1. The Basics of Culture
World Studies
Objective: SWBAT

2. What is culture?  Important words/ definitions are in BOLD
The way of life shared by members of a society.
A set of learned beliefs, values, and behaviors.
A person can be a part of many cultures and/or sub-cultures.
Ex. We are all a part of an American culture, but within the American culture there are many sub-cultures…what are some of them?

3. Elements (parts) of Culture
Belief Systems
Language
Customs
Social Organization
Political and Economic Organization
Material Elements

4. Belief systems and Ideologies
Examples:
Religions
Christianity
Islam, etc.
Ideologies
Sexism
Racism, etc.

5. Language
Examples:
Spanish
Arabic
Japanese

6. Customs
Examples:
The way you greet people can be different in different cultures:
Handshakes
Bowing with hands in praying position
Kiss each cheek

7. Social Organization
Examples:
Family Structure
Social Classes

8. Political and Economic Organization
Examples:
Forms of Government
Democracy
Theocracy
Dictatorship
Economic Systems
Capitalism
Communism

9. Material Elements Examples: Food Clothing Arts and Literature
Tacos, sushi
Clothing
Dashiki, toga
Arts and Literature
Haikus, ghazal

10. How does culture change?
Innovation- Something new is created to meet a need.
Ex. The automobile.
Diffusion- The spread of ideas from one culture to another.
Ex. Tacos or sushi in the U.S.A.; Mc D’s in China.
Acculturation- A culture changes because it accepts an idea or innovation.
Ex. Traditional clothing is replaced by t-shirts and jeans.

11. Cultural Diffusion
Mc D’s in India
Mc D’s in China

12. Cultural Sensitivity
Ethnocentrism- the belief that your culture/ beliefs are better than someone else’s.
It is important not to judge other cultures by our standards.
Just because another culture eats something that we would not or listens to music that we don’t does not make them any more or less civilized.
Try to find similarities between cultures and learn to appreciate the differences.