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
