1. Culture
What makes us who we are?

2. Humans are… The most CREATIVE species on the planet
The only species to spread to all 7 continents
The only species that can drive others to extinction

3. What determines our success?
Our CULTURE does!
We take our culture and way of life as “natural” and assume that it is the “right way” to do things.
Culture is often invisible…But it doesn’t have to be: We rarely question our cultural assumptions…but we should!

4. What is society?
Society – A particular geographical territory and the people who live there

5. So… what’s culture?
CULTURE – The knowledge, values, customs, and physical objects that are passed on from generation to generation among members of a group.

6. Two types of Culture:
Material Culture – Physical objects and architecture of a society.
Non-material culture – The beliefs, rules, and customs of a society. Additionally, social, political, and economic systems in the abstract are part of material culture.

7. What does culture do? Culture…
Provides the blue print that people in a society follow
Guides individuals relationships with one another and their society
Separates groups from one another… “US” versus “THEM” [The “other”]
*Culture and society cannot exist without one another
*Culture is LEARNED…It is not inherent or innate

8. How is culture learned?
Culture is transmitted through the use of symbols
-Symbols: things that stand for or represent something else
Examples: the “middle finger”, “blue is for boys”, … Can be sounds, smells, tastes, gestures, etc
Symbols are contextual…they differ between groups!

9. The Most Powerful Symbol of all…
Language allows us to create and transmit culture… it allows humans to pass their experiences, ideas, and knowledge down to the next generation
Human society vs Ape society