UNIT 3 (Culture) Flashcards
Define Culture and what are the two sub-definitions of culture
Culture is the shared symbols and their definitions people create to solve their problems
High culture (The culture of the elites)
Popular Culture (Mass culture)
Define Symbols
Symbols are concrete things or abstract terms that represent something else
(Using symbols, we compose our cultures)
What are the three origins of culture? And Define them
- Abstraction
Ability to create general concepts that organize concrete, sensory experiences. - Cooperation
The capacity to create a complex social life by establishing norms and values - Production
Human capacity to make and use tools to improve our ability to take from nature
Define “Beliefs”
Statements about what members in a community define as real
What is the difference between Material and Non-material culture
Material: Composed of tools and techniques
Non-material: composed of symbols, norms and INTANGIBLE THINGS
Define Social organization
The orderly arrangement of social interaction
How does Abstraction, Cooperation and Production lead to elements in culture?
Abstraction creates BELIEFS
Cooperation creates NORMS AND VALUES
Production crates MATERIAL CULTURE AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
What are the 4 types of norms?
And rank them from least punishment to worst
- Folkways
- Mores
- Taboos
- Laws
Folkways—> Mores —> Taboos —> Laws
How do the four norms differ?
Folkways differ from mores, because you get formal punishment
Taboos differ from Mores because you get rejected from society
Laws differ from Taboos because you wrong the state
What are norms?
Agreed upon things that are allowed or not allowed to do things in society
Define Ethnocentrism
The tendency for a person to judge other cultures exclusively by the standards of his or her own culture
How can culture be two faced?
- it provides us with ways to exercise our freedom
HOWEVER - It constrains us by putting limits on what we can think and do
How do symbolic interactionlists see culture?
That people do not accept culture passively instead, they actively produce and interpret culture reinventing it in accordance with their diverse needs
(Culture changes with social conditions, political events etc)
How do Conflict theorists view culture?
As a way to eliminate macro structures and oppression
Define the “rights revolution” and what two ways do they gather people to accept their ideals?
Rights revolution is the process where socially excluded groups struggle to win equal rights under law and practice
this is done by
1. Legitimizing the grievances of the groups that were excluded
2. Renewing their pride, identity and heritage
Define globalization
Process where our world becomes more interdependent due to economic, political and cultural standpoints.
What does postmodernity seek in society?
That every individual can never be defined by anything they didn’t choose. This allows people to be truly “Free”
How has postmodernity affected society?
It eroded authority, which led individuals to be more critical of any authoritative figure
What are the negatives of postmodernism
Negatives:
-Is harder to make binding decisions and govern people
- Teach children what is right or wrong
- teach the next generation literary and artistic standards
This is due to postmodernism creating a state where everyone is critical of everything
What is the positive of postmodernism
- it empowers ordinary people
- Frees people to adopt whatever religious, ethnic or sexual identity they are comfortable
Define “rationalization”
It is Weber’s term for using the most efficient means to achieve a goal, and the negative unintended consequences of doing so
Define “Consumerism”
The tendency to define ourselves in terms of the goods we purchase
(Consumer culture)
(It ties identities to our purchases)
Define “Subcultures”
Smaller groups with distinct values, norms and practices within a larger culture.
(Usually defined with a sense of style)
Define “Countercultures”
Subcultures that oppose the dominant values and seek to replace them
(rejection and desire to break mainstream norms)
How does consumerism affect counterculture?
It acts as a social control mechanism and prevents countercultures from disrupting social order
EVENTUALLY, countercultures convert into subcultures
Define “Cultural Capital”
The belief, tastes, norms and values that people draw upon in everyday life
Essentially its the things we do and use to relate to other people
(Manners etiquette etc)
How does cultural capital get affected by social class?
Each social class has a different perception of how they perceive “Cultural capital”, as it is a symbolic and not a material thing
Define “Cultural Jamming”
Creative methods used to challenge dominant cultural belief tastes, norms and values.
(Resisting mainstream culture in creative ways)
Define “virtual culture”
The emerging mix of our current life with the adoption of computer based tech and communication networks
What are the positives and negatives of virtual culture?
Good:
Limitless access to info
Space to explore your identity
Bad:
Mental health problems
Decrease in social interaction
Skyrocketing rates of suicide and depression
What are the three lessons we can learn from virtual culture?
- You are always heard
- You can direct your attention wherever you want
- You will never be alone
