Cultural Affairs

Cultural Affairs
What is Culture?

The word 'culture' comes from the Latin word cultura which is derived from colere that means,
'to cultivate'. Our culture has a significant share in cultivating our minds.

Culture is a term that refers to a large and diverse set of tangible and intangible aspects of social
life. It is primarily composed of the values, beliefs, systems of language and communication,
and practices that people share in common and that can be used to define them as a collective,
as well as the material objects that are common to that group or society. These shared patterns
identify the members of a culture group while also distinguishing those of another group.

Our culture is a set of unwritten rules that govern how we act and behave with regard to beliefs
and values. It is the behavioural interpretation of how a group lives out; it is values in order to
survive and succeed.

Culture and Sociology

Culture is a pattern of responses (thinking, feeling, behaving) developed by the Society for
solving problems arising due to the interaction of the group members and the environment.

In simple terms, society implies the group of people who organise themselves and lives
together in a particular geographical area and come in contact with each other. The members
of the society share common attributes like values, traditions and customs. They also share
similar culture. Therefore, culture helps us to differentiate one society from the other.

Culture is one of the most important concepts within sociology because sociologists recognise
that it plays a crucial role in shaping social relationships, maintaining and challenging social
order, determining how we make sense of the world and our place in it, and in developing our
everyday actions and experiences in society. Neither society nor culture could exist without the
other.

The social order refers to the stability of society based on the collective agreement to rules and
norms that allow us to cooperate, function as a society, and lives together in peace and
harmony.

Culture Aspects: is composed of both non-material and material things.

A. Non-Material Aspects

The non-material aspects of culture are the values and beliefs, language, communication, and
practices that are shared in common by a group of people.

Expanding these categories, culture is made up of our knowledge, common sense, assumptions
and expectations. It is also the rules, norms, laws, and morals that govern society; the words
we use and the how we speak and write them, and the symbols we use to express meaning,
ideas, and concepts (like traffic signs and emojis, for example).

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It is also what we do and how we behave and perform. It informs and is encapsulated in how
we walk, sit, carry our bodies, and interact with others; how we behave depending on place,
time, and "audience"; how we express identities of race, class, and gender and sexuality, among
others; and the collective practices we participate in like religious ceremonies, the celebration
of secular holidays, and attending sporting events.

B. Material Aspects

Material culture refers to the objects or belongings of a group of people which often symbolize
cultural ideas.

Material aspects of culture are composed of the things that humans make and use. This aspect
of culture includes a wide variety of things, from buildings, technological gadgets, and
clothing, to film, music, literature, and art.

What is the relationship between Material and non-material aspects?

Sociologists see the that two sides of culture (material and non-material) are connected. Where,
the non-material influences the material, so too, the material influences non-material aspects.
physical objects often symbolize cultural ideas

Material culture, more commonly referred to as cultural products, emerge from and are shaped
by the non-material aspects of culture. In other words, what we value, believe, and know, and
what we do together in everyday life, influence the things that we make. While the material
culture, regarding music, film, television, and art, for example, influences the values, beliefs,
and expectations of those who interact with them, which then, in turn, influence the creation of
additional cultural products. That is why cultural products tend to follow patterns.

Another example, a school building belongs to material culture, but the teaching methods and
educational standards are part of education’s non-material culture. These material and non-
material aspects of culture can vary from region to region.

Let us look at the fundamental elements of culture and its basic characteristics.

Elements of Culture

Culture is a set of different components also termed as elements. These are the things that make
culture in a given society. These elements are important for our overall development as
individuals they include 5 main elements.

1. Language

• Language differs from culture to culture and is transmitted from one generation to another.
• Language is the most basic and most important element in culture. For example, a person
who speaks Hindi and having an accent like that of Indians can be recognised easily, that
he is a citizen of India and likewise person speaking other languages can be recognised that
to which culture he/she belongs.
• Language is a source of communication and to transmit a message from one person to
another.

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• Here communication may either be verbal or combination of symbols thus making a

meaningful interpretation to pass given information between two or more people.

2. Norms

Norms decide the rules and regulation of a society in which people of that particular society
must follow it. It gives us restriction about something which to do and which not to do and
gives as knowledge about wrong and right. Norms can be divided into:

1. Folkways

Folkways are the recognised or accepted ways of behaviour. These are the behaviour pattern
which a person uses in his daily life.

Example: Folkways indicate whether to shake hands or kiss on the cheek when greeting another
person. They specify whether to wear a tie and blazer or a T-shirt and sandals to an event.

2. Mores

It is the “must” behaviour of a person. Mores refers to “what ought to be and what ought not
to be.” Mores are serious norms; they have a serious binding on a group the violation of mores
threats to social order. Punishment may be both formal and informal for the violation of mores.
The strongest mores are legally protected with laws.

3. Values

• These are common ethical standards that help societal members of a group distinguish what
is right and wrong in a society.
• The origin of values is not biological, but it is social production while living in society the
values develop. Values depend upon the culture. Culture varies from society to society, and
thus values are different in every social situation.
• Values are deeply embedded and critical for transmitting and teaching a culture’s beliefs.

4. Beliefs

Before the creation of any culture by society, society decides their source of motivation, which
they considered appropriate. These beliefs are responsible for the spiritual (Religious)
fulfilment of needs and want.

5. Symbols

• Culture is a system of symbols. Symbols are anything used to represent express and
stand for an event situation. Symbols direct to guide our behaviour as they are things
which act as triggers to remind people in the culture of its rules, beliefs, etc. They act
as a shorthand way to keep people aligned. It is used to show an event of past, present
or future.
• Symbols can also be used to indicate status within a culture. This includes clothing,
gestures, signs, objects, signals, office decor and so on.
• Importance of Symbols may differ for different people, belonging to a different culture.

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• Some physical objects belong to material culture, but because they function as symbols,
they also convey non-material cultural meanings.

Example: the sign of cross means nothing for Hindus, but for Christians, this is a symbol
of Lord Christ (non-material Culture). Gold medals serve no other purpose other than to
represent accomplishments (material culture).

Characteristics of Culture

Culture has the following main characteristics that help distinguish societies, communities or
even countries. These characteristics are as listed below:

1. Culture is shared

Every culture is shared by a group of people, usually inhabiting the same part of the world. The
region they live in, the geographical conditions around them, their country's past, the belief
system and values of its people, and the heritage they are proud of, constitute their culture.
Being common to a group, these aspects develop a sense of unity and belonging among the
people of that group. People of the same community share the same values, beliefs, and
traditions. Their literature and history are the same. Their language and mannerisms, and the
way they communicate are similar. Built by their belief system, their personalities share certain
traits. Their culture defines Their roles in the family and society. Their culture may influence
Their occupations and lifestyles. Culture gives the people a collective identity. It belongs to a
community and not to any single human being. It is shared.

2. Culture is learned

Culture is learned, understood, and adopted from what is taught by society, and in schools and
institutions of higher learning and in the process, people can learn different culture from theirs.
No individual is born with a sense of culture. In the course of life, he learns it.

3. Culture changes

Culture is dynamic as it changes from time to time from generation to generation within a given
society. With passing the time, some beliefs change, certain traditions or rituals are eliminated,
the language and mannerisms of people change, and thus their culture. Migration and
globalisation lead to a mixing of cultures. When people from different parts of the world come
together, they influence each other and affect each other's cultures. These factors contribute to
the formation of a multicultural society and sometimes, even new cultures develop.

All cultures change in time although their rate of change varies. It is often seen that the
politically or economically stronger countries influence cultures in other parts of the world,
and lead to social changes worldwide. An example of this is the influence of American and
European cultures on other countries.

4. Culture takes years to form

Culture is durable as it exists for a long period within a given society. The geographical location
and climatic conditions of a region have a direct effect on the living conditions of the
inhabitants. The climate, for instance, may influence the traditional clothing and food habits of

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the people living there. The geography of a region has an impact on the occupations of its
inhabitants, and thus their lifestyle. It influences the art forms, sports, and other activities the
people engage in, thus defining their culture.

Some traditions are created with a cultural or political purpose or in the interest of the nation.
They are passed down from one generation to another. These include holidays, festivals,
beliefs, and rituals. Similarly, art and literature are also passed down through generations, thus
shaping the culture of that community and taking years to form.

A country's history has a major role in the formation of its culture. Even the political changes
in the country's history influence its culture. In the case of monarchies, each ruler has an
influence on the culture of his people. The forms of government also influence a country's
culture. Other countries ruling a nation impact the culture of its people. Even after attaining
independence from foreign powers, the people are not freed from their cultural influences.

5. Culture cannot be isolated

The cultural values of people in a particular country are affected by those of the people from
neighbouring countries. When people from different geographical locations come together,
they influence each other's cultures. Trade between two countries, migration of people to
different parts of the world, and travel for educational or recreational purposes are some
examples of how cultures cannot stay separated. Cultures that evolve around the same time
show similarities because they have developed together. Some blend to create shared cultures.
No culture can make itself immune to external influences.

6. Culture is essential

Culture gives us an identity. The art and history that we are proud of, the literature we learn
from, our education, and our upbringing shapes our personalities. What we observe around us,
what our folktales teach us, and what our culture says, is deeply ingrained in our minds. Our
cultural values and our system of beliefs dictates our thinking and behaviour. Rituals and
traditions are a part of our daily living. The way we carry ourselves in society and who we are
as human beings is highly influenced by the culture we belong to it. To make us feel a part of
the group and to give us the guiding principles of life, culture is essential.

7. Culture is transmitted across generations

Cultural values are transferred across generations in the form of symbols and stories that make
them easier to understand. The beliefs that a culture holds take the form of customs and rituals
that people are supposed to follow. The languages which are a part of the culture, are integrated
into the education system. Sometimes, values and religious beliefs are also made a part of it.
The art, music, and dance forms that are representative of culture are also transmitted across
generations.

Despite the efforts of the older generations to pass cultural values to the forthcoming
generations, sadly, many are unaware of their own culture. Some things are lost in translation,
and some may be removed on purpose. Some aspects are not correctly or completely
understood while some are not accepted; This may even lead to the end of old cultures. The
sad truth is that many may have the knowledge of the world, but only some have complete
knowledge of their culture.

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Multiple Cultural Worlds

Most individuals are members of multiple cultural worlds. Culture exists at several levels. We
typically refer to smaller cultures within a larger culture as subcultures. People have some
connection to that subculture but must also be able to operate effectively within the larger
culture.

Subcultures exist in most state-level systems because those systems are pluralistic, they
encompass more than one ethnic group or culture.

Layers of Culture

There are three layers of culture they are:

1. Body of cultural tradition

2. Subculture
3. Cultural universal

The body of cultural traditions distinguishes one society from the other. When people speak
of Chinese or Italian Culture, they are referring to the shared language, traditions, and beliefs
that set each of these peoples apart from others.

The Second layer is the subculture, a subculture is a unique culture shared by a smaller group
of people who are also a part of a larger culture. A larger culture often contains many
subcultures, and an individual can be part of several of them. Each subculture has distinct
norms and customs that are not a part of the broader culture in which it is enveloped.

Types of Subcultures

a) High Culture Vs. Popular Culture

Term high culture is used to describe a subculture shared by the elite in a society. In fact,
many associate the word 'culture' with high culture - someone who attends the ballet and
collects museum-quality artwork is often considered 'cultured.'

High culture is not considered to be better by sociologists - just interestingly different from
popular culture, which is the dominant subculture shared by the majority of a society's
population. The elements of popular culture have mass accessibility and appeal. For example,
high culture includes expensive restaurants that serve caviar and play classical music. This is
not typically appealing to the bulk of citizens. On the other hand, popular culture includes
cheap fast-food restaurants that serve hamburgers and play top 40 pop music. These restaurants
are so appealing that they are everywhere you look.

b) Multiculturalism

Of course, our entire country does not consist only of high culture and popular culture. It's well
known that we have immigrants from many countries who bring their culture with them and
make our population quite diverse. It could be said that our body culture is a blend of many
cultures. They are like soup ingredients that, once mixed together, contribute to the whole and
are difficult to separate from each other.

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Yet, multiculturalism, which is the view that cultural differences should be respected and
celebrated, is on the rise. In contrast to the melting pot metaphor, multiculturalism promotes
diversity through the recognition and continued celebration of separate cultures that co-exist
peacefully. Rather than creating one culture from aspects of other cultures, multiculturalism
focuses on the preservation of separated individual cultural traditions and customs.

c) Counterculture

A counterculture is a type of subculture, which strongly opposes one or more elements of the
dominant culture. In other words, those who share a counterculture reject conventional values
or behavioral norms accepted by the majority in a society. For example, polygamists believe
in marriage to more than one person. This contradicts the value - and even law - of the dominant
American culture. Many people react very negatively to the culture of polygamists and other
countercultures as well.

The third layer consists of cultural universals; these are the learned behaviour patterns that
are shared by all of humanity collectively. No matter where people live in the world, they share
these universal traits.

One example of a cultural universal is the family unit: every human society recognizes a family
structure that regulates sexual reproduction and the care of children. Even so, how that family
unit is defined and how it functions vary from culture to culture.

Another point of view of culture has six levels

1. National level: - Associated with a nation as a whole.

2. The regional level: - Associated with ethnic, linguistic or religious differences that
exist within a nation.
3. The gender level: - Associated with gender differences.
4. The generation level: - Associated with the difference between grandparents and
parents, parents and children.
5. The Social class level: Associated with educational opportunities and difference in
occupation.
6. The corporate level: Associated with the particular culture of an organisation.

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Perceptions of Culture

Ideal Culture and Real Culture, Ethnocentrism, & Culture Relativism

When we think of American culture, it is easy to picture certain symbols and rituals, such as
the American flag, baseball, apple pie, and so on. But, for many, it is not as easy to identify
norms and values that are shared by most Americans. The behavior of those around us often
seems to contradict what they say is important. In this lesson, we will discuss this contradiction
by defining ideal and real culture. We will also discuss how we typically view our culture in
comparison to other cultures by examining the concepts of ethnocentrism and cultural
relativism.

Ideal and Real Culture

First, think again about the gap between the values that people profess to have and the behavior
that contradicts it. This gap exists at a bigger level between ideal culture and real culture. Ideal
culture includes the values and norms that a culture claims to have. It involves an idealized,
uncompromising value system that dictates perfect behavior. Using ideal culture as a standard,
you are either right or wrong. Rules are black and white, with no gray areas and no exceptions.

Real culture, on the other hand, includes the values and norms that are actually followed by a
culture. It involves an adaptable value system that is used mostly as a set of guidelines for
preferred behavior. Right and wrong are separated, but exceptions exist for pretty much
everything.

To illustrate the difference between ideal and real culture, just think about the American value
of equality. Growing up in the U.S., we were told that equality is very important - it's part of
our ideal culture. Yet, we see inequality everywhere. Women are paid less than men, minorities
are given less opportunities, and so on. Unfortunately, our real culture doesn't include much
equality.

Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism involves a belief or attitude that one’s own culture is better than all others.
Almost everyone is a little bit ethnocentric.

For example, Canadians often express disgust at other cultures’ cuisine, thinking it is gross to
eat meat from a dog or guinea pig; while they do not question their own habit of eating cows
or pigs. The way cuisines vary across cultures. Another examples, Canadians tend to say that
people from England drive on the “wrong” side of the road, rather than the “other” side.
Someone from a country where dogs are considered dirty and unhygienic might find it off-
putting to see a dog in a French restaurant. Such attitudes are an example of ethnocentrism
(evaluating and judging another culture based on how it compares to one’s own cultural
norms).

A high level of appreciation for one’s own culture can be healthy. But ethnocentrism can lead
to disdain or dislike for other cultures, causing misunderstanding and conflict. People with the
best intentions sometimes travel to a society to “help” its people, seeing them as uneducated or
backward, essentially inferior. In reality, these travellers are guilty of cultural imperialism

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which is the imposition of one’s own cultural values on another culture. Usually the culture of
a large and powerful country influences the less powerful country.
Ethnocentrism can be so strong that when confronted with all the differences of a new culture,
one may experience disorientation and frustration. In sociology, we call this “culture shock.”

Cultural Relativism

With today's continued emphasis on globalization, it's more important than ever to rid ourselves
of the cultural biases that can come with ethnocentrism. Some social scientists even believe
that, ideally, we could reach a point where each of us could fully accept and even appreciate
the cultures of others. This is cultural relativism, which could be defined as the practice of
understanding and judging a culture from the viewpoint of that culture instead of one's own.
This perspective promotes the idea that there is no universal right or wrong and that we should
not judge behavioral norms and values that exist in another culture based on our own cultural
standards.
For example, polygamy is illegal in the U.S. and is considered immoral by many. Yet, it's a
common practice in certain cultures. If we were to practice cultural relativism, we would shed
our own rules and expectations and fully accept that polygamy is normal and appropriate in
other cultures (without trying to change that fact).