Culture: Definitions and Characteristics PDF

What is Culture? Culture is generally a complex concept. Its complexity concerns all of human thinking, behavior, beliefs, and other social actions. In fact, Oatey (2012) argued that culture is really difficult to define. Let us look at different views on culture from experts and prominent personali...

What is Culture? Culture is generally a complex concept. Its complexity concerns all of human thinking, behavior, beliefs, and other social actions. In fact, Oatey (2012) argued that culture is really difficult to define. Let us look at different views on culture from experts and prominent personalities on cultural studies. Arnolds (1867) referred culture as a special or artistic activities of humans which may be termed “high culture”. This perspective shows that there is superiority and inferiority in culture. Culture, in this sense, is viewed as more of a matter of aesthetics than a social undertaking where everyone is involved. On the other hand, Tylor (1870) stated that culture is a quality shared by all people in a social group. He added that culture is the complex whole that includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, law, customs, and other human capabilities acquired by a person belonging to a social group. Although it is generally defined as it may seem, the proponent acknowledged that differences in various social groups exist. Differences include the categorization of social groups into savages and civilized people. And this particular tagging results to cultural gap among social groups. Most anthropologist have used the concept of Tylor in the early booming of cultural studies. The two contradicting views paved way to a shift from culture as an aesthetic thing to a scientific discipline, specifically a field in social science. Boas in the early 20th century proposed a neutral view on culture. He made proposals debunking the two definitions given by Arnold and Tylor. According to him, culture should not be categorized as low of high. It has to be viewed respective of the particular social group. Another view on culture is that it consists of patterns, explicit and implicit, of and for behavior acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiment in artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e. historically derived and selected) ideas and especially their attached values; culture systems may, on the one hand, be considered as products of action, on the other, as conditional elements of future action (Krober & Kluckhohn, 1952). Schwartz (1992) stated that culture consists of the derivatives of experience, more or less organized, learned or created by the individuals of a population, including those images or encodements and their interpretations (meanings) transmitted from past generations, from contemporaries, or formed by individuals themselves. Matsumoto (1996) argued that culture is the set of attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors shared by a group of people, but different for each individual, communicated from one generation to the next. As a social phenomenon, culture is the total socially acquired life-way or life-style of a group of people. It consists of the patterned and repetitive ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that are characteristics of the members of a particular society or segment of a society (Harris, 1975). Functions of Culture It defines roles *How does gender viewed in your culture? What are the expected tasks of every family member? *How do we define a leader? *How should a lady behave? It gives a sense of identity What are the shared attributes among the members of your community? *How do others (etic) see you relative to your cultural group? *How do you view yourself (emic) as a member of your community? It facilitates commitment *How do you perform you responsibilities as a member of your community? *How do you deal with the changes brought by so many factors affecting your cultural group? *How do you reflect patrimony and nationalism in your actions? It provides stability in the social system *How do the leaders manage the community? *How do members of the community follow rules? *How do people observe social order? Characteristics of Culture 1. Culture is Learned It is acquired through social interactions among the members of the community 2. Culture is Shared As it is acquired through socialization, common attributes among member is observed 3. Culture is Symbolic Cultural groups use objects that convey contextual meaning 4. Culture is Integrated All segments of culture are interrelated and interconnected 5. Culture and Nature Culture is influenced by the environment. Hence, culture varies because of environmental factors. 6. Culture is Dynamic Culture changes over time. Various factors may be attributed to the changes that may occur. 7. Culture is Idealistic Culture bears the ideals of the social group. This influences one's behavior. Elements of Culture Elements of culture can be categorized into non-material and material culture. Category Elements Description 1. Symbols Images, objects, and other non-verbal communication cues that convey meaning exclusive to a particular social group. There could be a relative meaning to other groups especially to those with cultural relations. 2. Language Language is the vehicle of culture. It is use for transmission and communication. 3. Literature Source of community-based knowledge and beliefs Non-Material 4. Norms These are standards or expectations of the society. (Folkways, mores, and laws) 5. Attitudes External manifestation of beliefs. 6. Values The idea of good and bad 7. Rituals and Ceremonies Processes or actions that are repeatedly observed in specific socio-cultural events 8. Beliefs Mental pictures of what is good or bad, true or not 9. Social System The generality of a social group's way of life 1. Tools Objects used in accomplishing human activities Material 2. Artifacts Concrete elements manifestation of cultural