UNIT 2 - CULTURE (SOCIOLOGY AUGUST 2024) POWER POINT SLIDES.pptx

UNIT 2 - CULTURE Difference between culture & Society Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, norms, symbols, and practices of a group of people, shaping how they interact with and interpret the world. It includes elements such as traditions, customs, language, and art. Society is a group of...

UNIT 2 - CULTURE Difference between culture & Society Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, norms, symbols, and practices of a group of people, shaping how they interact with and interpret the world. It includes elements such as traditions, customs, language, and art. Society is a group of individuals living together in a specific geographic area who interact according to established social institutions and structures. It encompasses the organized relationships and systems that facilitate social interaction, such as family, education, and government. In essence: Culture defines the "what" of shared practices and meanings, while society defines the "who" and "how" of organized group interactions and structures What is Culture? Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that the members of a society use to cope with their world and with one another. Culture is transmitted from generation to generation through learning and encompasses various aspects such as language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and arts. Types of Culture Material Culture: Definition: Consists of physical objects or artifacts created by humans. Examples: Architecture, technology, clothing, tools, and artwork. Importance: Material culture provides insight into the technological advancement and lifestyle of a society. It helps sociologists understand how societies use resources and create items for practical and aesthetic purposes. Non-material Culture: Definition: Comprises the non-physical ideas, beliefs, values, and norms that shape a society. Examples: Religion, language, traditions, laws, and ethics. Importance: Non-material culture is crucial for understanding the ideological and moral framework of a society. It influences social interactions and individual behavior within a community. Types of culture cont. Subculture: Definition: A cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of the larger culture. Examples: Goth, hip-hop, punk, and gamer communities. Importance: Subcultures offer alternative perspectives and lifestyles within a society. They can influence mainstream culture and contribute to cultural diversity and innovation. Counterculture: Definition: A type of subculture that rejects some of the larger culture’s norms and values. Examples: Hippie movement of the 1960s, anarchist groups, and certain political movements. Types of culture cont. Global Culture: Definition: The set of shared experiences, norms, symbols, and ideas that unite people at the global level. Examples: Global brands, international sports, global media, and the internet. Importance: Global culture fosters a sense of interconnectedness and global identity. It is essential for understanding how globalization affects cultural exchange and homogenization. Types of culture cont. Local Culture: Definition: The culture that is specific to a particular locality or region, often passed down through generations. Examples: Local dialects, regional cuisine, and traditional festivals. Importance: Local culture preserves unique traditions and practices, contributing to cultural diversity. It provides a sense of identity and belonging to community members.  Types of culture cont. High Culture: Definition: Refers to the cultural products that are often associated with the elite or dominant classes. Examples: Classical music, fine arts, opera, and literature. Importance: High culture often reflects the tastes and preferences of a society's most influential and wealthy members. It plays a role in establishing social distinctions and cultural hierarchies. Importance: Countercultures challenge and question the status quo, often driving social change and highlighting issues within the dominant culture. Types of culture cont Popular Culture (Pop Culture) Definition: Encompasses the mainstream ideas, attitudes, and images that are prevalent in a society. Examples: Pop music, television shows, social media trends, and fashion. Importance: Popular culture is dynamic and constantly evolving, reflecting the current interests and values of the general population. It is a significant area of study for understanding contemporary social trends and behaviors. Types of culture cont Corporate Culture Definition: The beliefs and behaviors that determine how a company's employees and management interact. Examples: Company policies, dress code, work environment, and corporate values. Importance: Corporate culture shapes the internal environment of a business, influencing employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall organizational success. Culture Shock Culture shock Refers to the feeling of disorientation, discomfort, or anxiety that people experience when they encounter a culture different from their own. It occurs when individuals are exposed to unfamiliar social practices, norms, values, and environments. Stages of Culture Shock 1. Honeymoon Stage Description: Initially, the new culture may seem exciting and fascinating. The individual often feels positive and enthusiastic about the new experiences. Characteristics: Curiosity, admiration, and a sense of adventure. The differences between the home culture and the new culture are viewed positively. 2. Negotiation Stage: Description: After some time, differences between the home culture and the new culture become more apparent and challenging. This stage is marked by frustration and anxiety. Characteristics: Homesickness, frustration with language barriers, and difficulties in daily tasks. Cultural differences in communication styles, social norms, and values become sources of stress. 3. Adjustment Stage: Description: Gradually, individuals begin to adapt to the new culture. They develop coping mechanisms and start to understand and accept cultural differences. Characteristics: Increased comfort and confidence. Developing routines and establishing relationships. The individual starts to function more effectively in the new culture. 4. Adaptation Stage: Description: At this stage, individuals have fully adjusted to the new culture. They can navigate the new environment comfortably and may even adopt some aspects of the new culture. Characteristics: Bi-cultural identity, integration of new cultural practices with those of the home culture, and feeling at ease in the new environment Causes of Culture Shock Language Barriers: Difficulty in understanding and communicating in a new language. Social Norms and Values: Different cultural expectations regarding behavior, etiquette, and social interactions. Daily Routines: Adjusting to different ways of doing everyday tasks such as shopping, eating, and transportation. Isolation: Feeling of loneliness and isolation due to being away from family and familiar social networks. Cultural Practices: Encountering unfamiliar religious practices, holidays, and traditions. Symptoms of Culture Shock Emotional Symptoms: Anxiety, sadness, loneliness, homesickness, and irritability. Physical Symptoms: Fatigue, headaches, and changes in sleep patterns. Behavioral Symptoms: Withdrawal from social interactions, reluctance to engage in new activities, and a tendency to compare everything to the home culture. Coping Strategies 1. Learning the Language: Description: Taking language classes or practicing with native speakers can help bridge the communication gap. Benefit: Improved communication skills reduce frustration and enhance social interactions. 2. Building Social Networks: Description: Establishing connections with locals and other expatriates can provide support and companionship. Benefit: A sense of community and shared experiences can alleviate feelings of isolation. 3. Open-mindedness: Description: Being open to new experiences and willing to adapt to new cultural practices. Benefit: Reduces resistance to change and enhances cultural understanding. 4. Seeking Help: Description: Utilizing counseling services, support groups, or talking to someone who has experienced culture shock. Benefit: Professional help can provide coping strategies and emotional support. 5. Maintaining Connections with Home: Description: Staying in touch with family and friends from home through regular communication. Benefit: Provides emotional support and a sense of continuity. 6. Embracing Cultural Learning: Description: Engaging in cultural activities, trying local cuisine, and learning about the history and traditions of the new culture. Benefit: Fosters appreciation and understanding of the new culture. Elements of Culture Culture is a complex and multi-faceted concept encompassing various elements that shape the behavior, beliefs, and practices of a society. Understanding these elements is crucial for analyzing how cultures function and interact. The primary elements of culture include symbols, language, values, norms, and artifacts. Symbols: Symbols are anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture. E.g. flag, religious icons like cross in Christianity , thumb up sign Importance: Symbols help in communication and the transmission of cultural values and beliefs. They create a sense of identity and belonging within a culture. 2. Language: Language is a system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another. Language is the primary means of transmitting culture from one generation to the next.e.g English, sign language, body language Importance: Language is crucial for communication, socialization, and the expression of thoughts and emotions. It preserves cultural heritage and promotes cultural continuity. 3. Values: Values are culturally defined standards that guide the way people assess desirability, goodness, and beauty and serve as broad guidelines for social living. Examples of values, individualism as practiced in western cultures and collectivism as practiced in Asia and freedom a core value in democratic societies Importance: Values shape the moral framework of a society and influence decision-making and behavior. They provide a sense of direction and purpose to individuals within a culture. 4. Norms: Norms are rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members. Examples: Formal Norms: Laws against theft, traffic regulations. Informal Norms: Dress codes, etiquette in social interactions. Importance: Norms ensure social order and predictability in behavior. They help in the integration of individuals into society by setting expectations for behavior. 5. Artifacts: Artifacts are the physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture.Examples: Tools and Technology: Computers, smartphones, machinery. Clothing: Traditional dress, fashion trends. Architecture: Buildings, monuments, and homes. Importance: Artifacts reflect the technological advancement and lifestyle of a culture.  Cultural variations encompass the diverse ways in which culture manifests within societies. High Culture: High culture refers to the set of cultural products, mainly in the arts, held in the highest esteem by a culture. This includes classical music, fine arts, literature, and other sophisticated cultural pursuits. Characteristics: Often associated with the elite or upper class. Considered refined, elegant, and sophisticated. Requires a certain level of education or cultural capital to appreciate fully. Impact: High culture is seen as a marker of social status and is often used to distinguish the educated and wealthy from others. It plays a significant role in shaping cultural heritage and identity. Popular Culture: Popular culture, or pop culture, is the set of practices, beliefs, and objects that are dominant or prevalent in society at a given point in time. It is closely related to low culture but can also include elements that are widely appreciated by people from different backgrounds. Characteristics: Includes media, fashion, technology, and slang. Highly influential in shaping societal norms and trends. Impact: Popular culture reflects and influences the tastes, attitudes, and behaviors of the general public. It is a significant force in global cultural exchange and can foster a sense of community and identity. Low Culture: Low culture, sometimes referred to as "popular culture," involves the cultural products that are produced for mass consumption. This term is often used pejoratively to describe less sophisticated or "common" cultural experiences. Characteristics: Accessible to the general public. Includes entertainment like reality TV, popular music, and mass-market novels. Often considered less refined or artistically valuable. Impact: While often dismissed by cultural elites, low culture is an essential part of societal life, providing entertainment and a sense of shared experience for the majority. Subculture: A subculture is a group of people within a culture that differentiates itself from the parent culture to which it belongs, often maintaining some of its founding principles. Characteristics: Distinctive style, behavior, and beliefs. Often formed around shared interests or lifestyles (e.g., goth, punk, hip-hop). Provides a sense of identity and belonging to its members. Impact: Subcultures challenge mainstream norms and can lead to social change. They contribute to the cultural diversity within a society and often influence popular culture through their innovations and trends. Counterculture: Counterculture refers to a subculture whose values and norms of behavior deviate from those of mainstream society, often in opposition to mainstream cultural norms. Characteristics: Explicitly rejects and critiques dominant societal values. Often associated with political and social movements (e.g., the 1960s hippie movement). Seeks to create alternative lifestyles and communities. Impact: Countercultures can be powerful agents of social change, challenging established norms and promoting new ways of thinking. They often leave lasting legacies on culture, politics, and society. Culture Change Cultural change refers to the transformation of culture over time. This includes changes in social norms, values, beliefs, and practices within a society. Cultural change can be gradual or rapid, and it can result from a variety of factors such as: Causes of Cultural Change 1. Technology: Technological advancements can lead to significant cultural shifts. For example, the invention of the internet and smartphones has transformed communication, work, and social interactions. Examples: The Industrial Revolution brought about urbanization and new social dynamics, while the digital revolution has impacted how people access information and connect globally 2. Economic Factors: Economic changes, such as globalization and shifts in economic policies, can influence cultural practices and social structures. Examples: The transition from agrarian economies to industrial ones altered family structures, gender roles, and community life. 3. Political Changes: Political events, such as revolutions, policy changes, and leadership shifts, can lead to cultural transformations. Examples: The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of the Cold War, leading to changes in cultural and political ideologies in Eastern Europe 4. Social Movements: Social movements advocate for changes in social norms and values, often leading to cultural shifts. Examples: The Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. brought about significant changes in laws and attitudes towards race and equality. 5. Environmental Factors: Changes in the environment, such as climate change and natural disasters, can influence cultural practices and societal organization. Examples: Societies adapting to climate change by altering agricultural practices or migrating to more habitable areas. Cultural Diffusion: The spread of cultural elements from one society to another can lead to cultural changes. Examples: The global spread of fast food, fashion, and music through media and travel. Mechanisms of Cultural Change 1. Innovation: The introduction of new ideas, objects, or practices within a culture. Impact: Innovations can be technological, social, or ideological, leading to changes in how people live and interact. Examples: The development of renewable energy sources, new social norms regarding work-life balance. 2. Diffusion: The spread of cultural traits from one society to another. Impact: Diffusion can occur through trade, migration, media, and technology, leading to the blending and adaptation of cultural elements. Examples: The global popularity of yoga, and hip-hop music 3. Acculturation: The process of cultural change resulting from the direct contact between different cultures. Impact: Acculturation can lead to the adoption of certain cultural traits while maintaining others. Examples: Immigrants adopting the language and customs of their new country while preserving their heritage. 4. Assimilation: The process through which individuals or groups adopt the culture of another group, often losing their original cultural identity. Impact: Assimilation can result in cultural homogenization but also loss of cultural diversity. Examples: Indigenous populations adopting the dominant culture’s language and customs. 5. Socialization: The lifelong process through which individuals learn and internalize the values and norms of their culture. Impact: Socialization influences cultural continuity and change as new generations adapt and modify cultural practices. Examples: Education systems teaching both traditional values and new societal norms. Resistance to Cultural Change While cultural change is inevitable, it often faces resistance from individuals or groups who prefer maintaining traditional ways. This resistance can be due to: Fear of the Unknown: People may resist change because they are comfortable with familiar practices and fear uncertainty. Loss of Identity: Cultural change can threaten individuals' sense of identity and belonging. Power Dynamics: Those in power may resist change to maintain their status and control.  Theoretical perceptive on culture 1. Functionalism: Functionalism views culture as a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain stability and social order in society.(Theorists: Émile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons) Core Ideas: Social Cohesion: Culture provides norms, values, and symbols that help integrate individuals into society. Social Functions: Cultural elements serve functions that contribute to the stability and functioning of society, such as rituals that reinforce social bonds. Equilibrium: Cultural practices and institutions contribute to social stability by promoting consensus and order. Examples: a. Religious rituals that foster community cohesion and moral values. b. Educational systems that transmit cultural values and norms to new generations 2. Symbolic Interactionism: Symbolic interactionism focuses on the micro-level of social interactions and the meanings individuals attach to cultural symbols and practices.(Theorists: George Herbert Mead, Herbert Blumer) Core Ideas: Social Construction: Culture is created and maintained through everyday interactions and the use of symbols. Meaning Making: Individuals interpret and give meaning to cultural symbols through social interactions. Role of Language: Language is central to the process of socialization and the formation of cultural identities. Examples: The role of language and symbols in defining social roles and identities. How individuals negotiate and interpret cultural norms in their daily interactions. 3. Conflict Theory: Conflict theory examines culture through the lens of social conflict and power struggles between different groups in society.(Theorists: Karl Marx, Max Weber) Core Ideas: Power Dynamics: Culture is a reflection of the interests of dominant groups who use cultural norms and values to maintain power. Cultural Hegemony: The dominant culture imposes its values and norms on subordinate groups, leading to social inequality. Resistance and Change: Subordinate groups may resist dominant cultural norms and create their own cultural practices. Examples: The role of media in perpetuating stereotypes and reinforcing social inequalities. Cultural movements that challenge dominant ideologies and advocate for social change. 4. Postmodernism: Postmodernism challenges traditional theories and emphasizes the fragmented, diverse, and fluid nature of culture.(Theorists: Jean-François Lyotard, Michel Foucault) Core Ideas: Plurality: There is no single, overarching narrative or truth in culture; instead, multiple, competing narratives exist. Deconstruction: Cultural meanings and practices are deconstructed to reveal underlying power dynamics and assumptions. Hyperreality: The distinction between reality and representation becomes blurred in a media-saturated culture. Examples: The influence of media and technology on the creation of new identities and cultural experiences. The proliferation of diverse and contradictory cultural narratives in postmodern societies. Feminist Theory: Feminist theory examines culture through the lens of gender and power, focusing on the roles, representations, and experiences of women.(Theorists: Simone de Beauvoir, Judith Butler) Core Ideas: Gender Roles: Analyzes how culture constructs and perpetuates gender roles and inequalities. Representation: Examines how women are represented in media, literature, and other cultural forms. Intersectionality: Considers how gender intersects with other social categories such as race, class, and sexuality. Examples: The portrayal of women in film and media and its impact on gender norms. Feminist movements that challenge traditional gender roles and advocate for gender equality. Theoretical Perspectives on Culture Sociological Level of Analysis Focus Analogies Questions that might be Theories/Paradigms asked Structural Functionalism Macro or Mid The way each part of How each organ works to How does education work society functions together keep your body healthy to transmit culture? to contribute to the (or not.) functioning of the whole. Conflict Theory Macro The way inequities and The ones with the most Does education transmit inequalities contribute to toys wins and they will only the values of the social, political, and change the rules to the most dominant groups? power differences and games to keep winning. how they perpetuate power. Symbolic Interactionism Micro The way one-on-one What’s it mean to be an How do students react to interactions and X? cultural messages in communications behave. school?