1. Sociology Chapter 3 – “Culture”

2. Explaining Culture
Culture – the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together form a people’s way of life Culture can be divided into two categories: Nonmaterial culture –creations and abstract ideas that are not physical objects. Social roles, rules, ethics, and beliefs are just some examples. Material culture – the physical evidence of a culture in the objects and architecture they make, or have made. Culture is shared…and people who interact in a defined territory and share a culture is considered a society.

3. Elements of Culture - Symbols
Symbols – anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture.
These can be icons, images, gestures and tangible things…

4. Symbols can be gestures…

5. Symbols can be logos…

6. Symbols can mean social causes

7. Symbols can communicate instructions

8. Symbols remind us of our history and values

9. Symbols can be manipulated because we all know what they are supposed to mean....

10. Elements of Culture - Language
Language – a system of symbols that allows people to communicate
Through language we can transmit culture. Wisdom over time is passed down through language.

11. Elements of Culture: Norms
Norms – rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members. There are two types of norms…
Mores – norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance. They are taboos. Often breaking norms lead to being outcast or imprisonment (ex. Incest, rape, murder)
Folkways – norms of routine or casual interaction (ex. Shaking hands, eating styles, saying excuse me)

12. Elements of Culture: Values and Beliefs
Values – culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good, and beautiful and that serve as broad guidelines for social living
Beliefs – specific ideas that people hold to be true
Values tend to be general, and beliefs tend to be specific. They are linked…your abstract values affect the specific things you believe about the world.

13. Technology and Culture
Norms, symbols, language, values and beliefs are non-material elements of culture Technology is the material elements of culture. Technology is the knowledge that people use to make a way of life in their surroundings

14. Technology and Culture Over Time…
Hunting and Gathering
Horticulture and Pastoralism
Agriculture
Industry
Post-Industrial Information Technology

15. Cultural Diversity
Although societies share general cultures (they share similar symbols, norm, values, and language), there is tremendous variety in the types of specific cultures certain groups practice

16. Cultural Diversity – High Culture and Popular Culture
High Culture – Society’s Elite
Popular Culture – Widespread in a society

17. Cultural Diversity – Subculture and Counterculture
Subculture – set apart from society
Counterculture – strongly oppose wider society

18. Cultural Diversity - Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism – perspective recognizing the cultural diversity of the United States and promoting equal standing for all cultural traditions Why do you think that people think multiculturalism is a good thing?

19. Cultural Diversity – Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
Ethnocentrism – the practice of judging another culture by the standards of one’s own culture
Cultural Relativism – the practice of judging a culture by its own standard

20. What are some examples of invention, discovery, and diffusion?
Cultural Change
Cultural patterns do not always stay the same…here are some ways they change:
Invention – creating new cultural elements
Discovery – recognizing new ways to use something already in existence
Diffusion – the spread of objects or ideas
What are some examples of invention, discovery, and diffusion?

21. Exit Ticket
Look at the image on the right. (a) Explain it from our cultural perspective. (b) from the perspective of the culture of the boys in the photo. (c) Why are (a) and (b) different?