Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics - University of Makati

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Understanding CULTURE from the Perspective of Anthropology and Sociology Lesson 2 Mr. Remson P. De Leoz, LPT HSU, Social Science Department  What are the words associated with CULTURE? Cultu...

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS Understanding CULTURE from the Perspective of Anthropology and Sociology Lesson 2 Mr. Remson P. De Leoz, LPT HSU, Social Science Department  What are the words associated with CULTURE? Culture is… …the complex whole which encompasses beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, laws, norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge and roles that a person learns and shares as a member of the society. - Sir Edward Burnett Tylor, English Anthropologist Culture is a system of ideas, feelings and survival strategies shared in a particular group. - Richley Crapo, 2001 American Anthropologist  CULTURE IS THE TOTALITY OF A PEOPLE'S WAY OF LIFE. WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE FILIPINO NOW?  UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS MATERIAL AND NONMATERIAL CULTURE  MATERIAL (tangible) CULTURE Human’s material inventions and innovations such as tools, weapons, instruments, etc.  NONMATERIAL (intangible) CULTURE FILIPINO TRAITS AND Refers to ideas that CHARACTERISTICS Hospitality form within a society Strong Family Ties Religiosity including beliefs, Generosity and Helpfulness perceptions, and Strong Work ethic “Hiya” traditions. Humor and Positivity UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS SUBCULTURE AND COUNTERCULTURE  SUBCULTURE Groups within a culture ALTERNATIVE ROCK, CHRISTIAN ROCK, that have their own HEAVY METAL distinctive ROCK MUSIC SUBCULTURE characteristics that POP OF MUSIC distinguish them from MUSIC the larger culture. These groups are compatible MUSIC with the dominant CULTURE culture.  COUNTERCULTURE A group whose The spread of values such as Love and Respect and the values, beliefs and propagation of equal rights to related behavior everyone… place its members Then there’s White Supremacy, Anti-Catholicism, in opposition to the antifeminism, Anti-Islam and broader culture. Anti-LGBT groups… ISLAMOPHOBIA UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS IDEAL AND REAL CULTURE  IDEAL CULTURE The ways in which people describe their way of life. REAL CULTURE Refers to the actual behavior of people in the society. UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE Culture is SHARED Culture is LEARNED Culture is BASED ON SYMBOLS Culture is INTEGRATED Culture is DYNAMIC  CULTURE IS SHARED Culture cannot exist without society. A particular belief, value, or practice must be shared by a significant portion of the society. Culture is often viewed as group customs that link together members of society.  CULTURE IS LEARNED We learn culture from people, institution, and media in which much of it are learned unconsciously. CULTURE IS BASED ON SYMBOLS Symbolic culture enables human communication and must be taught.  CULTURE IS INTEGRATED All aspects of culture are related to one another so one must learn all of its parts. Cultural integration is when individuals from one culture adopt practices from another culture without diminishing their own.  CULTURE IS DYNAMIC Culture is fluid rather than static, which means that culture changes all the time, every day, in subtle and tangible ways. All culture changes or else there will be problems in dealing with adaptation to the environment.  UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS ELEMENTS OF CULTURE  ELEMENTS OF CULTURE: NORMS NORMS It is a society’s standards of EXAMPLES: acceptable behavior. Common norms inside the classroom. It is essential in a society I will not make noise. because majority of the I will bring notebooks, people pattern their way of books, paper and pen. I will raise my hand if I living after them. want to say something. ELEMENTS OF CULTURE: NORMS THREE TYPES OF NORMS FOLKWAYS – Everyday norms MORES - Values LAWS – Enforced by the government.  TYPES OF NORMS ▪ Folkways – norms that Examples: - Shake hands when are known to be the proper you are introduced way of dealing with their to someone. - Do not push people everyday living and social when waiting in line. - Do not pick your interaction. nose in public. - Don’t talk to yourself loudly in public.  TYPES OF NORMS ▪ Mores – these are customs or folkways that Examples: needs to be followed by - Respecting elders the society strictly. - Wearing modest clothes in religious ▪ Mores are not laws; places therefore, violation is not - Loving one’s country legally punishable.  TYPES OF NORMS Examples: ▪ Laws – - Respecting elders REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994 formalized mores AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO SENIOR CITIZENS that are - Wearing modest clothes in religious places PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 960 …the obligation of the State legislated, to safeguard the morality of society, particularly the youth, approved and against the eroding influence of immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions and indecent shows; implemented in a - Loving one’s country REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8491 society. AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE CODE OF THE NATIONAL FLAG, ANTHEM, MOTTO, COAT-OF-ARMS AND OTHER HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES OF THE PHILIPPINES.  ELEMENTS OF CULTURE: BELIEFS BELIEFS EXAMPLES: This are the means of the Usog people on explaining the Sukob Kulam sense of their experiences or Bati ideas that they hold to be Barang Aswang true, factual and real. Maligno  ELEMENTS OF CULTURE: SYMBOLS SYMBOLS These are representations or illustrations to represent a particular belief or meaning of something. People who share or practice the same belief or culture attach a specific meaning to an object, gesture and image.  ELEMENTS OF CULTURE: LANGUAGE LANGUAGE It is the system of symbols that individuals utilize to communicate, interact, and share their views or beliefs, thus making an understanding amongst individuals.  ELEMENTS OF CULTURE: VALUES VALUES Defined as desirable goals that vary in importance and serve as guiding principles in people’s lives. Values help shape a society by suggesting what is good and bad, sought and avoided. UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS ORIENTATIONS IN VIEWING OTHER CULTURES  CULTURAL UNIVERSALS Cultural universals EXAMPLES: are elements, Language patterns, traits, or Religion Education institutions that are Arts and Sciences common to all human Music cultures worldwide. Economics  ETHNOCENTRISM ▪ An attitude or belief that one’s Example: - In most Western culture, it own culture is is normal for a child to call superior to his parents by their first those other names. However in the people. Philippines this is rude.  XENOCENTRISM ▪ The belief that one’s culture is inferior to another. ▪ It usually has a high regard for other culture thus disdains his own or is embarrassed by it.  CULTURAL RELATIVISM ▪ The idea that a person's beliefs, values, and EXAMPLES: Tourists trying balut. practices should be Filipino tourists abroad. understood based on that person's own This is what cultural relativism culture, rather than be is all about. To immerse oneself judged against the in another culture in order to criteria of another. appreciate it fully.  UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS ANY QUESTIONS? UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS ACTIVITY#2  Exploring Symbols and Values Choose one symbol (e.g., the Philippine flag, a religious symbol, or a common gesture) and describe what it represents in Filipino culture. Identify one value that is highly regarded in your community or family (e.g., respect for elders, bayanihan spirit). Write a short explanation of how this value shapes behavior and interactions in daily life. REFLECTION ESSAY  INSTRUCTIONS: On ½ crosswise paper, write a simple essay addressing the following questions: Why is it important to study the elements of culture in today’s global society? How does understanding cultural diversity contribute to creating a more inclusive and respectful community? Be concise and direct. Limit your response to two paragraphs.