V1: What is Culture

Question 1

What is the primary meaning of Culture?

Answer 1

15th Century: in husbandry, the tending of natural growth

Question 2

What are the additional meanings of culture?

Answer 2

15th: noun of process

16th: tending of natural growth (husbandry)

• later process of human development

18 / 19th:

• culture as an independent noun (abstract process)
• there are plural cultures

Now:

• synonym for civilization
• process of becoming “civilized”
• human development

Question 3

What is the definiton of culutre for Matthew Arnold?

Answer 3

Culture = study of perfection

• a process for everybody
• difference of high culutre and mass cuture
• Process important (attempt) -> it’s about becoming something

Question 4

What is the definition of culture for Raymond Williams (20th Century)?

Answer 4

Culture = structure of feeling

• Process: a general process of intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic
• Lifestyle: a particular way of life, whether of people, a period, a group or humanity in general
• Product: the works and practices of intellectual and especially aristic activity