2
Culture
by Chapter Robert Brym
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
2-1
INTRODUCTION
Will examine: Origins of culture Culture and social control Culture as freedom Culture as constraint*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
2-2
CULTURE AND SOCIETY
Culture: Sum of socially transmitted
practices, languages, symbols, beliefs, values, ideologies and material objects that people create to deal with real-life problems
Enables people to adapt to, and thrive in,
their environments
Society: People interacting socially and
sharing culture, usually in a defined Copyright 2008 Nelson, a division geographicalbyarea* of Thomson Canada Limited
2-3
ORIGINS OF CULTURE
Three tools in human cultural survival kit:
1. Abstraction: Capacity to create ideas or ways of thinking that allow us to classify experience and generalize from it Ideas or ways of thinking find expression in symbols: Anything that carries a particular meaning, including the components of language, mathematical notions, and signs*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 2-4
ORIGINS OF CULTURE
(Three tools in human cultural survival kit) 1. Co-operation: Human capacity to create complex social life by establishing norms, which are standards of behaviour or generally accepted ways of doing things 1. Production: Human capacity to make and use tools, and thereby improve our ability to take what we want from nature Tools and techniques known as material culture*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 2-5
THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF CULTURE
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
2-6
CULTURE AND SOCIAL CONTROL
To ensure conformity to cultural guidelines, society develops sanctions Are two types of sanctions: Positive sanctions: Rewards for following cultural guidelines (e.g., praise, money) Negative sanctions: Punishments for violating cultural guidelines (e.g., avoidance, arrest)*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 2-7
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE
Sociological understanding of culture can be impaired by:
Invisibility of own culture: Taking own culture for granted Ethnocentrism: Judging other cultures exclusively by standards of own culture*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
2-8
TWO FACES OF CULTURE
Are two faces of culture:
1. Culture as freedom 1. Culture as constraining and/or endangering*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
2-9
1. CULTURE AS FREEDOM
i. i. i. Are three aspects to culture as freedom: Cultural diversification Globalization Postmodernism*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
2-10
1. CULTURE AS FREEDOM
i. Cultural Diversification: As societies become more complex, cultures become more heterogeneous (e.g., through immigration) Is characterized by increase in freedom to choose elements of cultural consumption and identification*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
2-11
TOP TEN PLACES OF BIRTH OF CANADIAN IMMIGRANTS
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1. CULTURE AS FREEDOM
The Rights Revolution: Process by which socially excluded groups (e.g., women, aboriginal peoples, homosexuals) have struggled to win equal rights in law and practice Issues raised by the rights revolution: Obligation to compensate for past injustices How to maintain acceptable balance between2008 by Nelson, a divisionequal Canada Limited to Copyright right to be of Thomson and right
2-13
1. CULTURE AS FREEDOM
i. Globalization: Characterized by Expansion of international and trade investment International travel and communication Prevalence of mass media Routine contact between people of diverse cultures Migration by members of different racial and ethnic groups*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 2-14
GLOBALIZATION: EFFECTS
Contributes to cultural fragmentation Destroys political, economic and cultural isolation; i.e., McLuhans notion of global village Individuals less obliged to accept native culture and freer to combine elements from wide variety of historical periods and geographical settings*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
2-15
1. CULTURE AS FREEDOM
i. Postmodernism: Three main features a. Eclectic mixing of elements from different times and places a. Erosion of authority a. Decline of consensus around core values Reflected in fate of Big Historical Projects: For past 200 years, was global consensus about inevitability of progress arising from human ingenuity, but negative side of Copyright recognized Thomson Canada Limited progress 2008 by Nelson, a division ofin postmodern era* 2-16
CONFIDENCE IN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: CANADA AND USA
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2-17
VOTING AND NONCONVENTIONAL POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
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2-18
CONFIDENCE IN SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES
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2-19
POSTMODERNISM: CHALLENGES
How to make binding decisions How to govern How to teach children and adolescents difference between right and wrong How to transmit literary tastes and artistic standards from one generation to the next*
Copyright 2008 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited
2-20
POSTMODERNISM: BENEFITS
Empowers ordinary people and makes them more responsible for own fate Renders individuals more tolerant and appreciative of ethnic, racial, religious, and sexual groups Frees individuals to choose rather than have imposed on them religious, ethnic, and other identities Encourages healthy skepticism about political and by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited a Copyright 2008 scientific claim...