CULTURE

Men’s natures are alike; It is their habits that carry them apart… The Basis of Culture 2

Society: A defined territory inhabited by people who share a common culture Culture: A society’s total way of life; knowledge, values, customs shared by members of a society Material culture: physical tangible objects Nonmaterial culture: ideas, knowledge, beliefs, values that influence behavior 3

Nature vs. Nurture Debate: About 50% is genetic makeup and 50% is environment Instincts: genetically inherited, unlearned patterns of behavior EX: being a mother? No- not all women want kids Reflex: automatic reactions to physical stimuli EX: pupils contract in bright light Drive: Biologically inherited impulse to reduce discomfort EX: eat, drink, sleep 4

What is Culture? for anthropologists and other behavioral scientists, culture is the full range of learned human behavior patterns.   The term was first used in this way by the pioneer English Anthropologist Edward B. Tylor in his book, Primitive Culture, published in 1871.  Tylor said that culture is "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."  Edward B. Tylor

What is Canadian Culture? What do you define as Canadian culture? What symbols are connected with the “Canadian Identity”? Could Canada be considered as having only one set identity? What is the difference between the Cultural Mosaic and the Melting Pot? Is it cool to be “Proud to be Canadian?”

The Rant A Product of Molson Canadian Hey. I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader. And I don't live in an igloo, or eat blubber, or own a dogsled. And I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain they're really, really nice. I have a Prime Minister, not a President. I speak English and French, NOT American. and I pronounce it 'ABOUT', NOT 'A BOOT'. I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack. I believe in peace keeping, NOT policing. DIVERSITY, NOT assimilation, AND THAT THE BEAVER IS A TRULY PROUD AND NOBLE ANIMAL. A TOQUE IS A HAT, A CHESTERFIELD IS A COUCH, AND IT IS PRONOUNCED 'ZED' NOT 'ZEE', 'ZED'!!! CANADA IS THE SECOND LARGEST LANDMASS! THE FIRST NATION OF HOCKEY! AND THE BEST PART OF NORTH AMERICA! MY NAME IS JOE!! AND I AM CANADIAN!!!!!!!! Thank you.

The Rant Continued Why do you believe The Rant was so effective as an advertising campaign? Do you believe it became more than just a commercial to sell beer? Why What does this say about Canadian Culture with respect to our southern neighbors?

How do Anthropologists regard cultures? (ch2) Anthropologists see culture – as a constantly changing organism. Change happens gradually unless completely destroyed by another culture They see cultural change as a result of a limited # of factors and they try to identify that is the most significant at the time. (i.e. leadership, shift in values, norms, technological change, environmental change) Generally Anthropologist study cultures that are relatively isolated (developing countries) What causes cultures to change? “Social Changes”?

Classification of Culture Whether or not culture is likely to change depends on: Physical environment – (length of winter) Level of technology – (very wired, travel on foot, etc.) Social Organization – (kinship system, division of labour) System of symbols – (Physical objects, gestures, dance, trends, hairstyles) Examples They study these aspects of culture to answer anthropological questions

3 Major Sources of Cultural Change Invention – new products, ideas, social patterns Discovery – finding something previously unknown Diffusion – spreading of ideas methods and tools Enculturation: The process where members of a culture learn and internalize shared ideas, values, and beliefs Ch2 - pg. 41-45

Are we born knowing our culture? LANGUAGE & CULTURE Are we born knowing our culture?

KNOWING OUR CULTURE: The pen is mightier than the _____________ Better safe than _______________ Don’t bite the hand that _____________ No news is ____________________ A penny saved is a ________________ Children should be seen and not ______________ Better late than ______________

The Relationship between Language and Culture Culture is learned by the passing on of experiences, ideas, and knowledge Symbols: something chosen to represent something else Language Physical objects Gestures Body language

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Our idea of reality depends upon the particular language that we have learned He threw me a curve ball The teacher fielded my questions well You’re way off base You’re really batting 1000 What are the ground rules? I just wanted to touch base with you She really went to bat for me You have two strikes against you already He’s a real team player Just give me a ballpark estimate Aah…you’re way out in left field

WHAT CAN VOCAB TELL YOU ABOUT A CULTURE? -When something is important to a society, its language will have many words to describe it Ex: Canadian obsession with time… nanosecond, millisecond, moment, minute, hour, era, interim, recurrent, century, light year, afternoon, eternal, annual, meanwhile, regularly, tardy …just to name a few!

Discussion Describe some specific ways you see language affecting social behavior among students at our school Some experts believe that without language there is no thought. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Norms and Values

Norms: The rules we live by They define what is appropriate and inappropriate They are learned They guide social behavior They may be so ingrained that we are unaware of them until one is broken Examples?

Types of norms Folkways Mores (Mor-ays) Routine ways of doing things Norms with little moral significance A violation will elicit a mild social reaction Mores (Mor-ays) Norms that have great moral significance Conformity draws approval and violation can bring strong disapproval Most serious of all mores is a taboo

Laws Formally defined norms Enforced by law officials

C. Enforcing Norms 1.Informal Sanctions: rewards and punishments used to encourage people to follow norms (informal) Examples? 2. Formal Sanctions: Can only be applied by officially designated persons

D. Values: Broad ideas about what most people consider to be desirable They form the basis for norms Different societies can have a different norm based on the same value Examples?

Belief and Material Culture

Belief: Ideas about the nature of reality They can be true or false People base behavior on their beliefs regardless of how true or false it is The Gap: Ideal and Real Ideal culture – guidelines a culture claims to accept Real culture – actual behavior patterns by members of a society Example: Honesty is a virtue -cheating on exams -not paying taxes -dishonest business practices -copying a friends homework

Material Culture- the concrete, tangible objects of a culture -Have no meaning or use apart from meanings people give them Examples?

Cultural Diversity and Similarity

Ethnocentrism: Judging others in terms of one’s own culture and believing that one’s own culture is superior or more desirable Cultural Relativism: Learning to look at things from a different point of view. Not making a value judgment based on your beliefs and norms

Why does culture change? Culture is dynamic Why does culture change? Discovery – finding something that already exists Invention – creation of something new Example: light bulb, cell phones, internet Diffusion – borrowing from another culture Example: Tacos, pizza, ??

Social categories: groupings of persons who share a social characteristic (age, gender, religion) Subculture: A group that is part of dominant culture but differs in an important respect Example: Chinatown, circus friends Counterculture: A subculture deliberately and consciously opposed to central beliefs and attitudes of dominate culture Example: anarchist, gangs

Cultural universals: general cultural traits that exists in all cultures Examples: language, marriage, cooking and eating rituals, family, government, religion, humor, music, sports, funeral rites Cultural particulars: The way a specific culture expresses a universal trait Example: childcare