Chapter 3: Culture, & Media

Question 0

What R (Symbols)?

Answer 0

Anything that carries a certain meaning that’s recognized by people who share a culture

Question 1

What is (Culture), & what R some elements of a culture?

Answer 1

A group of people that share certain aspects of life, eg, they think, & act alike, they share values, traditions, symbols, object, etc, & they pass this down 2 next gen, thus (Culture is a Shared way of Life), culture is not the (Natural Environment), some elements of a culture R its (Symbols, Language Norms, Values), etc

Question 2

What is (Language)?

Answer 2

A system of symbols that allow humans 2 communicate

Question 3

What is the root word of (Culture)?

Answer 3

To (Cultivate) which suggest that people that live together grow their way of life over time

Question 4

Explain the 2 types of culture?

Answer 4

1) Material Culture: Is everything created by members of a society, eg. our (Physical Environment) including technology, eg. Bunker Hill, Monument, Mona Lisa, I-pads, etc
2) Nonmaterial Culture: Ideas, concepts, etc started by members of society, eg. values, beliefs, social norms, etc

Question 5

What happened that caused Europeans 2 change the meaning of the word (Culture)?

Answer 5

As Europeans came in more & more contact with people that were different, they changed the word (Culture) 2 mean one group of people as being better than other groups of people, usually non Europeans, they changed it again to mean the (Pursuit of Intellectual Refinement)

Question 6

How does culture influence us?

Answer 6

culture is (Learned), thus it’s woven into their (Ideologies) of the world, & remember ideologies R what we use 2 make sense of the world, cultures also shapes our (Values), aka moral beliefs, it’s a difficult concept 2 understand because U don’t notice it until your out of your culture, & in another’s culture

Question 7

What is (Ethnocentrism), what can this type of thinking lead 2?

Answer 7

The belief that one’s culture or group is superior 2 all other, thus one looks at other cultures from the perspective of their own culture, can lead 2 superior culture treating lesser culture like animals, eg justification 4 slavery

Question 7

What must we remember about culture?

Answer 7

While another’s culture may look strange 2 us, we must remember our culture just because we R use 2 it doesn’t make it right, thus our culture looks just as strange 2 them

Question 9

What is the difference between (High, & Low or Pop) culture?

Answer 9

High culture is opera, paintings by great artist, gulf, etc, pop or low culture is graffiti art, hip hop, boxing, etc

Question 10

Explain (Culture Shock)?

Answer 10

The (Perplexed) feeling one has when they R exposed 2 a new culture

Question 11

What is (Cultural Relativism)?

Answer 11

Excepting another’s culture 4 what it is good, bad, or indifferent, it’s not up 2 us 2 pass judgement or assign value, we should base their culture on their standards, & not ours, that said (Cultural Relativism) does have its limits, eg. We should never forego our (Values)

Question 12

What is the outcome of adhering 2 (Cultural Relativism)?

Answer 12

It helps us increase our knowledge of the rest of the world, because we R open not closed 2 learning about others

Question 13

What is (Cultural Script)?

Answer 13

Types of behavior or understandings that R not universal or natural, eg. people should wait until their married before sex, etc thus our cultural script shapes the way we perceive events, situations, etc

Question 13

What is Geertz’s definition of culture?

Answer 13

A system of inherited (Ideas, beliefs, opinions, etc) expressed in symbolic forms used 2 communicate, preserve, & develop their knowledge, & attitudes toward life, eg. in U. S. it’s baseball, in Bali it’s cockfighting, etc. one is no better than other

Question 13

What R (Subcultures), & why do we study them?

Answer 13

Groups within a larger society that share unique values or behavior, what unites subcultures is the way they R viewed by rest of society, which is usually as vulgar or deviant, this stereotype causes society 2 sometimes marginalized them

Question 14

What is (Ideology)?

Answer 14

A system of (Concepts, & Relationships), or a type of (Nonmaterial Culture)

Question 17

What R (Values), what happens 2 them over time?

Answer 17

(Culturally Defined Standards), aka our moral beliefs, values change over time

Question 18

What R (Norms), what can happen if norms R not followed?

Answer 18

Rules, & expectations of (Expectable/Normal) behavior, norms like values change over time, they can be (Ostracized), aka excluded from society or group

Question 19

What is (Socialization)?

Answer 19

Our internalization of societies’ norms, values, beliefs, etc, this allows us 2 function in our society

Question 20

What R the 2 types of norms?

Answer 20

Folkway: Norms that influences everyday social life, but R not that serious if violated a folkway, eg not dressing appropriately 4 a formal event is violating a folkway, not dressing at all violates a norm

Mores: Norms that if violated they R taken very seriously, eg incest, child porn, etc

Question 21

What is (Media), what was the first form of mass media?

Answer 21

Any format/vehicle that carries/presents or communicates info, the book

Question 22

What is (Reflection Theory)?

Answer 22

The belief that one is the product of their, thus they r a (Reflection) of their culture, eg if they R an artist that grew up in a bad area, they might draw the horrors that make up their culture, because that’s all they know

Question 23

What impact has media had on society?

Answer 23

From 1950-1963 households with TV went from 2 to 92%, thus for the first time vast majorities saw war, & discrimination this caused many 2 become active to combat both as well as other causes

Question 24

What is (Hegemony), & where does it take place?

Answer 24

It’s when the majority of a society use their moral influence 2 elicit (Voluntary Consent) from the masses, thus people R content with the (Status Quo), this is contrast 2 (Domination) which is forcing other 2 do what U want them 2 do, hegemony takes place in (Private Institutions), while domination takes place at the state level

Question 25

Explain (Textual Analysis) in regards 2 a media concept?

Answer 25

It’s the analysis of the content of all forms of media, eg, how often R blacks cast as criminal, drug dealers, etc, we R not passive when taking in media, thus we interpret, perceive, & R influenced by it

Question 26

What R some of the invisible forces that influence media?

Answer 26

Biases, everyone has them, while some in charge of programming may try 2 contain them some seeps through

Question 27

What is the difference between (short vs long) term & (intended vs unintended) (Media Influence)?

Answer 27

1) Short Term Intended: (Advertising), eg commercial, which must be shown often 2 influence,
2) Long Term Intended: A (PSA), or a single theme about something that is repeated over & over again, usual goal is 2 educate public, eg, smokey the bear, etc, shown often but not as often as commercials
3) Short Term Unintended: Eg, kids play violent video game or listen to hard core music that promotes killing, then goes out and mimics what they’ve seen or heard
4) Long Term Unintended: The belief that we have become 2 (Desensitized) 2 violence & sex related material in the media, thus some R looking 4 more control over content

Question 28

How can one help facilitate change quicker?

Answer 28

By having a well thought out media strategy that helps shape public opinion

Question 29

What is the major way that media effect content?

Answer 29

The fact that 90% of media is owned by only 6 companies, means they have a large say in the message we hear via media

Question 30

How is the internet helping people get their message out?

Answer 30

Anyone can put up a website 2 express their views, but U still need money if U want 2 be on a sidebar of Google or other big sites

Question 31

Describe (Consumerism), what helps play a role in consumerism?

Answer 31

The concept that constantly purchasing material things will lead 2 happiness, media & advertising

Question 32

What R some modern ways that big name companies R reaching children?

Answer 32

Via exclusive rights with placing their brand in school cafeteria, athletic fields, etc, these brands more often found in lower income schools where funding 4 upkeep is harder 2 come by, the logic is these kids may not have all the accessories rich kids have, but at the very least they might get the latest Madden game, these R known as (Symbolic Purchases), & they make parents feel they R part of consumer culture, yet middle & upper middle downplay their consumerism, saying they R not (Materialistic), known as (Symbolic Deprivation), which is when kids have a lot of stuff, yet parents say no every once in a while then claim victory

Question 33

What is (Culture Jamming)?

Answer 33

It’s when U turn media against itself, 4 example when U spoof a popular commercial campaign, like joe camel, calling him joe chemo

Question 34

Explain America’s (Soft Power) 2 influence the globe?

Answer 34

It America’s ability 2 influence culturally other parts of the globe with some of its biggest name brands, eg Burger King, McDonald, etc, thus we persuade not force cultures 2 change, if hostilities break out people may stop buying product, especially if they think U.S. Is involved

Question 35

What R 3 of the limitations of the (Reflection Theory)?

Answer 35

1) Does not explain staying power or lack thereof of certain cultural products
2) Does not explain why same products change their meaning over time
3) It buys the belief that media has no impact or sway over culture & society

Question 41

What field of study did sociology start in?

Answer 41

Anthropology