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Definition of Culture • Culture is a group’s way of life, including the shared set of meanings and symbolic practices, transmitted between generations. • Culture can be seen as “learned behavior.” Culture Traits • …are single elements of normal practice in culture. • …include beliefs, institutions, language, and technology. Culture trait examples • • • • • • • • Silence Private space Touching Hand gestures Eye contact Greetings Perceptions of time Gift giving A culture complex • …is an interrelated web of culture traits that are characteristic of a group. Navajo Corn Maiden Masai cows A Culture Region • …is an area that shares common culture traits--an area within which a culture complex prevails. A Culture Realm… • …is a group of culture regions that share a common culture system. Cultural landscape refers to the . distinct imprint of a culture on the land. The geographic perspective--cultural geography is concerned with… • …how place affects culture. • …how culture affects place. • …the distributions of culture groups and reasons for those distributions. Human Interaction with the Environment • Cultural ecology…the study of the relationship between a culture and its environment. Low Island High Island (Maori) Human Interaction with the Environment • Cultural landscape…is the imprint of a culture on the earth’s surface. Human Interaction with the Environment • Environmental determinism is the belief that the physical environment (especially climate) is the major factor influencing culture. Human Interaction with the Environment • Possibilism is the belief that people and not the environment shape culture. Lagos, Nigeria Are there environmental limitations to culture? • Some locations are “luckier” than others-mild climate, fresh water, fertile soil, resources. A culture hearth is a region where cultural traits such as religion and agriculture develop. The structure (framework) of culture • Artifacts are the material aspects of culture. – Cooking utensils (in India) – Voting machines – A judge’s gavel • Sociofacts are the social behaviors of a culture. – Dietary restrictions of a culture (Many are vegetarian.) – The political process – The court system • Mentifacts are the ideas, values, beliefs of a culture. – Religious beliefs. (Cows are sacred.) – Ideas about democracy – Ideas about justice Culture Change • Innovation refers to the use of existing technology to create something new. Culture Change • Cultural diffusion is the process of spreading an idea or an innovation from one area to another Culture Change • Acculturation occurs when a society changes as it comes into contact with a dominant culture. Culture Change • Transculturation occurs when two strong cultures come together and create a blended culture--neither one dominates. Acceleration of diffusion • Travel is faster • Communication is instananeous. Barriers to diffusion… • Distance • Physical environment • Lack of acceptance or resistance to change. Are we creating a global culture?