The Study of Culture
Cultural is a term that defines all aspects of human behavior that are unique to the species Homo sapiens, such as language, beliefs and customs, art, law, institutions, tools and technologies, as well as ways of thinking and knowing. Culture is distinct from both social structure and economics, while being continuously informed by these facets of society.
The study of culture is a central focus of the disciplines of anthropology, sociology, and history. The goal of cultural historians is to examine how cultures change over time, and the impact of these changes on the evolution of human thought and civilization. The concept of culture has been historically viewed as a way for people to distinguish themselves from other societies, with higher levels of cultural sophistication being seen as an indication of greater civilization. The influence of one culture on another is referred to as the “spread” of culture, and the process by which cultures spread can be described as acculturation.
Culture is a way of life for a group of people, including the behaviors and beliefs that are accepted without question and passed along from generation to generation. It includes laws, values, symbols, art and religion. It also includes the customs and practices that are based on shared ethnicity, gender or social class.
Anthropologists define culture as a system of learned behaviour. It differs from instinctive reactions because it is learned and consciously transmitted by the members of a culture, rather than being innate. This system of learning is a means of promoting the security and continuity of life, and it progresses from simple reflexes to complex cultural behaviours.
In order to study culture, a researcher needs to be familiar with the language and concepts of that particular society. They also need to have an understanding of the historical context in which that culture developed. This knowledge will help them determine how the culture is influenced by the past, and how that influence may affect its future.
A key area of research for a cultural historian is the study of texts. These include writings of intellectual elites as well as the ideas of lesser-educated people. This allows the researcher to explore a range of opinions and viewpoints, from the beliefs of primitive men to the prejudices and assumptions of modern Westerners.
In addition to studying ideas and beliefs, cultural historians must also examine the artifacts created by a culture. These objects can be as mundane as a kippah (a brimless hat worn by Jews), or as significant as a Viking helmet. Cultural artifacts can be used to identify a culture, and are often unambiguously identified when they are discovered in archaeological sites. This allows archeologists to gain insights into the culture that produced them. Cultural artifacts are not only a record of the past, but they are also a source of inspiration for the creation of new cultural artifacts. This cycle of creation, interpretation and transmission is called cultural heritage.
Cultural is a term that defines all aspects of human behavior that are unique to the species Homo sapiens, such as language, beliefs and customs, art, law, institutions, tools and technologies, as well as ways of thinking and knowing. Culture is distinct from both social structure and economics, while being continuously informed by these facets of society. The study of culture is a central focus of the disciplines of anthropology, sociology, and history. The goal of cultural historians is to examine how cultures change over time, and the impact of these changes on the evolution of human thought and civilization. The concept of culture has been historically viewed as a way for people to distinguish themselves from other societies, with higher levels of cultural sophistication being seen as an indication of greater civilization. The influence of one culture on another is referred to as the “spread” of culture, and the process by which cultures spread can be described as acculturation. Culture is a way of life for a group of people, including the behaviors and beliefs that are accepted without question and passed along from generation to generation. It includes laws, values, symbols, art and religion. It also includes the customs and practices that are based on shared ethnicity, gender or social class. Anthropologists define culture as a system of learned behaviour. It differs from instinctive reactions because it is learned and consciously transmitted by the members of a culture, rather than being innate. This system of learning is a means of promoting the security and continuity of life, and it progresses from simple reflexes to complex cultural behaviours. In order to study culture, a researcher needs to be familiar with the language and concepts of that particular society. They also need to have an understanding of the historical context in which that culture developed. This knowledge will help them determine how the culture is influenced by the past, and how that influence may affect its future. A key area of research for a cultural historian is the study of texts. These include writings of intellectual elites as well as the ideas of lesser-educated people. This allows the researcher to explore a range of opinions and viewpoints, from the beliefs of primitive men to the prejudices and assumptions of modern Westerners. In addition to studying ideas and beliefs, cultural historians must also examine the artifacts created by a culture. These objects can be as mundane as a kippah (a brimless hat worn by Jews), or as significant as a Viking helmet. Cultural artifacts can be used to identify a culture, and are often unambiguously identified when they are discovered in archaeological sites. This allows archeologists to gain insights into the culture that produced them. Cultural artifacts are not only a record of the past, but they are also a source of inspiration for the creation of new cultural artifacts. This cycle of creation, interpretation and transmission is called cultural heritage.