have argued that the concept is not valid for all types of human societies. Cross-cultural psychologists, for instance, have developed an approach to culture that includes the study of shared mental representations and processes that differ from one group to another. The ‘new cultural history’ has also been influenced by a concern for the role of power in shaping culture. For example, marxist theorists such as Antonio Gramsci have suggested that the cultural influence of mass media neutralizes the potential for dissent in society and allows social elites to dominate the masses through consent. In other cases, the influence of culture has been more destructive. For example, the Rwandan genocide of 1994 was initiated by the spread of the idea that the Tutsis were “cockroaches” and should be exterminated. A related issue is the sensitivity of some cultures to criticism or even a sense that their values are being threatened. This has led to the development of countercultural movements that seek to challenge the legitimacy of a culture’s values and actions. These movements can range from political parties to musical genres to the arts. Often, the movement is motivated by a belief that some aspect of a culture is no longer relevant or needs to change in light of new scientific discoveries and technological advances. In other cases, it is an attempt to defend traditions against a perceived threat from outsiders.