1. More on the 5 Elements of Culture

2. Cultural Products the visible part of culture
the first thing we see, hear, feel, taste about a culture
They range from bricks to neighborhoods.
from tools (shovel, hammer) to ideas (law, religion, art, education)

3. Elements of Cultural Products
Artifacts
Places
Institutions
Art forms

4. Artifacts
Individual objects created, adopted, or adapted by members of the culture
the “things” of a culture
Some are unique (Japanese Kimonos, Scottish Kilts).
Others are imported from other cultures (soccer, football, newspapers).
Some may seem the same (television, pencil) but usage varies from culture to culture.

5. Places Physical places are cultural products
Both human-made and natural
Individual artifacts arranged in a certain way make places unique.
Places range from your desktop to a country and so on…

6. Institutions
Formal, organized systems that define and regulate practices of members of a culture
Politics, law, economics, education, religion, family, kinship, healthcare, social welfare, mass media
Complex combinations of practices and products that take place in many locations
Govern and structure the activities of a culture
Example: What is education?
Is it a building?
Is it the staff and students?
Textbooks?

7. Art Forms
Complex products that exist somewhere between products and perspectives.
Think of “style” in clothing or fashion.

8. Homework
Bring a personal possession from home with you to the next class.
Guidelines
Don’t bring anything extremely valuable.
Bring something that has some historical significance in your life, or the lives of your family.
Be prepared to explain the significance of the item.
Be prepared to discuss these questions:
What is it? Where do you find it?
How do you use it? When?
Which people use it?
Which groups of people use this object?
Why do people use this?
What significance does this object have in your culture?