Sociology Paper 1 Section A: Culture Flashcards
What is culture?
A whole system of behaviour and beliefs of a society or group. This includes language, faith, fashion, morals and lifestyle.
What is the relative nature of culture?
How different cultures share different norms and values - they change between time, countries etc.
E.g., cannabis is legal in Amsterdam.
What is high culture?
Activities/hobbies that are not accessible to all people, representing high achievements and status e.g., theatre and opera.
What is global culture?
Companies that are spread worldwide, often happening due to media e.g., McDonalds
McLoughin (global culture)
Dubs global culture a ‘global village’
What is popular culture?
Activities that are accessible to the majority of the population (A.K.A ‘mass culture’) e.g., watching TV
What is consumer culture?
People are obsessed with branded goods to gain status. Debt is normalised to gain goods & the media persuades people to consume.
What is cultural hybridity?
Cultures merging together, seen in music and food.
What are subcultures?
Groups that have their own norms and values, e.g., ‘Brasians’
White wannabes (subcultures)
Dubbed by Nayak, referring to working class white boys, taking on slang and fashion from the black community e.g., Ali G
What is the link between cultural hybridity and subcultures?
Cultural hybridity can occur between subcultures.
What is the link between consumer culture and subcultures?
Skeggs - studied working class women who felt humiliated. Therefore, the women made an an effort to look ‘respectable’, taking care in how they dressed.
What is the link between consumer culture and popular culture?
Regular people are desperately trying to gain status.
What is the link between popular culture and global culture?
The majority of people can enjoy global culture.
What is the link between popular culture and high culture?
Mackintosh & Mooney - invisibility of the upper class Bourdieu - the difference is wealth
