21. What is the relationship between knowledge and culture?

Word count: 950

Object 1: Zhoubi Suanjing, an ancient Chinese mathematical book

Zhoubi Suanjing (Mathematical Association of America)

The first object is the Zhoubi Suanjing; containing the information considered essential in

attaining the objectivity of mathematics. I came across this while learning about the history of

Pythagorean theorems in math class. Unlike the conventional Pythagorean theorem taught in

school, the Zhoubi Suanjing holds a unique representation of the same knowledge. This

object relates to the prompt, showing that although different cultures might present

knowledge differently, the knowledge itself is independent of culture. Different ways of

presenting the Pythagorean theorem enable people from diverse cultures to attain a shared

understanding of mathematical concepts.

The Zhoubi Suanjing, an ancient Chinese mathematical book renowned for its Chinese

representation of the Pythagorean theorem (Gustafson, 2012). This demonstrates how this

knowledge has been independently discovered across various cultures and periods. This

proves that mathematical knowledge is a universal truth unrelated to any culture. The

Pythagorean, which states that the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the

squares of the other two sides, is a mathematical concept that can be applied in any context

and is not culturally specific. Although initially proposed by a Greek philosopher, it can be

argued that many ancient cultures, including the Chinese and Babylonians, have also

developed their versions of the Pythagorean theorem and came to their own definition.

Despite the apparent contribution from Greek cultures, the Zhoubi Suanjing’s ability to

conduct independent research makes mathematics a field that is independent of culture. The

fact that different cultures like Chinese and Greek were isolated from each other, yet they

have come up with the same mathematical theorem demonstrates its universality. Therefore,

can be understood and applied without having any intertwined relationships with other

associations.
Object 2: My Family’s Banh Xeo Recipe

My second object is a recipe of Banh Xeo that has been in my family for three generations;

that was given to my grandma, then my mother and is now passed down to me. This family

recipe holds immense importance, serving as a vessel for my family cultural traditions. This

Banh Xeo recipe makes me feel more connected to my ancestors, while also teaching me

about my family’s traditional cuisine and preserving generational culture. This object is

included in this exhibition as it exemplifies the dependence of intergenerational culture

around food that shapes my family's knowledge, thus proving how knowledge is derived

from culture.
Culturally unique behaviors can shape an individual's interpretation of particular objects or

circumstances, affecting their knowledge perception. The family recipe is a tangible link to

my cultural heritage, embodying unique flavors and techniques unique to my ancestors,

which are factors we value as most important in our culinary journey. With the cultural

connections that I have with my family, these aspects add to the sentimental feelings and

knowledge that are personal to myself. If I were to prepare this recipe for a friend, they would

think it is a normal Banh Xeo, which could be from any random recipe. It is because they

would lack the inherent depth of understanding as they haven’t partaken in these experiences,

thus, would not have such a solid connection to the cultural history of the knowledge

associated with it. It is essential to acknowledge that this form of knowledge is subjective,

uniquely shaped by my narrative and deeply influenced by my cultural background.

The object has been included in my exhibition to exemplify tradition's role in transmitting

intergenerational knowledge. The recipes passed down through generations form part of my

family's culture. However, since culture is constantly evolving, many traditions tend to be

adjusted, creating differences that make us recognize the values of our culture, and every time

we cook and tell stories, we are creating and adding to this knowledge. This highlights the

significance of intergenerational transmission of cultural traditions in influencing current

knowledge.
Object 3: My Mom’s Luxury Bag

This is my mom's Chanel luxury bag, which she bought for herself as her 47th birthday

present. Chanel, as a high-end brand, exemplifies the allure that appeals to women like my

mom. Women are generally more fashion-conscious and prone to purchase items that are

culturally perceived as attractive and prestigious. These discrepancies are brought about by

the more excellent perceived symbolic and social value of such high-end products, which

depicts the women's position within the classes of society hence making women align the

bag's beauty with the monetary value of the product. By creating collections tailored to these

values of beauty coming from cultural influences (and the brands themselves), luxury brands

appeal to female customers as a tool for expressing their fashion taste and proving their high

standards.
This object relates to the prompt by showcasing how our cultural values shape my mom’s

perception of knowledge, in this case, the perception of famous brands that embody intricate

and luxurious details as symbols of privilege. The reputation of Chanel in the community for

its gold embroidered logo on the purse entices women to obtain cultural validation for their

high-class fashion sense. The object reflects the idea how the purchasing of such items relies

on the audience group the brand appeals to, which, with Chanel, are customers wanting to

prove their worth with high-end products based on the cultural standards that value higher

class elites, which, to them, the knowledge of beauty associates with luxury. The object

illustrates that values can influence even the most basic acts of perception, highlighting the

profound effect that cultures can have on knowledge production.

Luxury brands can hold significant status and hedonic value for those who are influenced by

beauty culture. Conversely, those who do not see beauty as a mechanism for expressing status

may choose more affordable brands with appealing designs. This demonstrates how cultural

values can shape one's perspective on the knowledge of the significance of an object.
Bibliography:

- Stokburger-Sauer, N., & Teichmann, K. (2013). Is luxury just a female thing? The role

of gender in luxury brand consumption. Journal of Business Research, 66(7),

889–896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.12.007

- Mathematical Treasures - Zhoubi suanjing | Mathematical Association of America.

(n.d.).https://www.maa.org/press/periodicals/convergence/mathematical-treasures-zho

ubi-suanjing

- Semaan, R. W., Lindsay, V. J., Williams, P., & Ashill, N. J. (2019). The influence of

gender roles in the drivers of luxury consumption for women: Insights from the gulf

region. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 51, 165–175.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.06.006

- Ndour, P. A. (2020). Food: Identity of Culture and Religion, ResearchGate. WATHI.

https://www.wathi.org/food-identity-of-culture-and-religion-researchgate/#:~:text=Pe

ople%20also%20connect%20to%20their,influence%20food%20like%20and%20disli

kes.