Culture Flashcards
What relates agency and the society
Culture examines the interaction between agency and the structure
Shared symbols and their meaning its known as
Culture
How do human generally regard the meaning an object or a situation and what is wrong with that
We often interpret gestures, object based on the meaning the culture have defined them with and think that meaning defines what that experience or object is
For example, we think that the sign we make with our fingers to indicate a phone call inherently means making a phone call
But that is not, that hand gesture was defined by our culture as a way of signifying using a phone and so that’s why we use that sign not that the indication that you’re using your phone is to bend your fingers weirdly
What other aspects propagate the application of a meaning by culture
The meaning assigned by culture needs to be shared by multiple people, that is if i make a waving gesture to another human, because culture has assigned meaning to that behavior, they know what I mean by that but if i do that to an alien, that do not understand that behavior, because that collective meaning of hand waving is not clear, it is not a shared experience nor culture since that berhvaioir offers no meaning to the alien
Explain the point that, we humans give meaning to objects which now transcend as culture even though that objector experience does not exactly have a logical reason behind that meaning
For example, giving a high-five, We give a high five, when we are happy, joyful, to signify something good happening and wanting to share that experience with someone via a gesture, even though slapping hands together does not in any way mean or have any connection to being happy but the culture of what that gesture signifies has been ingrained in us thriving culture
Why does culture require shared meaning among people
Because if there is no universal agreement of what something signifies, then how would I understand that act if i notice it.
For example if someone gives me a hug, I understand showing affection, familiarity or happiness but if i live on mars and come to earth and never experienced a hug, i think the person is probably trying to attack my back or choke me to death. For something to be culturally significant the meaning we assign to it has to be accepted and understood by others
How does a sociologist try to understand how culture assign meaning to experience
Although we may inherently mean a behavior is what it is and defined that way, sociologist diver deeper in to figure out the social realities that give meaning to that behavior
Explain how culture assigns meaning to experience, why means different experiences would have different interpretations of a gesture and what that means
For example a wink a and a twitch, they are essentially the same bodily motions eye movements, While one is ore of an international act that signify a meaning the other is a reflexive action that we may unconsciously do.
With essentially the same body movements, one differs from the other because of the meaning assigned to it by culture
So food, religion, traditions, dress, customs all have different connotations to different people because of the meaning assigned to unit by culture
Culture is the story we tell about structure, what does this statement mean?
The subjective experience of people, based on the structures in place. For example the structure is getting a drivers license at 18 before driving. Some may have the mindset of i want to drive by 14 without a license and some may say i want driving to begun at 21 to keep the roads safe
The meaning/ interpretation of that structure put in place from the point of view of people is how culture tells the stories of structure
What does it mean that culture gives an experience mood or flavour
Comparing a glass of red wine and a bottle of grape juice, culture does not explain to you what theses objects are but impacts how you feel about them. I may see a glass of wine and think sophistication, class, good for digestion and the heart but ill look at grape juice, simple drink with sweetener to quench thirst.
Culture affects the interpretation we give to certain objects therefore affects how it makes us feel, the thoughts we have about that thing
How does culture link an idea to a different situation with slight correlation but uses one to explain the other?
The example zero waste phrase used to explain do not throw waste in the class there are no garbage bins here
The word zero waste is used is a sustainable, environmentally used phrase
Why was it used here?
Because it was meant to illicit a meaning of be careful not to throw waste in the class because garbages bins are in the hallway.
There is a close proximity and relation between zero- waste and carful diosposale of garbage implied, zero waste culture is used to flavor/ interpret how we throw waste away
But note that zero waste in this context does not mean if you throw away the garbage in class wrongly you are contributing to climate change and global warming (the proximity is too far here)
What is the best means to see the effects of culture and what does it mean and explain using an example
When culture and the impacts or meaning it gives, gets contested we can start to notice the impacts of culture
When people’s beliefs created by culture are different from ours, we start to see how culture may differ from another persons perspective.
For example, the belief that Muslim people serve a different god, their lives are different form ours and we should not associate with them, but coming to Manitoba and living with a Muslim, realizing that they are no different form me. My own ideology was invincible to me, in that I didn’t see the image that culturally the society had impacted me to create,
How does culture try to assign meanings in a universal way
When people make comments about human nature, common sense, self evident, in such situations commonality and universal meaning gets assigned because of culture.
For example, culture helps us to make assumptions that because theses group of people I know, have encountered all act this certain way in a particular topic, i infer that people of this certain group act in a assimilate way
Explain how the value of money impacts the interacting between structure and culture
First, money is just a paper, inherently it is meaningless but because of the meaning placed on it,
Second, it make sense to us, a this shared meaning between people about its value and meaning makes us know what it means and the context we can use it
Thirdly, the structure upholds this culture, How?
The government have structure and mandates that who ever decides rot make counter fit money would go to jail,
As culture gives meaning to the money, value it explains the story of the physical object created by structure and structure upholds the meaning and value that was placed on the object by culture to ensure that the value and meaning created would be maintained
So if you go against the meaning of $20 using it and try to scam people out of it, or make a fake form of it, your are assigning a. Meaning differnt from what was established culture and there would be consequences from structure
STRUCTURE ENFORCE CULTURE
Explain the relationship between structure and culture as culture changes in examples like pre martial sex and homosexual behavior
Structure is not the reason why i make certain decisions but rather the culture affects my ideologies and beliefs and cause me to think about things a certain way
These ideologies are affected by culture which can change overtime, but each time it was still a cultural outlook, one is not better than the other, just an alternative as time changes
Explain how culture may change with reference to advertisements in womanhood and body
Historically the definition of beauty standards for women
To be a woman—> is to be beautiful—> means you must be thin
Now- “A Change”—> a contention to the norm
To be a woman—> is to be beautiful—-> irrespective of your body type
Both are exmaples of cultural impact on beauty standards for women and one is not better of worse or some un known truth, it just an alternative view i of the beauty i of women that is different from the initial view
But both points Still sustain the culture/ ideology that women must be beautiful, regardless of being thin formaly or any body type, women must be beautiful and these structures Would beat you up if you think as a woman i font have be beautiful to be woman. I am woman regardless of how i look
The over-aching system of meanings that authorizes and justify the existing structure including inequality is what
Dominant culture
Explain dominant and subordinate culture with respect to slavery
The dominant culture in slavery is reinforced by social reporoduction of the belief that black peoples are less humans, Babarians and savages. This ideology is justified by the culture i as researchers at the time wrote humans have a social development with the hunter and gathers at the lowest stage and white at the apex, that they look Kline monkeys and are superior in strength, so therefore should not be considered the same class of humans. Such ideologies created based in the meaning of a black man culture influenced led to socialite reproduction of over 300 years of slavery and continues inequality
While the alternate to that ideology that we are all humans and should be treated the same is subordinate cukture
System of meanings that challenge dominant culture is?
Subordinate culture
What is propaganda
When people intentionally use the dominant culture to enforce or socially reproduce forms of inequality
How did pre modern era enforce the dominant culture
The pre modern era, created a an existence of social class that divided individuals into 2 groups based on their labour and responsibilities (division of labour)- the social structure present at the time
The dominant culture at the time was the monarch, if you were born as one, you were the supreme leader, who could make decisions that others had to obey but was not subject to you. A life of pleasure, without working and living in a highly privileged class
The peasant/ common class was the suffering, had to work to sustain the land, labour for food.
The relationship stories, (culture) that justified and maintained this social structure was the fact that we were born into that class by God and if you wanted to contend that you are inherently fighting with God
How does division of labour transpired the pre modern era
If you were a monarch you were born into that role by Gods choice and the common people were also born into that family
How does division of labour in modernity contrast from pre modernity and how does the structure support that culture
The permeability between the class that’s divides that assigned labour differs in each case The culture in modernity pushes it is possible to cross the line between the assigned social classes unlike the impossibility in pre modernity. that if you study and are hardworking you can cross that class of being a normal person to becoming wealthy
Unlike the pre modern era that emphasized that, you were born as a peasant no matter how hard you worked you cannot and will not be able to cross that boundary, to become a monarch, you are stuck in the class assigned to you and contend the gods if you believe its wrong
Because of the social story of God assigns class and the belief in the e modern ears that hard work leads too reward, we are able justify the assigned classes
What was the dominant and subordinate class, discussed in the pre modern era
Monarch and normal class
Dominant- God assigned class to us
Subordinate- we are all equal in Gods eye
What are examples of do,minant and subordinate culture in the modern era
Dominant- work hard and you would be able to achieve great things, if you have failures and regrets, its because you dint out in the right effort
Subordinate- accept life for what it is, don’t play the game of hard work always pay off, sometimes it doesn’t. Accept life and don’t stress
Explain the relationship between dominant and subordinate culture in capitalism and communist in the modern era
The dominant culture in USSR is that the western nature of capitalism, working for your own good, trying to build yourself is morally wrong and should be shunned. You should work for the betterment of the society
While the subordinate culture in USSR is that work for your own benefit the capitalist ideologies are not wrong, the communist are the ones with issues
How does the hunger games relate to the enforcement of the dominant culture irrespective of the subordinate culture
The other distracts 1-10 are cool with the dominant culture of the hunger games because they believe it’s the access to a good life, better life, access to highclass
The s
The district 12 people in abject poverty suffering have been through so much that they do not see how the hunger games wild be a source of betterment to them when they have seen all the disgusting parts. The rather fight and oppose that dominant culture of the hunger games helping them
Because of this the police have been administered there to force people to apply
What is the relationship between violence and acceptance of the dominant culture
The better the acceptance, the less violence used by the society to enforce jt, the more violence would be used when there is a stronger opposition to the dominant culture
What is the main characteristic of post modernity
Cultural fragmentation
This means that there is not a single agreement about how meaning is assigned culturally.
We all have different interpretations of a single concept and understand it differently
The Andy Warhol art of Marylyn Monroe means what?
There is no singele definition of Marylyn, she is different in everyone’s mind and that image we have of her does not mean its who maryln actually is, we all have our subjective thought if her that differs. We’re assign meaning to what we think she may be but that differs for everyone
What needs to be into a place in order for cultural consensusness to break down, how did we switch frnm the modern to the poster modern era
There are different sources of information to us. Unlike previously where we get our information from a single news anchor on cable tv, now with numerous sources of information we are oriented with the choice of what we want or choose to believe because we all have different systems of thought therefore, we all have a different interpretation so it’s harder to completely assume that one form of thought is the most prevalent or the most dominant
Considering our move form modernity to post, does it matter if the beliefs and culture, meaning we create are actual truth or not
It does not matter, truth about what is right or wrong when we assign our own moral beliefs, we all create what we think based on what we experience
What does Ann Swindler mean by structure and cukture are mutually reinforcing ?
This applies to settled culture
When things are settled, nothing different is happening, then cukture becomes of common sense. It becomes intuitive to you and normal. So therfire structure influences our behavior, how?
The culture has a weaker effect in our decisions, choice and behavior. The structure is what drives our behavior, structure forces is to act in a habitual manner, doing or behaving in a certain way consistent with the cukture even though it’suncounsiously
we are doing it
What does structure becomes out of sync when cukture is unsettled mean
When the consistent, normal habitual structural mindset is disrupted or for some reason can no longer be continued, then cukture offers a novel way to think about that structure
Cukture creates a new strategy that may cause people to deviate from the what was considered normal
How does the French Revolution what were the structure and culture in place that reinforced this idea
Structure- monarch make rules, disentangle have to obey, monarchs dint pay tax, don’t have to work, monarch own the property even though plants farm on them
The culture that is the story that reinforce this narrative is that God is the one that put us here, if you think it’s wrong contend with him
What was the settled culture in the French Revolution
The settled culture of, as long as the peasants were able to feed themselves and still commit to the duties of paying tax, they were okay with theories responsibilities, as long as the structure and habit of their duties could still be performed then , there is still social reproduction. Even though the the story thst god put them where they were, was something that everyone knew and it was the structure and their duties given to them by the monarch that pushed them to keep on going
Structure pushes the habit that maintains the behavior and thus the settled culture
What was the unsettled culture that led to the French Revolution
The peasants were made to pay for more tax, the textile industry was struggling and there was inflation of bread. Bread being the principle food of the peasants.
The ability of the people to reproduce the structure was threatened, they struggled to feed their family and the little food that was harvested was paid as taxes, thus lacking the strength to work.
As a result cukture became a more driving force since the ability to maintain the structure was inhibited.
How did the peasant assign new meaning to the old cukture
Since there was hindrance to the reproduction of the structure and habit, the peasants were forced to come up with a way of surviving
Thus new culture, mindsets and ideologies came into play.. hindrance to the reproduction of culture forced the people to think of new alternatives to survival— NEW CULTURE led to NEW STRATEGIES OF ACTION
Hence, the new idea of man is born free and we are all equal in Gods eye by Rooussaeau and Voltaire came to play causing a rebel against the monarchs
What influences novel culture?, is it the behavior or thoughts of the people?
Even though the peasant may have in mind that the monarchs were dumb and stupid, their rule was irresponsible and made no sense, but as long as they had those thoughts and still maintained their duties and roles to the monarchs, thus reproducing structure it didn’t matter because the economy would remain as it is
As long as their behavior doesn’t change even if that mindset and structure is still maintained, then it does not lead to novel culture
Behavior matters not just thoughts- behavior influences social change
Apart from novel culture coming up as a result of unsettled times, what’s else does novel culture lead too the the development of
Novel culture opens up the minds of the people, how?
It expands their train of thought to explore aspects they had not thought were possible,
The peasant began to think that, maybe the monarchs are not ordained by God, a completely absurd thought at the time and thus started to behave differnt from the norm
By killing the monarchs and thus reconfiguring the French society
Who were Rousseau and Voltaire
They were enlightened thinkers who, came up with the ideas of equality during the French revolution
When the immediate experiences of people begin ro negate the existing cultural story this would lead to the development of
New culture
What force motivates action during \
Unsettles times ?
Settled times ?
Cukture
Structure
When the structure and existing cultures, that is the story of structure are apparent and explains the structure, and easy to socially reproduce,
In such situation, are new ideologies likely to come about?
No, the structure is reproduced nicely with the culture in the background
Explain how swindler used love and marriage narrative to illustrate settled times
During settled times, the family dynamic is maintained, dad picks kids from school, mom crooks dinner, kids play with siblings. The routine and habit of the microstructure of family is maintained
Use the approach of marriage, family and relationship to illustrate unsettled times
During such times since habits can no longer be maintained to uphold relationship because of the unhappiness of both parties or a single one, the structure is threatened and a new story (culture) would be contemplated to justify your reaction and your response
What are some novel cultures in a marriage that partners relationship may come up with to justify their response and behvaioiur of divorces since their structure is threatened
The Person may pick a structure that motivates separation or divorce
Emotion of unhappiness -> engage in culture ( i deserve to be happy-> motivates the behaviors of divorce
Even the thought of being happy in a marriage is a cultural narrative that explains the marriage structure
Emotion of unhappoiness-> engage in culture (we don’t love each other)-> motivates the behviouir of divorce
The thought of being in love to stay in a marriage is initself a cultural story of the structure of marriage
What are some novel cultures in a marriage that partners relationship may come up with to justify their response and behvaioiur of work to maintain the marriage since their structure is threatened
emotion (unhappiness)-> Engage in culkture (no marriage is perfect-> lets work on our marriage
The cultural narrative of we can work on this, no marriage is perfect, lets go to therapy, Pray, have a kid are actions that motivate the behaviuoiur because of the cuktural narrative the individual chose to apply to their marriage
Emotion( unhappiness)-> engage in culture ( dissatisfaction in a marriage is common,it would pass eventually)-> I don’t need to do anything we would still stay together because according to God we cannot separate
Here theculktural narrative the partner picked was that God will control everything, we won’t divorce but I don’t actually have to do anything, the thought does not motivate a behavior change
What are the two things settled and unsettled cukture determines, explain why swindler believes this and give examoples
The intensity of peoples engagement with cukture- regardless of your our beliefs whether it aligns with the structure or it does not, you would be more invested in the culture during unsettled times than settled times.
Structure- wear mask
Settled times- ill wear the masks as long as i can keep my job
Unsettled times- i lost my job because I didn’t wear mask, now i am protesting because my ability to reproduce the structure of my job is restricted since I no longer have a job, so i need to come up with a new way or culture
Culture impact on behavior that would influence social change or reproduction
Culture influences our behavior during unsettled times to lead to social change for examples divorce or reproduction, stay in the marriage
What did swindler mean by people can hold beliefs that are culturally vested without those beliefs propelling them to actually do anything
Even if they have thoughts that contradicts structure as long as the times are settled there is no push for cultural change
But, if there is an unsettled time, these decide to acts on those believes, choosing to behave in wears that motivate anew culturee
During. Unsettled times according to Swidler, how does cukture effect on beliefs propel behavior
During unsettled times and lives
When the existing relationship between structure and culktrure can no longer be used
When people no longer use the same old ways of doing things and decide on better ways
When they engage in new cukture and ideas that result in social change
During unsettled lives how does cukture influence the behavior of people
When the habits and routines are threatened
When people start to engaged in a differently and novel cultural narrartive, thinking of new decisions that ( for example, i deserve to be happy- so i divorce)
Change in the persons live because of the influence of a reliance on a new cultural narrative
Explain how culture influences agency using a comparison of the cukture and agency with respect to biles, Bobby Fischer and Osaka
Agency- the decision a Person makes is directly influenced by the opportunities they have, with such opportunities available because of culture
Culture forces you to behave in a specific range of thought. Cultural narrative affects people’s behavior
The cultural narrative of SELF LOVE- IS THE BEST LOVE- NOT SELFISH- This narratives available now, have given Osaka and biles the opportunity to decide to withdraw from a tournament during the peak of their careers. The culture available now, has provided that chance that the thought of quitting a tournaments, thus influence it my behavior to not competes is not a bad idea. The media and the world, does not see this as quitting but as a positive thing to value yourself so there wants condemnation
I should value my self more than any expectations put on me, a cultural thought that has allowed such agency to be possible
But in 1972 when Bobby Fischer, was facing a mental crises he was still forced to play chess, thus leading to his mental breakdown and never playing chess again because the cultural thought of SELF CARE- NOT SELFISH did not exists at that time.
The cultiure narrative- IF HE CHOSES NOT TO COMPETE, HE IS A QUITER. The possibility of making the choice to not compete was an impossible thought at the time because of the cultural narrative availble. He would have being heavenly condemned and ridiculed. The narrtive that quitting is okay was not a culturally acceptable and existing story at the time
