CULTURAL STUDIES

- MANSI NAGORI -
UGFD L2
M
A
A P
S E
AO
I P
L One of the famous tribes of
Africa, the Maasai people are

E inhabited mostly in Kenya and

Tanzania. Their lives revolve
around cattle. The Maasai speak
a language known as Maa.
The Maasai people stand against

slavery and never condoned the
traffic of human beings.
 MAASAI TRIBE
Culture: Fairly patriarchal society. The end of life is virtually without a formal funeral ceremony,
and the dead are left out in the fields for scavengers. Burial has in the past been reserved for
great chiefs only, since it is believed by the Maasai that burial is harmful to the soil.
Traditional Maasai people's lifestyle concentrates on their cattle which make up the primary
source of food.
Polygyny is common among older men; wife lending occurs between men of the same age-set.
Amongst the Maasai the measure of a man's wealth is in terms of children and cattle, so the more
the better (wives or women are also counted as part of the children). Among Maasai males,
circumcision is practised as a ritual of transition from boyhood to manhood. Women are also
circumcised because the Maasai believe that for a woman to bear children she must be opened
up. In the male ceremony, the boy is expected to endure the operation in silence. Expressions of
pain bring dishonor upon him. The Maasai believe that female circumcision is necessary and
Maasai men may reject any woman who has not undergone it as either not marriageable or
worthy of a much-reduced bride price
Both women and men shave their head to celebrate rites of passage such as circumcision and
marriage. This represents the fresh start that will be made as one passes from one chapter to
another in life. It's only the Maasai warriors who are allowed to wear long hair, which they weave
in thinly braided strands.

The Maasai also have a totemic animal, which is the lion. However, the animal
can be killed. One common misconception about the Maasai is that each
young man is supposed to kill a lion before he can be circumcised and enter
adulthood. Lion hunting was an activity of the past, but it has now been
banned in East Africa. Nevertheless, killing a lion gives one great value and
celebrity status in the community.
Religion: Their God is named Engai or Enkai, a God who is mostly benevolent and who
manifests himself in the form of different colors, according to the feelings he is
experiencing. Said colors have precise meanings: black and dark blue mean that the God is
well-disposed towards men; red, on the other hand, is identified with God’s irritation.
Today most of the Maasai people are Christians and very few are Muslims. The Maasai
believe that God created cattle especially for them, and they are the custodians of all the
world's cattle.

Shelter: The traditional Maasai house was designed for people on the move and thus their
houses were very impermanent in nature. They relocate every 2-3 months in search of better
grazing lands for their cattle The houses are either circular or loaf-shaped, and are made by
women.

Food: The traditional Maasai diet consists of six basic foods: meat, blood, milk, fat, honey, and
tree bark. The fresh milk is drunk from calabash and sometimes it's mixed with fresh cattle
blood. Mixed blood and milk is mostly used as a ritual drink and as nourishment for the sick.
Bulls, oxen and lambs are slaughtered for meat on special occasions and for ceremonies. The
slaughtering of animals takes place outside the village as warriors are not allowed to eat meat
that is seen by the Maasai women. The by-products of the animals – skin and hides are used as
bedding while cow dung is used for building.

https://youtu.be/ifpCo-jIYFs?t=18
 CLOTHING

The Maasai clothing symbolizes ethnic group

membership, involvement in a pastoralist lifestyle, as
well as an individual's social position within the
lifecycle. It varies according to age and sex such
that, In addition to clothing the jewellery an
individual wears can tell whether an individual is
male or female, married or single, and their age set.

Before the colonialization of Africa, the Maasai wore leather garments. In the colonial era,
Scottish missionaries introduced mass produced fabrics. Ever since, the Maasai wear
'Shukas'. The cloth used to wrap around the body is called Shúkà in the Maa language.
Young men wear black for several months after their circumcision. Although, red is a
favored color as it symbolizes Maasai culture and it is believed by these people to be
able to scare off lions even from a great distance.Black, Blue, checked and striped cloth
are also worn, together with multi-colored African garments. The sheepskin, calf hides
and animal skins were replaced by more commercial materials in the 1960s. One-piece
garments known as kanga, a Swahili term, are common. Near the coast, many may wear
kikoi, a type of sarong that comes in many different colours and textiles.
The Maasai people have been known for their intricate jewellery for decades. The women regularly weave and bead jewellery, which plays an
essential part in the ornamentation of their body. Ear piercing and the stretching of earlobes are also part of Maasai beauty, and both men and
women wear metal hoops on their stretched earlobes. Women wear various forms of beaded ornaments in both the ear lobe and smaller piercings
at the top of the ear. Before coming into contact with Europeans, the materials used were derived from local raw materials, like white beads
created with clay or shells, ivory or bone, blue and black beads were made of iron, coal, seeds or horn and red decorations were a product of seeds,
woods, pumpkins, copper or brass. After the arrival of the colonizers all of these natural materials were replaced with glass beads, brought there
from Europe, more colorful and with a smoother and brighter appearance; these new materials made it possible for more elaborated decorations
to be created.

In the past, warriors used to wear ivory bands on their upper arms; for the elephants’ sake, they now use simple wooden bracelets.
 LESSER KNOWN FACTS

The shuka only replaced animal-skin clothing around the 1960s, and is purchased rather than made by tribespeople. The signature garment has been widely emulated by
modern fashion designers, including Louis Vuitton; and many high-end jewellery designers have also taken inspiration from Maasai jewellery

Most Maasai men are married to more than one wife. When the Maasai woman gets married, she marries her husband along with his entire group of wives.

It is okay for a woman to sleep with multiple men from her age set, but not a younger one. If she is found guilty, she will be disrespected by the entire age set.

The people of the Maasai tribe undergo a multitude of ceremonies and imitations in their lifetime, all of which are non-negotiable.

A man's rank and wealth are determined by how many cows he owns. The more cows a man has = the wealthier he is.

It’s nearly impossible to beat a Maasai in a jumping contest. Young Maasai men gather in a semicircle while rhythmically chanting in unison; then, each takes a turn stepping in
front of the group, and jumping several times straight up in the air, as high as he can. The 'Adamu' ceremony functions as a show of strength for young Maasai warriors hoping to
attract wives. Very few can approach the heights reached by the warriors as they have been practising since childhood.

The Maasai do not bury or burn the dead. Instead, they end up smearing the dead with animal blood or fat and dumping it in the bushes for predators to scavenge, also known as
Predator Burial.

Maasai children are not named until they turn 3 months old because of the high infant death rate in the community.

Important Maasai people:

David Rudisha – world record holder for the 800 meters and middle distance runner
Edward Sokoine – Prime Minister of Tanzania from 1977 to 1980 and 1983 to 1984
Olekina Ledama – Maasai Education Discovery founder
William Ole Ntimama – former Kenyan politician and Maa community leader
Mbatian – prophet; the highest peak of Mount Kenya is named after him (Batian Peak)
 FASHION AS A SYMBOL OF RESISTANCE
Fashion is not just clothes and vice-versa. Clothing can be political. It can convey messages, it can be a nonviolent way of protesting and marking your presence. It can be a way of
revolting, disagreeing and asserting your demands. It is not a contemporary idea but rather is rooted in history. What one wears, how one wears it and when one wears it establishes
interpretations of degrees of social freedoms and influences.
Hence, fashion is not limited to glamour, it offers social, and political bandwagon as well.

1. Power Is A Shade Of Pink

The ‘pink-saree crusaders’, the rod wielding vigilantes strike fear into the hearts of potential
abusers through the power of unity and sisterhood. he sisterhood needed a uniform and a
name. Thus, the pink sari was chosen, as a symbol of femininity and the understated strength
of sisterhood. Gulabi Gang is a women’s self-help organization that was formed in Uttar
Pradesh, since Sampat Pal Devi fought with a bamboo stick along with 5 other women to save a
woman who had been beaten by her husband.
In the beginning, their purpose was to protect women from violence by their oppressive
family. But gradually they expanded their missions to train women to help them achieve
financial and mental independence.

It’s not like a symbol item at a protest movement, but considering the origin and the character
of this organisation, their pink saree is counted as one of the protest "fashion".
To this day, the sight of the women in flaming pink generates a sense of fear and trepidation in
the minds of rapists, abusers and wrong-doers, and a sense of power, dignity and
independence in the women.
 2. Released from Tihar jail, Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekar Azad visited Jama Masjid, sporting a moustache much
like the freedom fighter he shares his name with, and was been seen wearing an electric blue scarf around his
neck, a modern reminder of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s blue suit and the colour that unites Dalit communities across
Maharashtra.
One of the most electrifying images to spring from the
protests has been Azad holding the Indian Constitution at
Jama Masjid, registering his demand for a secular India
that acknowledges Dalit rights. The history of Dalit
representation and the significance of the colour blue
offers a fascinating detour. One of the things that blue
signifies is the open sky, and how everyone under it must
be treated equally.

3. The weapon of choice for the women organising a sit-in protest at Kolkata’s Park Circus? Mehendi. The Hindi phrase, “haathon
mein mehndi laga rakhi hai kya?” is a common taunt that ridicules men for not seeming “manly enough” and women for not being
“doers”. These women then, protesting with their adorned hands, challenge not only the government but also the prejudice that has
forever questioned a woman’s ability and grit.

It was a spontaneous, apolitical movement against CAA and NRC where people
gathered in protest against the controversial religious remarks by suspended BJP
leader Nupur Sharma & expelled leader Naveen Jindal based on religious norms.
 REAL LIFE EXAMPLES

Colour symbolism plays a significant role in the lives of Rajasthani

women.
Reds, yellows, greens, and saffron are some colours which are
adorned by unmarried and married women, while the darker tones
like greys, browns, dark green, dark blue and maroon are adorned
by widows.
The bright colours are considered auspicious and are a sign of a
womans marital status.
The darker shades are meant to denote another stage in a womans
life: the death of her spouse. Widows are to wear dark shades for
mourning and they follow this for the rest of their lives.
However, present day situations are a little different. Widows no
longer opt for dark shades for the rest of their lives. While the older
generations are set in their ways, the newer generation stick to
these shades for a specific period and then switch back.
Similarly, even married women wear darker shades without it
having a deeper meaning of grief.

In frame is Narangi, whom I met on my visit to my native in Another lady that I met is Kusum. She has been married for
Ahore, Rajasthan. She has been a widow for almost 20 years. 5 years. She is also wearing blue, but the shade is what
Since the death of her husband, she has only been wearing makes all the difference. That, and the colour of her chunri
shades of dark blue. The sarees she chooses to wear are also along with the accessories she has paired with her attire.
extremely simple, with little to no embellishments/prints. These colours denote well being and joy.
A 2017 study found that dark blue was the color most linked
to depression. Hence, it can be said that this represents her
state of mind, which is sadness and loss.
Toe ring (also known as bicchiya) is commonly worn by married Hindu women in India. They are worn by the
women as the symbol of being married and are not removed throughout the lifetime. These toe rings are known
to have incredible social and religious significance, but not a lot is known about the health benefits associated
with these silver rings.
According to Ayurveda, the nerve on the second toe of the feet is connected directly to the uterus of the
woman. So, a slight pressure (due to the toe ring) is known to regulate the menstrual cycle. It is also known to
ensure a healthy uterus.

Traditionally, a married woman wears the bicchiya on her second toe of the feet while the unmarried women
wear it on the third toe. It is said that wearing a silver toe ring in the third toe by unmarried women helps them
get rid or atleast ease the period pain. It is also said that this may result in acupressure benefits as well. This is
because they press some nerves in the feet which are known to help the reproductive system of the woman.
They are usually made of silver because silver is a good conductor, hence, it is known to flush out negativity
from a woman’s body.
Last but not least, wearing toe rings are also known to arouse sexual desires in married women.

While going through my archives from Rajasthan, I came across this photo and noticed the toe rings.
Upon asking my grandmother about it and doing some research of my own, Its safe to say that they
hold a lot of meaning. It is evident that the woman in frame is married as she's wearing the rings in
the second toe as well as the third.
However, despite its benefits, there has been a decline in the usage of toe rings. Also, if a certain
individual chooses to wear these, the placement on the toes is irrespective of their marital status.
In frame is Saima Fathima, a friend of mine from school. Earlier, she did not wear a Hijab
in public and only wore it during prayers. But, ever since the Hijab incident took place in
a college in Karnataka, she has been wearing it on an everyday basis.
In February 2022, a dispute pertaining to school uniforms was reported in Karnataka,
when some Muslim students of a junior college who wanted to wear hijab to classes were
denied entry on the grounds that it was a violation of the college's uniform policy. The
High Court then issued an interim order restraining all students from wearing any form
of religious attire. The order was implemented in all schools and colleges across
Karnataka, with students, and in some cases teachers, being asked to remove hijabs and
burqas outside the school gates.
Saima was angered by this outrage and as a sign of resistance, began wearing a Hijab
everyday to college. This was new to the people around her as they had never seen her in
a Hijab and upon being questioned, she expressed her animosity. This move of hers led to
the people around her realizing the intensity of the situation.
The teachers of her college also took notice of this and she was appreciated by all for
standing for something she believes in: freedom of practicing ones religion. She wanted
to support the women of her community which she rightfully did.
 EMERGING POPULAR SUBCULTURES

1. EMO

This subculture is made up of teenagers who refuse to smile, so instead spend their
time silently rocking out to soft-core punk music, which generally consists of high-
pitched overwrought lyrics and inaudible guitar rifts. An emo can be easily
identified by their limited assortment of outfits, which are simply comprised of tight
wool sweaters, even tighter jeans, itchy scarfs, and ripped chucks. The look is then
finished off with effortlessly greasy, unwashed hair that is required to cover at least
three fifths of the face and a generous amount of guy-liner.

Emo is commonly characterized as “emphasizing emotional or personal turbulence, behaviors,

attitudes, and values. Popular themes are ‘despair, depression, heartbreak, and self-loathing.’
Emos are often ostracized, and research has shown that this group is subject to an increased risk of
homophobic attacks and bullying due to their “effeminate” look. There are also concerns that this
group may be more likely to engage in self-harm. A great deal of the controversy surrounding emo
culture concerns whether it encourages self-harm and morbid self-reflection or helps people who
suffer from these pre-existing conditions to express themselves and cope with life b,ecause feeling
that one is connected to others is one of the key predictors for mental health recovery
2. HAUL GIRL

Going out, buying lots of things and showing your friends does not make you a haul girl, but going out,
buying lots of things, and posting it on the internet for the world to see does. The haul girl is a sub-
culture that is beginning to appear more and more frequently nowadays, and involves teenage girls
displaying all of the items they have just purchased from their bi-weekly trip to the mall. Apparently this
is not regarded as a form of bragging, but is instead simply providing insight on another person’s style.
Authored primarily by young women, Haul Girls would show their subscriber base shopping hauls and
provide beauty and fashion commentary. The Haul Girl subculture created an extensive and hardcore fan
base which eagerly catches every new episode of grossly large spending sprees, catapulting some Haul
Girls into celebrity status. An average Haul Girl with a fan base of about 50,000 viewers can make a
couple of thousand dollars per month. Brands reach out to Haul Girls for product deals and corporate
sponsorship, provided their social reach is substantial in the Brand’s target market of choice.

https://youtu.be/cZlCrbq4kn0
3. BRONY

Hasbro introduced the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic in 2010, which details the life of a
unicorn pony named Twilight and her five closest pony friends. The show attempts to provide young girls with moral life
lessons via the lives of brightly colored pony friends. However, in its effort to engage young girls by the means of pastel
ponies, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic inadvertently captivated the minds of adult men in the process. These
unforeseen fans assembled to form a now gargantuan subculture known as “Bronies,”. Combining the words “bro” and
“pony,” a brony is a male fan of the series, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. They do not give into the hype that males
aren’t allowed to enjoy things that are intended for females, which I suppose is fair enough, but the fact that My Little
Pony is created for girls between the ages of five and eight, is pushing it a bit. The brony sub-culture is so significant that
they even have conventions, songs, dances and costumes dedicated to the appreciation of the show.

Today, Bronies often gather to watch episodes together, create fan fiction, or simply
discuss their mutual affection for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and similar
experiences owing to their common interest.
The Brony subculture is notable for its explosive early growth, its dependence on the
internet for its formation and propagation, and the fact that it was accidentally spawned
by an unexpected demographic. The Brony identity emphatically deviates from the
norm, resisting dominant values of masculinity and establishing an alternative to the
mainstream culture of patriarchy.
 SUBCULTURES OF INDIA: SKATERS

There are hundreds if not thousands of longboarders as well as skateboarders just

yearning for a place where they can hone their skills in safety. Today, the largest
gathering of skaters has to be at the Jugaad Annual Skate Competition the first platform
in the country where people can compete in the sport they love

Its history can probably be traced back to one defining moment when long-time British
skater Nick Smith decided to take a chance on a country that was pretty much oblivious to
the sport he had come to nurture. He created the first skating bowl in Goa and it has since
become a mecca for skaters the world over.

He went ahead and formed ‘Holystoked’, arguably India’s first and most widespread skating crew. Recognising the opportunity he
had, Nick chose to stay in India and redouble his efforts to boost the popularity of skateboarding and skate culture. The Play Arena
build was integral to that cause as it became the first ever public skatepark in the country.
India is home to cricket-crazy masses. But
beyond the world glamour of the Indian
Premier League and the world cups, there
is a rising underground culture that’s
expanding daily. Skateboarding has
developed as a youth subculture that
promotes individualism. Often associated
with rebellion, it does not confine itself to
boys. Bengaluru-based Atita Verghese
dropped out of school in 2012. She
received her first board from Holystoked
and is today India’s first professional
female skateboarder.
From a small smattering of parks, India
now has 17 or more skate parks – including
Play Arena, The Cave, HolyStoked
Skatepark, OMR Metro (all Bangalore),
Freemotion S8 (Delhi), Khar Social
(Mumbai), Cirrus, Shiva Palace, Sk8 Goa
(Goa), 2er Park (Hampi), Coconut Castle
(Kovalam), The Green Lethe, The DIY
Skate-rink (Ranchi), Hi-fy Mini Ramp
(Visakhapatnam), and Janwar Skatepark
(Panna)
Vans, the American shoe
brand, has been a constant
supporter of the sport. One
of their initiatives, the Vans
Holy Detour, is an annual
skateboarding tour that
supports the DIY skating
culture in India.
“At Vans, we like to
connect with local skate
communities and support
and motivate our skaters. It
helps the girls stand out and
encourages self-expression
and an ‘off the wall’
attitude,” -Ankita Bajaj
Shankar, Vans India
 The first ever crew, Holystoked is still
considered to be the great granddaddy
of all the many crews that have been
formed since. They started as a small
collective but are now a global
phenomenon that builds and promotes
skate parts across the globe.

They give special attention to

their work with children and
believe that skateboarding can
be a gateway for them to achieve
any goal they want.

https://www.holystoked.com/
Skater attire tends to lean towards thick, long-wearing
materials and a loose fit that provides a wide range of
motion. Even though they tend to wear comfortable clothes
with a baggy fit, they still look cool and put together
because of their accessories and overall 'vibe'. Rock graphic
T-shirts and hoodies on top. Down bottom, you see cargos
or chinos pants or shorts. The footwear is kept classic with
traditional skate shoes like Vans or Converse. Added
accessories like tube socks, logo caps and backpacks are
common.
As for the masses, you already see most of the hep crowd
wearing Vans skate shoes. Soon they are going to be
wearing the rest of the skater get up. Once fashion gets
hold of the crowd, skateboarding is going to explode.
The inspiration of skateboarding
culture lives on both the catwalk and in
streetstyle. These relaxed and
oversized outfits of the original sk8
have been part of the identity of
designers like Martine Rose, Alexander
Wang or Gosha Rubchinskiy, and have
constituted the archive of other more
evident ones like Vans, Carhartt,
Dickies or HUF.
It is perfectly clear why haute couture
brands are fascinated with
skateboarding: skaters are amazing,
smart and creative, and people want a
piece of what they have. It’s that
simple. Skaters have gone from being
in their underground bubble to being
the faces of a new generation of
fashion, lighting up brands along the
way.
Hermès also put the focus on
skate culture through the launch
FASHION HOUSES TAKE INSPIRATION
of a 3k skateboard. Another big
fashion house, Gucci, also turned
FROM SKATER CULTURE
to the sk8 universe for their
campaigns. This time, it was an
editorial for the ‘Gucci Grip’
watch in which Alessandro
Michele collaborated with skaters
from around the world and artist
Kieron Livingstone. In this visual
exploration of global
skateborading and its
communities, kickflips and ollies
generated the art campaign
movement, which included
members of the Californian queer
skate group Unity, as well as
Orlando Miani, the artist and
skateboarder.
Some of the best skaters in the world like Sage Elsesser, Na-Kel Smith or Tyshawn Jones, who are
part of James Jebbia’s crew and the identity of Supreme, Lucien, Blondey Mccoy and Evan Mock
have managed to stand out and position themselves at the top of the scene.
 REFLECTIVE ESSAY
“Culture is a way of coping with the world by defining it in detail.” - Malcolm Bradbury.

This module has enabled me to see how culturally diverse the world really is and how small we are compared to the world but how inspite of
being so tiny compared to the magnitude, we still encompass entire cultures within us.
It is extremely compelling to analyze and explore cultures of the world but what's more captivating is how culturally rich our own motherland
is. This study of culture helped me have a deeper understanding of the people around me and the world at large. This exposure to diversity has
been a profound and humbling experience.

Activity 1: The research on the tribe I chose: The Maasai people was the most enthralling. They are a semi nomadic tribe that is native to Kenya.
They refuse to live by modern practices and are still following the way their ancestors paved. Being a warrior is not a choice, it is something the
Maasai believe you are born to do, it is a way of life. The importance they place on boys to become strong men who are willing to give their life
for their tribe exemplifies their patriarchal society.
It gave insights into the emblematic visual most people have of African tribes. Their lifestyle is very different from what we have as individuals
living in metropolitan cities and hence it was extremely amusing.

Activity 2: A considerable part of how we choose to express ourselves is through the way we dress. This activity required the greatest deal of judgement and attention to
detail. First, the study of fashion as a form of resistance concludes how fashion often takes up political meanings. It a powerful weapon that presents itself in a multitude
of ways that can have varied nuances. We often hear about protest fashion from the west through significant moments in history like the 'Black Panther Movement' but
India too, has its own ways of resisting, through fashion. Decoding and analyzing elements from peoples attire was interesting, to say the least. Got me thinking about
how we usually pay no heed to minute details but how much context they often carry. When I got to analyzing and interpreting I realized that almost everyone wears
atleast one item that is symbolic of something, which could be intentional or at times, unintentional.
How bizarre that a tiny ornament like a toe ring can have such varied meanings and benefits. How a shade of the same colour family displays different states of mind at
different stages of life. How the revival of a common practice of a religion in one's life can have hidden meanings and be a sign of support.

Activity 3: The emerging subcultures of the world enable individuals to create their own distinct identity and find like minded people which gives them a sense of
belongingness. With thousands of global subcultures to choose from, I went with the three that I found the most intriguing.
The first is 'Emo', being similar to Goth and Scene subcultures, small and significant details makes all the difference. The style of music from the same genre is the
dividing factor. Minute details lead to the formation of an entirely new subculture, a sub-subculture, if you may.
The second being 'Haul Girls'. What many could consider bragging is now a form of revenue generation for thousands and it's not a small amount either. These haul girls
have millions of subscribers and earns tens of thousands of dollars by showing and reviewing their purchases. What's more? They now get sponsorships from reputed
brands, owing to their follower base. It can be said that this is an emerging form of 'influencer marketing;'
The last, 'Brony', to me is the most peculiar. In a nutshell, it's grown men being so engrossed and inspired by a show meant for little girls, 'My Little Pony',that it leads to
the constitution of an entire subculture.
Activity 4: The trend of subcultures is relatively new in the Indian context. However, with increased influence from the West, it is emerging at a rapid pace. India
being deeply rooted in culture, it is apparent that we also have age old subcultures that are inherent to our origin.
I took up the skater subculture that is becoming increasingly popular in India today. Against popular notion of skateboarding being a boys sport, this subculture is
here to show that it goes beyond gender constructs. The participation of girls in this activity is helping break barriers of misogyny and stereotypes. It has helped
bring about a change in mindset and thus bring about a cultural impact in our relatively patriarchal society.
The rise in the number of skaters has resulted in the building of parks dedicated to just skating and vice versa. Better equipment is also readily available these
days. The 'scene', as they like to call it in Skater terms, officially got a head start in Bangalore first. Today, these have cropped up all over the country.
Skateboarding gives you that outlet of energy, beats boredom and gives you the feeling of being part of a community. Though it is a sport, it does not require
formal training which makes it easier for people from all walks of life to be a part of the community.
Skater culture is widely popular globally and a hot favourite of luxury design houses, which can be seen through the inspiration for some of their collections.

Thus, what can be concluded is that we thrive off cultures and subcultures. It gives purpose to our lives and defines how we live. It is the very root of our
existence and the beauty of unity truly is in diversity. This module allowed an in-depth research into some cultures of the world and also into the age old
practices of Indian cultures. It helped dive into a deeper and broader spectrum of details that normally go unnoticed. It planted curiosity so that we could
question further and seek answers. I learnt something new in every class and it made me realize the importance of the study of culture. It gives you a changed
perspective of the world, which I believe could be the greatest gift of all.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Almaden, S.A. (2022) The Maasai: Interesting facts you should know: Beelinguapp blog, Beelinguapp. Available at: https://beelinguapp.com/blog/the-maasai-interesting-facts (Accessed: March
15, 2023).
Colour symbolism in Rajasthani costumes, costumes of Rajasthan (no date) IndiaNetzone.com. Available at: https://www.indianetzone.com/42/colour_symbolism_rajasthani_costumes.htm
(Accessed: March 18, 2023).
Dileep, G. (2022) Gulabi gang: Breaking the ceiling with Lathis: #indianwomeninhistory, Feminism in India. Available at: https://feminisminindia.com/2019/03/20/gulabi-gang-breaking-ceiling/
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