Culture, Norms and Values Flashcards
What is the definition of culture?
A system of behaviour and beliefs - group that share the same beliefs/interests
What does it mean by the relative nature of culture?
Cultures are not fixed and forever changing
Cultures vary across the worlds
What study would you use to show the variations between cultures?
Mead’s study: studied tribes in Papau New Guinea and found different results between gender expectations
In one tribe both men and women were seen to be peaceful and nurturing, while among another tribe mean and women were both ruthless and aggressive
What are the four different types of culture?
High Culture
Popular Culture
Consumer Culture
Global Culture
What is high culture?
What are some examples?
Products and activities in society with high status- not accessible to all in society
Seen as superior and mainly enjoyed by those highest in society
Examples - opera, theatre, ballet
What is consumer culture?
Examples?
The consumption of goods and activities in society
Now seen as acceptable to get into debt to have goods in society - encouraged by the media
Clothing, technology, cars etc
How does consumer culture link to Marxism?
Links in with the idea of capitalism and materialism - society encourages people to want the latest things
Creates greed
What is popular culture?
What are some examples?
Products and activities enjoyed by the majority in society - also known as ‘mass culture
Examples - cinema, tv, football’
What is global culture?
Activities becoming more universal and cultures spreading globally
As a result of globalisation - through the media, transport and trade
Who uses the term ‘global village’ to describe the world and what does it mean?
McLuhan
Idea that the world is becoming much smaller through the use of technology - people can share, communicate and get information via the internet
What is a subculture?
Culture within a culture - share same norms/values
What is cultural hybridity?
When two cultures merge together
What are some examples of hybridity within cultures?
Brasians
Nayak: White wannabes
