Culture (and school culture) - Ling and Erickson

Question 1

What 2 preconceptions about anthropology is Ling trying to dispel in the assigned reading?

Answer 1

1. That it concerns only looking into other “exotic” places as an “outsider”.
2. That it is irrelevant to the real world of employment and living.

Question 2

What is a “code” with regards to culture?

Answer 2

An unconscious meaning applied to a given thing (food, relationships, hobbies, etc.) which depends on the culture in which we were raised.

Question 3

What is a “cue” with regards to culture?

Answer 3

Phrases, nonverbal behaviors, or other idiosyncrasies that have been normalized and adopted as commonplace within a particular culture.

Question 4

What is meant by the term “cultural relativism” in regards to anthropology?

Answer 4

Evaluation of other cultures from the view that ethical and social standards are reflections of the cultural context from which they are derived. Meant to avoid judging other cultures from a biased perspective.

Question 5

What is meant by the term “ethnocentrism” in regards to anthropology?

Answer 5

Evaluation of other cultures according to biases and standards originating in one’s own culture.

Question 6

What is meant by the term “moral relativism” in regards to anthropology?

Answer 6

The view that all moral standards present in other cultures are equally correct.

Question 7

True or False: it is impossible to adopt “cultural relativism” without also adopting “moral relativism”.

Answer 7

False. It is often helpful/necessary to avoid moral relativism where it involves practices which might be reprehensible to us (infanticide, organ trading, genital mutilation).

Question 8

What is meant by the term “reflexivity” in regards to anthropology?

Answer 8

To reflect on one’s culture in light of other cultures without evaluating yours as better or worse.

Question 9

What is meant by the term “shrine” in regards to anthropology? Give an example.

Answer 9

A special location/monument/object in everyday life that possesses significance due to its context within a culture (not just ethnicities). Ex: the boardroom in a corporate office is a room with a big table to outsiders, but holds more meaning for office workers.

Question 10

True or False: Culture is inherited from your family at birth.

Answer 10

False. Culture is learned depending on your upbringing.

Question 11

True or False: Culture is fixed and once you are part of one you can’t join or be part of another.

Answer 11

False. Culture is changeable and you can be part of more than one at a time.

Question 12

What does the term “dual-consciousness” mean in terms of culture and anthropology?

Answer 12

The ability to exist within 2 or more cultures and so remain sensitive to aspects of each culture that would be taken-for-granted by other members who exist solely in one or the other.

Question 13

In the broadest terms: what is the difference between a “concept” and a “conception” as described in the Erickson reading?

Answer 13

Concept: General idea based on grouping like things according to shared features
Conception: A particular way of describing a thing without attributing that description to all like things.

Question 14

True or False: Erickson would say that diversity causes social conflict in the context of school culture.

Answer 14

False. Diversity doesn’t cause conflict, but conflict tries to exploit diversity.

Question 15

What is the difference between “school culture” and “school climate”?

Answer 15

School culture: Describes features which contribute to overall culture (kind/descriptive)
School climate: Rates features as being desirable or undesirable (degree/evaluative)

Question 16

What does Erickson mean when he talks about “diversity within a bounded system” in regards to school culture?

Answer 16

No one individual has all the features, but participates widely in a diverse system. Ex: the different subcultures within a school are different but all contribute to overall school culture.

Question 17

Why does Erickson think that it’s important to study school culture from an anthropological perspective?

Answer 17

To enable one to consider that there are many choices available for desirable reforms.

Question 18

What does Erickson mean when he talks about a “unified system” in regards to school culture?

Answer 18

That the group’s (the collection of subcultures within a school) shared reality is framed by the system of which they are all part.

Question 19

What does Erickson see as a possible result of having differences in social status between sub-groups within school culture?

Answer 19

Conflict. Different sub-groups have different access to status, power, political interests.

Question 20

What is an example of a question to ask oneself if we are trying to cultivate an “alienated” perspective about a culture?

Answer 20

Any of:
- “Why is ___ not done in ___ way?”
- “How else could we be doing ___?”
- “Why do we perceive ___ this way?”
- Etc. (I’m sure you can think of some)

Question 21

What is meant by the term “null curriculum” in terms of a school and school culture? Think of an example.

Answer 21

Anything that is excluded from school culture and school curriculum. Examples could be corporate lobbying, gerrymandering, consumer rights, mindfulness, first aid, etc.

Question 22

What is meant by the term “hidden curriculum” (i.e. socialization) in terms of a school and school culture.

Answer 22

Anything taught at school that isn’t in the formal curriculum such as interpersonal relationships, study habits, etc.

Basically the things home-schooled kids sometimes miss and the reason they end up weird.