Types of culture Flashcards
Culture, in its widest sense refers to what?
Culture, in its widest sense refers to the language, beliefs, values, norms, customs, roles etc. that make up our ‘way of life’ of any society.
How are the differences between the Cultures of Society pass on and what is this called?
There are differences between the cultures of society and that particular culture is passed on from one generation to the next through the process of socialisation. It is through this process of socialisation that individuals are fitted into the society in which they live.
Many different Aspects of everyday life are shared by who and list a number of different Aspects of Culture?
Many different aspects of everyday life are shared by most members of society, however, there are a range of different aspects of culture within this wider sense of culture which are shared, such as folk culture, subcultures, dominant culture, high culture, low culture, popular culture and so on.
What are the key characteristics of Folk Culture?
a) Traditional
b) Created by original people
c) Associated with active participation
d) Associated with pre-industrial societies
e) Rooted in the experience of ordinary people
What is Folk Culture?
Created by local communities and rooted in the experiences, customs and beliefs of everyday life of ordinary people.
It is ‘authentic’ not manufactured as it is created by ordinary people themselves.
It involves active participation and the involvement of people, rather than something simply produced by others for passive consumption (i.e just watching/listening).
Give examples of Folk Culture.
Examples of folk culture are: folk music, folk songs, storytelling and folk dances
How is Folk Culture passed on?
These examples are all passed on from one generation to the next by socialisation, often by direct experience or word of mouth although the use of the internet is now transforming this into digital communication.
With what is Folk Culture generally associated?
Folk culture is generally associated with pre-industrial societies, however it still exists in modern society through enthusiasts in the form of folk music, Morris dancers and folk clubs.
Folk activities do not claim to be art, but what?
The folk activities do not claim to be ‘art’ or high culture, but rather, they tell authentic stories about real lives and experiences.
Folk culture has influenced popular culture and even high culture. Give some examples.
Folk culture has influenced popular culture and even high culture. Examples of this are with the authentic costume of the cowboy which has been reinvented by disco dancers and strippers and also the ascetic culture of the Amish has been portrayed for comic value in Hollywood films.
Give two reasons why folk culture has become less popular
- Geographic mobility – people have moved from their traditional communities to the cities in search of work
- Mass culture is easier to consume and involves little mental effort, so people are less inclined to make the mental effort involved in consuming folk culture
Mass culture differs from folk culture by six ways.
- Shaped by local customs and beliefs rather than by media influences and technology
- A product of industrial rather than preindustrial society
- Consumed passively rather than created actively
- Unreal and ‘plastic’ rather than real and authentic
- Standardized rather than individual
- Sold for profit rather than created by the community
Popular Culture refers to what?
Popular culture: refers to the cultural products enjoyed by the mass of ordinary people. It is sometimes referred to mass or low culture.
Mass Culture refers to what?
Mass culture: refers to the commercialised part of the culture which are manufactured, standardised, short-lived products, made for profit which demand little critical thought, discussion or analysis.
Mass/Popular Culture is a product of what?
Mass/Popular culture is a product of industrial society. It is commercially produced culture and spread on a wide scale throughout society connecting with ordinary people. Unlike with folk culture, which is rooted in the experiences of ordinary people, popular culture is commercially produced for profit rather than created by the community itself and reflecting its own experiences of daily life.
