Understanding Culture
Culture refers to the characteristics of human groups that make them unique. The concept encompasses both social behavior, including beliefs and traditions, and the material aspects of a society such as its cuisines, fashion, language, music, art, and architecture. It also includes non-material elements of a culture like morals, law, customs, and institutions.
During the 20th century there was a movement to study and understand culture through a social scientific approach. Sociologists focused on examining the cultural context of a society to better understand its values, beliefs and norms. This new perspective, referred to as the “social turn” in sociology, was heavily influenced by Marxism but also sought to remain open to alternative approaches. Sociologists developed a theory of culture that centers around the concept of socially meaningful expressions, referred to as cultural objects. These expressions can be audible, visible or tangible, and can tell a story. This framework helps to explain the complex relationship between a person and his or her culture.
When it comes to understanding culture, there are many views and perspectives. One view is that culture is a means of promoting the security and continuity of life. This can be seen in the direction of biological evolution toward greater self-control, from simple reflexes to learned behaviour based upon socially imposed patterns. Another view of culture is that it provides a framework for determining and acting on the fundamental needs of individuals. This is often seen in the development of religion.
A third view of culture is that it is a process by which humans communicate with each other. This communication can take the form of a narrative such as a folktale or an epic poem, or it may be through art, such as sculptures, paintings or ceramics. Culture is also the process of creating, transmitting and preserving knowledge. This is the function of educational institutions, libraries and museums.
Another important aspect of culture is the way in which it reflects the environment in which a group lives. This is seen in the varying cultures of different regions, such as the cultures of a desert or the plains. For example, a desert tribe may develop sophisticated methods of keeping food and water fresh and in plentiful supply. In contrast, a Plains tribe might develop a system of hunting and gathering that is highly effective in the environment.
The concept of culture is an incredibly broad one, which has led to the formation of several schools of thought. Some people have used the term to denote high culture, such as opera and art, while others use it to include all aspects of a society that can be considered part of a culture, from folk tales to political systems. This view of culture can lead to ethnocentrism, the tendency to see one’s own culture as superior to other cultures. It also tends to downplay the importance of economic, political and social factors in culture. A more holistic view of the concept can help to avoid these problems.
Culture refers to the characteristics of human groups that make them unique. The concept encompasses both social behavior, including beliefs and traditions, and the material aspects of a society such as its cuisines, fashion, language, music, art, and architecture. It also includes non-material elements of a culture like morals, law, customs, and institutions. During the 20th century there was a movement to study and understand culture through a social scientific approach. Sociologists focused on examining the cultural context of a society to better understand its values, beliefs and norms. This new perspective, referred to as the “social turn” in sociology, was heavily influenced by Marxism but also sought to remain open to alternative approaches. Sociologists developed a theory of culture that centers around the concept of socially meaningful expressions, referred to as cultural objects. These expressions can be audible, visible or tangible, and can tell a story. This framework helps to explain the complex relationship between a person and his or her culture. When it comes to understanding culture, there are many views and perspectives. One view is that culture is a means of promoting the security and continuity of life. This can be seen in the direction of biological evolution toward greater self-control, from simple reflexes to learned behaviour based upon socially imposed patterns. Another view of culture is that it provides a framework for determining and acting on the fundamental needs of individuals. This is often seen in the development of religion. A third view of culture is that it is a process by which humans communicate with each other. This communication can take the form of a narrative such as a folktale or an epic poem, or it may be through art, such as sculptures, paintings or ceramics. Culture is also the process of creating, transmitting and preserving knowledge. This is the function of educational institutions, libraries and museums. Another important aspect of culture is the way in which it reflects the environment in which a group lives. This is seen in the varying cultures of different regions, such as the cultures of a desert or the plains. For example, a desert tribe may develop sophisticated methods of keeping food and water fresh and in plentiful supply. In contrast, a Plains tribe might develop a system of hunting and gathering that is highly effective in the environment. The concept of culture is an incredibly broad one, which has led to the formation of several schools of thought. Some people have used the term to denote high culture, such as opera and art, while others use it to include all aspects of a society that can be considered part of a culture, from folk tales to political systems. This view of culture can lead to ethnocentrism, the tendency to see one’s own culture as superior to other cultures. It also tends to downplay the importance of economic, political and social factors in culture. A more holistic view of the concept can help to avoid these problems.