Culture

Question 1

culture

Answer 1

refers to the entire way of life in a particular society
Sociologists consider whole system of behaviour and beliefs of a society or a group - knowledge, language, faith, art, music, fashion, morals etc

Question 2

Williams

Answer 2

used culture to describe a ‘way of life’ focusing on the beliefs and customs of society/ social group

Question 3

Woodward

Answer 3

culture of society is based on ‘shared meanings, values and practices’

Question 4

norms

Answer 4

expected patterns of behaviour that are based on the values of a culture

Question 5

values

Answer 5

beliefs and ideas that society sees as important and are accepted by the majority of society - they are things we believe in, strive to achieve and that guide our behaviour

Question 6

cultural diversity

Answer 6

refers to the differences and variety found in societies
Cultural diversity does not necessarily mean the decline of cultural sameness - homogeneity
Possible for society to have diversity but agree on fundamental norms and values which bind them together

Question 7

Parekh

Answer 7

Outlines 3 types of diversity
When members have distinct ways of life while still serving the dominant culture within a society e.g. gays and lesbians try to diversify society by opening up and diversifying the norm
Some members rebel against central principles - rejecting dominant values
Communal diversification - ethnic groups have long established communities adding diversity to the dominant way of life

Question 8

subculture

Answer 8

‘a culture within a culture’ - a smaller grouping of people who share distinctive norms and values within the wider culture
In the Uk subcultures based on age, ethnicity, music/fashion, political beliefs
e.g. goths

Question 9

high culture

Answer 9

Refers to cultural products and activities that are seen to have high status
‘Cultured’ - cultural products that represent the highest achievements in society
It is seen as superior to other forms of culture

Question 10

marxists criticism of high culture

Answer 10

Are critical of high culture 
Bourdieu argued that high culture occupies the ‘superior’ position that it does because the capitalist class can use its economic and political power to impose its definitions of moral and artistic worth on the rest of society via the mass media and the educational system

Question 11

popular culture

Answer 11

Refers to the cultural products and activities that are enjoyed by the majority of a population ( tv, cinema, football, reading magazine)

Question 12

Bourdieu

Answer 12

Argues that the distinction between high culture and popular culture lies in the power of the group who support and access them
High culture is the culture of higher economic classes
Distinction between popular and higher culture is breaking down

Question 13

marxists

Answer 13

Marxists are critical of popular culture because they see it as a type of social control 
Marxists suggest that popular culture is used by the ruling class to encourage the population especially the poor to accept their status and the inequality - popular culture does this by celebrating celebrity and materialism 
Argue that popular culture fails to encourage the poor to ask critical questions about the way in which capitalist societies are structured

Question 14

postmodernists + Strinati

Answer 14

Suggests that popular culture can no longer be classified as mass culture
Strinati argues that there exists a wide variety and therefore massive choice of cultural products within popular culture
Also argue that the distinction between high and popular culture is no longer clear cut because technology such as the internet has made all cultural products available to everyone
Postmodernists also note that high culture and popular culture are constantly being mixed and matched

Question 15

globalisation

Answer 15

nations are no longer individuals or isolated countries- to understand societies and social change we have to look beyond the boundaries of a single country

Question 16

global culture

Answer 16

Global culture has emerged due to migration, trends in international travel, the spread of media
Institutions such as media and education play a huge role in developing and creating culture
Some sociologists argue global culture is actually american culture - ‘americanisation’
McLuhan - global village

Question 17

glocalization

Answer 17

combination of words ‘globalization’ and ‘localization’ - the term is used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally but is also adjusted to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market

Question 18

consumer culture

Answer 18

It is a result from increasing availability and emphasis on consumption of goods and services
Consumer goods are widely available and excessive consumption and debt associated with it is seen as acceptable and normal
Conspicuous consumption - is a common means of expressing identity in a consumer culture

Question 19

Lury

Answer 19

Identifies some features of consumer culture

• The availability of a wide range of consumer goods
• That shopping is seen as a leisure pursuit
• That different form of shopping are available - shopping centres, internet, local shops
• That being in debt is accepted as a social norm
• Packaging and promotion of goods is a large scale business

Question 20

cultural hybridity

Answer 20

Refers to how members of society, especially young people, are increasingly mixing and matching elements of different cultures that now exist in the UK to construct a sense of identity
It is the mixing of cultures
It is becoming the norm