introduction to culture Flashcards
norms
acceptable behaviours in society
values
belief about what is good and bad. often influence our norms
mores
norms with a moral element e.g. blasphemy
what is culture?
a shared way of life within a group of people in society. share the same norms and values
what does Kidd 2002 say about culture?
the features of cultures (lang, symbols, history, norms and values) influence the way members of society live their lives
what does Marshall 1998 say about culture?
culture is all that in human society which is socially rather than biologically transmitted
what does Giddens 1997 say about culture?
no culture could exist without societies but equally, no societies could exist without culture. without culture, no one would be human
for Jencks, what are 4 main ways of defining culture?
- a state of mind
- civilisation
- ‘collective body of arts and intellectual work’
- ‘whole way of life of people’
what are strengths and weaknesses of Kidd?
+ recognises a range of features
- circular definition - concept of culture defines itself, no way of measuring influence
what are the strengths and weaknesses for Marshall?
+ he recognises we aren’t born with culture
- too vague and broad
what are the strengths and weaknesses of Giddens?
+ recognises the importance of culture
- very vague - no real effort for solid def (circular argument)
what are the strengths and weaknesses of Jencks?
+ recognises that culture is heavily complicated
- cultural relativity, very broad, not just one def
what is meant by the dominant culture?
main culture whose norms, values and interests are seen as important :- are shared with society but can have a negative impact.
benefits rich white upper class men
what is meant by high culture?
superior form of culture dominated by a small elite and seen as having a higher value, being more important and more expensive than other cultures.
what is meant by folk culture?
most traditional form with beliefs and customs from ordinary people, often generational.
forms of folk cultural heritage include its music, story and dance which are often linked to pre industrial societies
what is meant by mass culture?
‘low culture’ - seen as inferior to high culture and develops in industrialised societies to be spread on a large scale.
it is often derived from business, being commercially manufactured for profit.
what are some concepts often associated with mass culture?
- ‘dumbing down’ (attracts more ppl :- more profit)
- mass production
- standardisation
- short shelf life and triviality
- simple, accessible products often on a global scale
- ## ranges from mass circulation magazines + newspapers to reality TV and movies
why can mass culture be criticised?
it is unchallenging, mindless entertainment aimed at lowest common denominator
what is meant by popular culture?
sometimes confused with mass culture but essentially pop culture can be enjoyed by the masses without being mass produced.
what does Storey say about pop culture?
describes it as ‘what is left over’ once we have decided what high culture is.
what is a subculture?
cultures within the main that may share aspects of dom culture and differ from it but can actively oppose dominant culture
Hall and Jefferson - ‘subcultures of resistance’
they develop a shared bond of something e.g. LGBTQ+ but many are youth subcultures as they have money, time and lack of responsibility to do this
