Products, Practices, Perspectives, Communities, Persons Defining Culture Products, Practices, Perspectives, Communities, Persons
The Triangle of Culture Products Perspectives (ideas) Practices (behavior) Culture The Triangle of Culture
Products things produced by a culture Plants, animals, tools, clothing, buildings, language, politics, religion… Products
Practices actions and interactions by members of a culture communication, creating art, literature, praying, washing hands, watching football (soccer) verbal and nonverbal Each action takes place within a specific community (group). Praying within religious groups Practices
the beliefs, values, and attitudes responsible for cultural products (ask, “Why did they build this pyramid?”) These perspectives guide persons (individuals) as they practice their culture as part of communities (groups). Perspectives form a person’s worldview. Perspectives
Cultural products, perspectives (ideas), and practices (behavior) do not have any meaning without _________. PEOPLE! What is missing?
Adding People We must add people to our understanding of culture. Communities (groups) Persons (individuals) Adding People
Communities (groups) and People (individuals) Communities are groups of people with things in common such as language, gender, religion, race, political parties, sports teams… Culture lives inside people. One person can belong to many different kinds of communities. Communities (groups) and People (individuals)
Persons (individuals) Persons (individuals) are members of communities (groups). Culture lives inside of individuals. Culture does not exist without people. Persons (individuals)
Five Elements of Culture Products Practices Perspectives Communities (groups) Persons (individuals) Culture Five Elements of Culture
The Drive Through Restaurant
The Drive Through Restaurant What cultural products are associated with the drive-through restaurant? Straws Napkins Uniforms Physical space of building The Drive Through Restaurant
The Drive Through Restaurant What cultural practices are involved? You must know: How to drive a car Obey traffic laws Use currency Pick things on a menu How to eat and drive at the same time! The Drive Through Restaurant
Which communities (groups) are involved? Customers Entry-level employees Managers Owners Stockholders Food suppliers
The Drive Through Restaurant Which persons (individuals) are involved? Too many persons from every background are involved. But this does mean the individual is less important. The Drive Through Restaurant
The Drive Through Restaurant What perspectives are involved? Attitudes toward meals and food Perceptions of time Mobility Values associated with the automobile “fast food” can produce both a positive and negative image in the minds of different people The Drive Through Restaurant
Cultural Products Ask: “What are the key products?” What are the physical locations, the objects, the art forms? Cultural Products
Cultural Practices Ask: “What are the essential practices?” What do people say and do? How do they act and interact with each other? Cultural Practices
Cultural Perspectives Ask: “What are the central perspectives?” What are the main perceptions, values, beliefs, or attitudes? Cultural Perspectives
Cultural Communities Ask: “Which specific communities are involved?” Which groups participate directly? Which groups participate indirectly? Cultural Communities
Cultural Persons Ask: “How do individual persons react?” Who are the people that participate? What is their personal relationship with this phenomena? Cultural Persons
Make a list of cultural Products, Practices, Perspectives, Persons, and Communities for the cultural phenomena below a musical instrument a marriage ceremony a method of transportation a game (basketball, handball, football) a mall a concert Group Exercise
A Concert Products Practices Perspectives Communities Persons
Make a list of cultural Products, Practices, Perspectives, Persons, and Communities for a cultural phenomena that you choose. Hint: It can’t be “a concert” Due September 12 Homework