Download The Meaning of Culture

The Meaning of Culture
Many Peoples Many
Cultures
What is Culture ?
• Define and/or explain in your own words
• Ex: page 13 (Chapter 1 Section 3)
• Many misunderstandings occur
because people do not understand one
another
• Culture- all the things that make up a
people’s entire way of life
Elements of Culture
• Everyone is born into a culture
– Ways of: thinking, believing and behaving
• Culture shapes our lives
• Culture affects us throughout our lives and
influences all we do
• Elements of Culture- social organization,
customs & traditions, language, arts &
literature, religion, government &
economic systems
Social Organization
• Every society organizes itself to meet
basic needs
• Family Patterns are the foundation for
society
Mom & Dad
You
Your Family
Brother/Sister
Their Family
In Your Notes Create A Basic Family Tree For Your Family
Start With Your Grandparents
Social Organization
• Nuclear Family- includes wife, husband &
children
– Typical family pattern in the United States
– Living together and surviving as one group
– Some are large and some small
• Extended Family- several generations
living in one household
– Grandparents, parents, children, aunts,
uncles and cousins
– Common in many societies around the world
Social Organization
• Extended Families Continued:
– Respect for “Elders” is very strong in these
societies
• Family authority changes from place to
place (Culture to Culture)
– Men (Husband or male relative)– patriarchal
– Women (Wife or female relative)- matriarchal
• More common in African and Native American
cultures
Why Would Elderly People Be Respected
?????
Social Organization
• Social Classes:
– Rank people in order of status
• Based on- money, occupation, education, ancestry,
etc…
– In the past you were born into a social class
and stayed there
– NO CHANCE OF MOVING UP IN SOCIETY
Examples:
India – Caste System (Brahmins and Poor People)
Ancient Egypt - Slave and Free ( Egyptians and Jewish People)
Early Mexico – Spanish and Mixed Bloods (Pure Blood Spaniards &Mestizo)
Customs & Traditions
• Rules of behavior in cultures are very
important
– Ex: what to wear and how to act in society
• Social pressure used to enforce minor
rules
• Moral issues (right and wrong) are often
part of the written laws
Language
• Cornerstone of culture (most important
thing)
• Main way that people communicate with
one another
• All cultures have a language though not
all of them have a written form
• Language reflects the cultural identity of a
people
Language
• Many countries have several languages
within their borders
– India has more than 700 languages
• (15 official languages)
– Canada has two national languages (English
and French)
• How do governments decide on a
language and what does that mean?
– Ex: United States and the Spanish
Language
Arts and Literature
• Products of the human imagination
– Art, music and literature
• Have the ability to tell us about our culture
Uncle Tom’s
Cabin
Legend of
Sleepy
Hollow
The
Raven
The
Scarlet
Letter
Arts and Literature
• Parents/Relatives tell children folk stories
that teach values
– Ex: Tortoise and the Hare
-Versus-
What is the lesson that the story
tries to tell children?
What Stories or Tales do you remember being taught as a child. What were
the messages they sent.
Religion
• Arts are closely linked to religious beliefs
of a cultural group
– Temples, churches and music
• Religion helps people answer basic
questions in their lives
• Supports the values of the culture and
strengthens a societies bonds
How many different religious
denominations (groups) are in the
class?
Religion
Bible (Christianity)
Koran (Islam)
Buddhism
Torah (Judaism)
Tao
Monotheism- worshipping one
God
Polytheism- worshipping more
than one God
Hinduism
Forms of Government
• People form governments to provide for
common needs
– Keeping order
– Protecting society from outside threats
• Also means the laws and political
institutions
– President
– Congress (House of Representatives and
Senate)