Questions and Answers
What is the Latin word for culture?
Cultura
What does Cultura mean?
A tilling
What does 'a tilling' mean?
To establish/to cultivate
What is culture?
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How do humans establish or cultivate culture?
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What are norms?
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What are values?
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What are cultural universals?
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What are three examples of cultural universals?
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What is the first example of a cultural universal?
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What is the second example of a cultural universal?
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What is the third example of a cultural universal?
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What does the 3 examples of cultural universals illustrate?
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What is material culture?
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What are some examples of material goods/culture in the U.S.?
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What is non-material culture/symbolic culture?
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What are some examples of how Americans think or behave?
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What are some examples of non-material culture/symbolic culture in the U.S.?
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What are symbols?
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What are some examples of symbols?
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How do Americans see cows?
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How are cows viewed in India?
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How are dogs viewed in America?
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What cultural lesson do cows in India and dogs in America provide?
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What is the Mukesh Rai Case (1997)?
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How do theologians and philosophers study culture?
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How do art, literature, and film scholars study culture?
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How do cultural anthropologists study culture?
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How do archaeologists study culture?
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Define culture.
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What is ethnocentrism?
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What is cultural relativism?
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What is Otaku?
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What is material culture?
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What is symbolic culture?
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What are the three ways to communicate pertaining to symbolic culture?
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What is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis?
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What are folkways?
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What are mores?
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What is a taboo?
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What is a moral holiday?
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What is multiculturalism?
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What is dominant culture?
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What is hegemony?
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What is subculture?
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What is counterculture?
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What are culture wars?
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What is ideal culture?
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What is real culture?
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What is technology?
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What is cultural diffusion?
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What is cultural leveling?
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What is cultural imperialism?
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Study Notes
Understanding Culture
- Cultura: Latin term meaning "a tilling" or to cultivate, representing how humans cultivate their environment.
- Culture Definition: Differentiated from instinct, culture encompasses the entire way of life of a group, shaping perceptions and behaviors.
Establishing Culture
- Norms: Rules guiding societal behavior, such as the expectation to attend school or dress appropriately.
- Values: Culturally defined standards determining what is desirable (e.g., the American Dream), good (e.g., loving neighbors), and beautiful (e.g., youth).
Cultural Universals
- Definition: Traits (values, norms) found in every culture.
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Examples:
- Creating a Family: Each society defines how family is established.
- Responding to Death: Societies have their own rituals and practices to address death.
- Eating: Various methods of food production and consumption exist across cultures.
Material and Non-material Culture
- Material Culture: Physical objects that influence lifestyles, like Levis jeans or iPhones.
- Non-material Culture/Symbolic Culture: Includes the ideas, beliefs, and behaviors specific to a culture.
- American Examples: Principles such as democracy, practices like shopping, and rituals like dining out.
Symbols and Communication
- Symbols: Items representing larger concepts, aiding communication (e.g., a wedding band).
- Variation in Interpretation: Cows in the U.S. are seen as food, while in India, they are revered beings.
Cultural Perspectives
- Beginners Mind: A concept encouraging seeing the unusual in the familiar.
- Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism: Judging other cultures based on one's own versus understanding cultures on their own terms.
Subcultures and Countercultures
- Subculture: Groups with distinct values and norms within a larger culture (e.g., Korean Americans, snowboarders).
- Counterculture: Groups that actively reject mainstream values (e.g., 1960s hippies).
Cultural Dynamics
- Culture Wars: Conflicts over which cultural norms should prevail.
- Ideal vs. Real Culture: Ideal culture represents societal beliefs (e.g., all men are created equal) while real culture is the empirical reality, reflecting discrepancies (e.g., women's oppression).
Cultural Processes
- Cultural Diffusion: Spread of cultural traits from one group to another.
- Cultural Leveling: Unique cultures becoming more similar over time.
- Cultural Imperialism: Dominance of one culture over another via media and consumer products, separate from military force.
Notable Concepts
- Moral Holidays: Times when norm violations are accepted (e.g., behavior in strip clubs).
- Hegemony: Dominance by a culture through widely accepted ideas (e.g., commercial music industry).
Academic Perspectives on Culture
- Theologians and Philosophers: Examine morals and values of ideal cultures.
- Cultural Anthropologists: Focus on societies beyond the U.S., engaging in empirical studies.
- Archaeologists: Investigate historical cultures through artifacts.
Influential Theories
- Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Proposes that language shapes our perception and thought processes.
- Folkways and Mores: Folkways are informal norms (e.g., dressing inappropriately), while mores carry moral significance and have serious repercussions (e.g., theft and murder).
These key points provide a comprehensive overview of cultural concepts pertinent to understanding sociology and its implications on human behavior and society.
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Description
This quiz contains flashcards focused on the concept of culture as discussed in Sociology Chapter 3. It covers the Latin origins of the term 'culture' and explores its meanings and implications in human society. Engage with these flashcards to deepen your understanding of cultural contexts and their significance.
