Raymond William’s on Culture...

(Introduction)

The …word, culture, changes, in the same critical period (1780-1950). Before this period, it had
meant, primarily, the ‘tending of natural growth’, and then, by analogy, a process of human
training. But this, latter use, which had usually been a culture of something, was changed in the
nineteenth century, to culture as such, a thing in itself. It came to mean, first, ‘a general state or
habit of the mind’, having close relations, with the idea of human perfection; Second, it came to
mean ‘the general state of intellectual development, in a society as a whole’. Third, it came to
mean ‘the general body of the arts’. Fourth, later in the century, it came to mean “a whole way
of life, material, intellectual and spiritual”. It came also, as we know, to be a word which often
provoked either hostility or embarrassment. The development of culture is perhaps the most
striking among all the words named. It might be said indeed that the questions now concentrated
in the meanings of the word culture are questions directly raised by the great historical changes
which the changes in industry, democracy and class, in their own way, represent, and to which
the changes in art are a closely related response. The development of the word culture is a record
of a number of important and continuing reactions “to these changes· in our social; economic
and political life, and may be seen, in itself, as a special kind of map by means of which, the
nature of the changes can be explored” (Williams, 1958: xvi – xvii).

Some Characteristics of Culture

Culture is learned. It is shared. It takes time to develop, is transmitted across generations, and is
subject to change. It cannot be isolated. Culture is essential for life.

Culture refers to the pattern of human activity and the symbols that give significance to them.
Culture manifests itself in the forms of art, literature, clothing, customs, language, and religion.
The way people live and what they believe constitutes their culture. Their principles and moral
values also form an important part of their culture. People from different parts of the world have
different cultural values. Cultural differences contribute to the diversity in people's thinking and
living styles.

The word ‘culture’ hails from the Latin word cultura which is derived from colere that means, 'to
cultivate'. Our culture has a major share in cultivating our minds. The common traits and beliefs
that form the mindset of a group, define their culture. Let us look at the basic characteristics of
culture and its fundamental elements.

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 is the same. Their language and mannerisms, and the way they
communicate is similar. Built by their belief system, their personalities share certain traits. Their
roles in the family and society are defined by their culture. Their occupations and lifestyles may
be influenced by their culture. Culture gives the people a collective identity. It belongs to a
community and not to any single human being. It is shared.

Culture is not biologically passed from older generations to the newer ones. It is learned through
experience. The members of a culture share certain ideals which shape their lives. The future
generations learn to follow the same ideals. Culture propagates through generations, which adopt
their old customs and traditions as a part of their culture. The ideals they base their lives on, is a
part of their culture. Cultural values are imparted from one generation to another, which is the
reason why they continue. The language, the literature, and the art forms pass down from
generation to generation. Culture is learned, understood, and adopted from what is taught by
society and assimilated from the environment. No individual is born with a sense of culture. In
the course of life, he learns it.

Cultures undergo a gradual change. With passing time, some beliefs change, certain traditions or
rituals are eliminated, language and mannerisms of people change, and thus their culture.
Migration and globalization lead to a mixing of cultures. When people from different parts of the
world come together, they influence each other and effectively, each other's cultures. These
factors contribute to the formation of a multicultural society and sometimes, even new cultures
develop.

Over time, some traditions are dropped out of a culture because they are dangerous or due to
their arduous nature. Due to education and increased awareness, newer generations become
flexible to change and look at concepts like religion and culture with a broader perspective and
have a liberal view about them. So some rituals or customs become less rigid, some are replaced
by simpler ones and some are discontinued.

Due to the exposure to various cultures across the globe, people adopt some aspects of other
cultures. This affects what they teach their children, thus influencing the culture of their future
generations and in a small way, leading to a cultural change. Social thinking undergoes a
transition and so does culture. Gender roles change. For instance, traditionally, the males were
meant to work and earn for their family, while women stayed at home and looked after the
children. Today, these roles have changed. In many families, women work away from home,
while men take care of the kids.

All cultures change in time although their rate of change varies. It's 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. It is true that culture influences us, but it is also true that we
influence culture. In fact, culture evolves over time and takes years to develop. It is not a set of
rules made by one or more people and followed by generations. With passing time, a culture
develops and even changes in the process.

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 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 is 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 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.

Studies have brought out the fact that no culture can remain in isolation. There is hardly any
social community that is completely isolated from the rest of the world. Every culture is mostly
influenced by cultures of the surrounding regions. Years ago, there were tribal societies that
stayed in seclusion, unaware of the world outside. Today, most of these once-secluded groups
are connected to the rest of the world. And there is hardly any community, and thereby any
culture which is totally isolated.

The cultural values of people in a particular country are affected by those of the people from
neighboring 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.

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 folk tales 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 behavior. 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. To make us feel a part of the
group and to give us the guiding principles of life, culture is essential.
What are the elements of culture? Language, symbols, values, and norms are among the
important elements of culture. Our religious beliefs, customs and traditions, art, as also history,
taken together can be considered as the cultural elements. They give a meaning to the concept of
culture. All these are important for our overall development as individuals.

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 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 a 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 a complete knowledge of their
culture.

To take pride in the culture you belong to and to respect its teachings, you must first know it. It is
important to know the past that has shaped your present and is going to influence your future.

Source: https://historyplex.com/characteristics-of-culture

Roles of Culture (see source below)

Man is not only a social animal but also a cultured being. Man's social life has been made
possible because of culture. Culture is something that has elevated him from the level of animal
to the heights of man. Man cannot survive as man without culture. It represents the entire
achievements of mankind. Culture has been fulfilling a number of function among which the
following may be noted.

1. Culture is the treasury of knowledge

Culture provides knowledge, which is essential for the physical and intellectual existence of
man. Birds and animals behave instinctively within their environment. But man has intelligence
and greater learning capacity. With the help of these, he has been able to adapt himself to his
environment or modify it to suit his convenience. Culture has made such an adaptation and
modification possible and easier by providing man the necessary skills and knowledge. Culture
preserves knowledge and helps its transmission from generation to generation through its means,
that is, language helps not only the transmission of knowledge but also its preservation,
accumulation and diffusion. On the contrary, animals do not have this advantage.

2. Culture defines situations and provides solutions to problematic ones

Culture defines social situations for us. It not only defines but also conditions and determines
what we eat and drink, what we wear, when to laugh, weep, sleep, the friends we make, what
work we do, the religion we practice, what knowledge we rely upon, what poetry we recite and
so on. Culture provides man with a set of behavior even for complicated situations. It has so
thoroughly influenced that often he does not require any external force to keep himself in
conformity with the social requirements. His action becomes automatic. Forming queues when
there is rush at the booking window or driving left in the busy streets. In the absence of culture,
he should have been baffled even at the simplest situations. He need not go through painful trial
and error learning to know what food can be taken without poisoning himself and fellow. His
culture directs and confines his behavior, limits his goals and measures his reward. His culture
gets into his mind and shutters vision so that he sees what is supposed to see in dream what he is
expected to dream and hunger for what he is trained to hunger.

3. Culture defines attitudes, values and goods

Attitudes refer to the tendency to feel and think in certain ways. Values are the measure of
goodness or desirability. Goods refer to the attainments, which our values define as worthy. It is
the culture, which conditions our attitude towards various issues such as religion, morality,
marriage, science, family planning, professional or political positions and so on. Our values
concerning private enterprise etc. are influenced by our culture. Our goals of winning the race,
understanding others, attaining salvation, being obedient to elders and teachers, being loyal to
husband, being patriotic etc. are all set forth by our culture. We are being socialized on these
models.

4. Culture may decide our career

Whether we should become a newscaster, filmmaker, curator, politician, social worker, a doctor,
an engineer, a soldier, a farmer, a professor, an industrialist, a religious leader and so on is
decided by our culture because it sets off something within us. What career we are likely to
pursue is largely decided by our culture. Culture sets limitations on our choice to select different
careers. Individuals may develop, modify or oppose the trends of their culture but they often live
within its framework. Some people do break out of the culture they were socialized in.

5. Culture provides behavior pattern

Culture directs and limits the behavior of an individual. Culture assigns goals and provides
means for achieving them. It rewards noble works and punishes the ignoble ones. It assigns
social status to people. We see, dream, aspire, work, marry, and enjoy pleasurable moments
according to our cultural beliefs and expectations. Culture not only contains but also liberates
human energy and activities. It is culture that makes the human, a man, regulates his conduct and
prepares him for group life. It provides to him a complete design for living. It teaches him what
type of food he should take and in what manner, how he should cover himself and behave with
his fellows, how he should speak with the people and how he should co-operate or compete with
others. An individual abstained from culture is less than human; he is what we call feral, man.
The individual to be truly human must participate in the culture of the society he finds himself in.
Without it, he would have been forced to find his own way, which would mean a loss of energy
in satisfying his elementary needs. BUT culture is not absolute in the sense that all of it must be
strictly adhered to at all times. Some aspects of culture could be inhuman and damaging to one’s
optimal development. Such must be changed or resisted. An example is the pre-colonial Indian
practice of burning a woman alive when her husband dies. Indians believed that her death by
burning was her destiny.

6. Culture provides personality and character

Culture exercises a great influence on the development of personality and human character. No
child can get human qualities in the absence of a cultural environment. Culture prepares man for
group life and provides him the design of living. It is the culture that provides opportunities for
the development of personality or character and sets limits on its growth. As Ruth Benedict has
pointed out every culture will provide its special type or types of personality. To turn out a strong
and resilient man or woman will be determined to a large extent by the culture in which an
individual grew up.

7. Culture provides traditional interpretations to certain situations

Through culture men gets traditional interpretation for many situations according to which he
determines his behavior. If a cat crosses his way, he postpones his journey. It may however be
noted that these traditional interpretation differ from culture to culture. Among some culture owl
is regarded as a symbol of wisdom and not a symbol of idiocy.

8. Culture keeps social relationships intact

Culture has importance not only for man but also for the group. Had there been no culture there
would be no group life. Culture is the design and the prescription for guiding values and ideals.
By regulating the behavior of the people and satisfying, the primary drives pertaining to hunger
and sexuality, it has been able to maintain group life. Culture has provided a number of checks
upon irrational conduct, proper schooling or scientific training thereby lessening the chances that
a man will behave irrationally or irresponsibly. The desire to preserve traditional and regional
relationships for peace and security may lead a community to go to or abstain from war with
another.

9. Culture broadens the outlook of the individual

Culture has given a new vision to individuals by providing a set of rules for co-operation of the
individuals. He thinks not only his own self but also of the others. Culture teaches him to think
himself a part of the larger whole. This provides him with the concept of family, state, nation and
class and makes responsible the cooperation and division of labor.

10. Culture creates new needs and re-orientation

Culture also creates new needs and new drives, for example, new technologies and
organizational cultures generate a thirst for knowledge and arrange for the satisfaction of those
needs.

Source: http://www.preservearticles.com/201102214077/what-are-the-12-essential-roles-of-
culture-in-society.html