Chapter 3: Culture & Society

Question 1

What is culture?

Answer 1

• Refers to a set of patterns of human activity within a community or social group & the symbolic structures that give significance to such activity.
• Customs, laws, dress, architectural style, social standards & traditions are all examples of cultural elements.

Question 2

What are the 5 characteristics of culture?

Answer 2

1. Culture is learned
2. Culture is shared
3. Culture is symbolic
4. Culture is integrated
5. Culture is dynamic

Question 3

What is the functionalist perspective of culture?

Answer 3

Is based upon the assumption that society is a stable, orderly system with interrelated parts that serve specific functions. Culture helps people meet their needs:
- biological needs (food, procreation)
- instrumental needs (law, education)
- integrative needs (religion, art)

Question 4

What is symbolic interactionism?

Answer 4

• Symbolic meaning that people develop & rely upon in the process of social interaction.
• Subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events & behaviours.
• “Definition of the situation” is what people use to know what’s expected of them & what is expected of others in a situation.

Question 5

What is the conflict theory?

Answer 5

Depicts that there exists a struggle because of limited resources & unlimited utilities of resources. Conflict is an unavoidable phenomena.

Question 6

What is the strength of the post colonialism?

Answer 6

The strength of the post colonial perspective is that it challenges existing assumptions & power structures.

Question 7

What are the 3 elements of culture?

Answer 7

1. Cultural forms vary hugely, yet culture has universal commonalities.
2. Culture can be divided into non- material & material forms.
3. Culture does not stay still.

Question 8

What is cultural diversity?

Answer 8

Cultural diversity refers to the plurality & variety of identities and/ or belongings in a social setting.
Eg) religion, food, languages.

Question 9

What is Cultural relativism?

Answer 9

The view that all beliefs, customs, & ethics are relative to the individual within his own social context. In other words “right” and “wrong” are culture- specific- what is considered moral in one culture can be considered immoral in another.

Question 10

What is a subculture?

Answer 10

These are the groups with their own norms & values that differ from mainstream society.
Eg) hippies, hipsters & emos.

Question 11

What are the 3 modern culture characteristics?

Answer 11

1. Differentiation
2. Rationalization
3. Commodification

Question 12

What are the 3 post- modern characteristics:

Answer 12

1. Hyper- differentiation
2. Hyper- rationalization
3. Hyper- commodification

Question 13

What is the culture diversity in South Africa?

Answer 13

Give your opinion.