1. CULTURE 9Geog/Olson/2009

2. What is Culture?  System of beliefs, values, and assumptions about life  It guides our behavior  It is shared by a group of people  It includes customs, language, and material artifacts  It is passed down from generation to generation  It does not come with instructions (usually) 9Geog/Olson/2009

3. Elements of CULTURE go beyond the obvious 9Geog/Olson/2009

4. What is Culture? BELIEFS:  Ideas about reality  What is true or not true  Don’t require proof  Express peoples hopes and fears 9Geog/Olson/2009

5. What is Culture? VALUES: Ideas about what is good, bad, right or wrong beautiful, ugly, important or unimportant 9Geog/Olson/2009

6. What is Culture? MULTICULTURAL: Societies that have more than one culture  Are we multicultural in the USA? Melting Pot Theory vs. Mosaic Theory Assume cultures All blend together Some blending of cultures happens, but people still hang on to elements of their own culture 9Geog/Olson/2009

7. What is Culture? ETHNOCENTRISM: Judging another society or people by your own standards  Ignorance fuels it  Can be dangerous if it becomes extreme Mexico Saudi Arabia China France 9Geog/Olson/2009

8. What is Culture? Culture is like an iceberg…..How? What’s visible? What’s invisible? 9Geog/Olson/2009

9. What is Culture? How might our Ethncocentrism influence how we perceive other cultures? 9Geog/Olson/2009