ch 3 notes: culture Flashcards
culture
the specialized behavioral patterns, understandings, adaptations, and social systems that summarize a group of people’s way of life” shared patterns of learned behaviour
multicultural
Composed of many cultures and cultural groups who’s way of life expresses their identity
Characteristics of multiculturalism in Canada
1) It is fact Canada is comprised of people from all over the world Toronto: 50% of residents were born out of the country and over 100 languages spoken 2) An ideology Ideology: set of beliefs celebrating cultural diversity Ideal that all cultures groups are equal 3)Government policy Multicultural Act (1988) – promotes equity Everyone in Canada is entitled to equal treatment (right to remain cultural different) 4) Ongoing process
Components of Culture
Culture Traits Culture Complex Culture System Culture Region Culture Realm Globalization
Culture trait: smallest unit of culture
Units learned behaviour, such as an artefact, language, a belief or a technique
cultural complex
Individual cultural traits that are functionally interrelated (e.g. “car culture” or the bison hunting culture).
culture system
A larger set of shared traits that link two or more cultural complexes, that may have some other traits not in common e.g. “American culture”, despite linguistic religious, and other differences
culture region
An area in which the population shares common and distinctive cultural characteristic Religion, economy, clothing, housing The geographical manifestation of culture
culture realm
A set of related culture regions which combine to cover a large part of the earth’s surface Tend to ignore diversity within the identified boundaries in order to define a common geographic area
How do we make sense of globalization?
homogenization thesis, polarization thesis, globalization thesis
homogenization thesis
Different cultures becoming more similar Loss of unique character McDonaldization – standardization of eating habits (fast food) Americanisation – the diffusion of American brands
polarization thesis
Globalisation fragments people and societies
globalization
Local forces become globalized and global forces become localized
How do we make sense of globalization? – detailed
Homogenization thesis Different cultures becoming more similar Loss of unique character McDonaldization – standardization of eating habits (fast food) Americanisation – the diffusion of American brands Polarization thesis Globalisation fragments people and societies Glocalisation thesis Local forces become globalized and global forces become localized
(*hybridization)
Local cultures tend to “domesticate,” “indigenize,” or “tame” imported consumer culture – giving it a local flavor (*hybridization) Many countries promote a consumer nationalism that encourages local goods over “foreign” goods
system attributes
informational globalization -industrial globalization -political globalization -cultural globalization -financial globalization
informational globalization
– increases to geographically remote locations Increases in information flows
industrial globalization
globalization (alias transnationalization) - rise and expansion of multinational companies (MNC) or transnational corporations (TNC) Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil and Walmart > 400 bill. revenues each MNCs have multiple offices and derive at least ¼ of profits from outside US
political globalization
spread of political sphere of interests to the regions and countries outside the neighbourhood of political (state and non-state) actors
cultural globalization
Growth of cross-cultural contacts
financial globalization
– free trade agreements, international financial institutions that deal in trade, rise of capitalism that has impacted globalization
system attributes detailed
informational globalization – increases to geographically remote locations Increases in information flows industrial globalization (alias transnationalization) - rise and expansion of multinational companies (MNC) or transnational corporations (TNC) Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil and Walmart > 400 bill. revenues each MNCs have multiple offices and derive at least ¼ of profits from outside US political globalization - spread of political sphere of interests to the regions and countries outside the neighbourhood of political (state and non-state) actors cultural globalization - Growth of cross-cultural contacts Financial globalization – free trade agreements, international financial institutions that deal in trade, rise of capitalism that has impacted globalization
global crime
Criminal element to globalization: drugs, slavery, pornography, prostitution, terrorism
pop culture
A wide-ranging group of heterogeneous people, who stretch across identities and across the world, and who embrace cultural traits such as music, dance, clothing, and food preferences that change frequently and are ubiquitous on the cultural landscape
local culture defintion
A group of people in a particular place who see themselves as a collective or a community, who share experiences, customs, and traits, and who work to preserve those traits and customs in order to claim uniqueness and to distinguish themselves from others
local culture explanation
Local knowledge is the collective knowledge of a community (from everyday activities) 3 characteristics: Orally transmitted or demonstrated Dynamic – reflects new knowledge Many people/reservoirs are involved in a single community Local knowledge outdated or inferior = Rationality doctrine Today: Local knowledge is essential
custom
a practice that a group of people routinely follows
material vs non material culture
material: The things a group of people construct, such as art, houses, clothing, sports, dance, and food. nonmaterial - The beliefs, practices, aesthetics, and values of a group of people
In an age of globalization, where popular culture diffuses quickly, what do local cultures do to maintain their customs?
Keeping other cultures out (i.e. create a boundary around itself) Keeping their own culture in (i.e. avoid cultural appropriation) Cultural appropriation: Process where other cultures adopt customs and knowledge and use them for their own benefit
cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation: Process where other cultures adopt customs and knowledge and use them for their own benefit
neolocalism:
having a renewed interest in sustaining and promoting uniqueness & authenticity of a place
commodification
The process through which something is given monetary value How are aspects of local culture (material, non-material, place) commodified? what is commodified? who commodifies it? Why are diamonds so expensive? Are they scarce? Advertising
cartel
Cartel: entity consisting of individuals or businesses that control the production or sale of a commodity or groups of commodities, often worldwide. 1990s: New mines opened in Canada & Russia Canada does not participate in cartel Conflict diamonds (blood or war diamonds) originate in areas controlled by local forces other than governments and the money is used to fund war/conflict Angola, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of the Congo Canada has passed laws to help stop the trade of conflict diamonds
authenticity
Claims of authenticity abound – how do consumers determine what experience/place is “authentic” and what is not? TO gain an “authentic” sense of place, people need to experience the complexity of the place
Irish Pub Company Pubs
Irish Pub Company and Guinness Brewing Company created 5 models of pubs and export them around the world.
roots of culture
Hunter-Gatherers: pre-agricultural (Paleolithic) peoples with limited toolsets who relied on animals and plants for their sustenance. Were culturally simple, and similar with some differences attributable to different food sources and climate Nevertheless, were able to expand throughout much of the world. Low population densities and relatively isolated
seeds of change
Mesolithic: Cultural Divergence (ca. 10,000-11,000 BP). New environments and cultural change Carrying Capacity: “The number of persons supportable within a given area by the technologies at their disposal”. Neolithic: New tools, technologies and socil structures develop among sedentary populations
Agricultural Origins and Spread
Domestication of animals and plants (beginning 10-20,000 BP): enables exceeding previous carrying capacity Occurred at different times in different regions (earlier in Middle East, later in the Americas). Centered on different agricultural products
culture hearths
early culture hearths -mutilinear evolution -diffusionism -cultural convergence
cultural hearths - definitions and theories
Early Culture Hearths (Definition) Early centers of innovation that cultural traits spread from Civilizations: characterized by writing, trade, metalwork and societies Multilinear Evolution Cultural innovations occurred independently in parallel ecological regions Diffusionism Cultural traits appeared in a few hearths, spreading over time to other societies Cultural Convergence Unique aspects of culture are shared and adopted by more and more groups around the world.
Early Culture Hearths (Definition)
Early centers of innovation that cultural traits spread from Civilizations: characterized by writing, trade, metalwork and societies
Multilinear Evolution
Cultural innovations occurred independently in parallel ecological regions
diffusionism
Cultural traits appeared in a few hearths, spreading over time to other societies
cultural convergence
Unique aspects of culture are shared and adopted by more and more groups around the world.
Early Cultural Hearths and Diffusion: Urban Civilizations
Earliest hearth: Mesopotamia (followed later by Egypt) Characteristics …
Unintended Consequences of Urban Development: Crowd Disease Origins (smallpox, influenza, Measles, etc.)
Relatively recent appearance among humans – circa 5,000 BP. Required growth of large urban societies Required development of animal domestication As each new species became domesticated, additional diseases appeared in the population
smallpox
Emerged from cowpox – mild disease affecting cattle
influenza
Most likely sources: domesticated birds (ducks and geese) and pigs (i.e. avian and swine flu). Now both serve to allow flu virus to mutate
the structure of culture
Ideological Subsystem: Mentifacts are specific abstract beliefs passed down from generation to generation. (traditions, superstitions, language, concept etc.) Technological Subsystem: Artifacts are physical objects we use in daily life. (phone, clothes, etc.) Sociological Subsystem: Sociofacts are customs or rules we use to define our society (expressly related to group interactions) (how men and women sit differently) Cultural Integration: The interlocking aspects of culture which from the whole
ideological system
Mentifacts are specific abstract beliefs passed down from generation to generation. (traditions, superstitions, language, concept etc.)
technological subsystem
Artifacts are physical objects we use in daily life. (phone, clothes, etc.)
sociological subsystem
Sociofacts are customs or rules we use to define our society (expressly related to group interactions) (how men and women sit differently)
cultural integration
The interlocking aspects of culture which from the whole
cultural change
Innovation: The changes due to new idea generated within the culture (resistance to innovation is cultural lag) Starts within the group and stay within the group Diffusion: adoption of external ideas/innovations which have moved across space from other cultures Expansion relocation Acculturation: Process where an ethnic group is absorbed into a larger society while retaining aspects of distinct identify
innovation
The changes due to new idea generated within the culture (resistance to innovation is cultural lag) Starts within the group and stay within the group
diffusion
adoption of external ideas/innovations which have moved across space from other cultures Expansion relocation
acculturation
: Process where an ethnic group is absorbed into a larger society while retaining aspects of distinct identify
cultural assimilation
Assimilation: absorbed into larger society and group loses aspects of identity Behavioural assimilation: common behaviour pattern through shared experience language intermarriage and history Structural assimilation: fusion of immigrant group with social systems and occupations (adoption of values and attitudes) Spatial assimilation: the overlap and shaing of space between previously separated groups
assimilation
absorbed into larger society and group loses aspects of identity
behavioural assimilation
common behaviour pattern through shared experience language intermarriage and history
structural assimilation
fusion of immigrant group with social systems and occupations (adoption of values and attitudes)
spatial assimilation
: the overlap and shaing of space between previously separated groups
Resistance to Change
Culture rebound: the readoption by later generations of culture traits and identities associated with immigrant forebears or ancestral homelands Xenophobia: the fear or aversion to stranger or foreigners, often manifesting itself in the form of ethnophobia (fear of a particular ethnic group) Ethnocentrism: conviction of the evident superiority of one’s own ethnic group
culture rebound
the readoption by later generations of culture traits and identities associated with immigrant forebears or ancestral homelands
xenophobia
the fear or aversion to stranger or foreigners, often manifesting itself in the form of ethnophobia (fear of a particular ethnic group)
ethnocentrim
conviction of the evident superiority of one’s own ethnic group
How are hearths of popular culture traits established?
Typically begins with an idea/good and contagious diffusion. Companies can create/manufacture popular culture (ie. MTV) Individuals can create/manufacture popular culture. (ie. Tony Hawk - skateboarding)
diffusion forms
Expansion Idea or item moves to a new place but also remains behind Contagious Diffusion – nearest source affected first Hierarchical Diffusion – from larger to smaller communities (for example) Stimulus Diffusion – when an idea is brought to a new population and stimulates related development (not a duplication of the original) Relocation Diffusion – idea carried by migrants (when individual part of new pop, no longer associated with source area)
relocation and expansion -
Relocation: Diffusing feature or person not part of source anymore Expansion: Element of what is diffusing remains in source area (even after it is elsewhere)
barriers to diffusion
Absorbing Prevent diffusion entirely (i.e. physical feature like mountain) (malaria, yellow fever) (cultural barriers, distance) Permeable May allow diffusion to continue in a reduced form or after a substantial delay (school policy on tatoos,
categories of barriers
Time The longer diffusion takes, the less likely it will occur Space Additional space defeats diffusion (distance decay) Less likely further from hearth Culture Language, religion, or economic foundations can prevent diffusion of an idea, object or disease Closer two cultures are, the more likely that diffusion is Physical barriers Local conditions must favour diffusion Pathways/networks Both barriers and aids to diffusion Networks channel the idea or object along its paths Work against diffusion away from paths
distance decay, and time space compresion
With Distance Decay, the likelihood of diffusion decreases as time and distance from the hearth increases. With time-space compression, the likelihood of diffusion depends upon the connectedness among places
placelessness
the loss of uniqueness in a cultural landscape – one place looks like the next
convergence of cultural landscapes
1) Diffusion of architectural forms and planning ideas around the world. Require: wide streets (access), land clearing 2) The widespread distribution of businesses and products creates distinctive landscape stamps around the world. Same stores in every mall Same companies worldwide in every city 3) Borrowing of idealized landscape images blurs place distinctiveness “all town centers start to look similar” Las Vegas: New York skyline, Paris Opera, and Egyptian pyramid within a few blocks
