How do humans acquire culture according to the provided text?

Humans acquire culture through the learning processes of enculturation and socialization, which leads to the diversity of cultures observed across different societies.

What is the role of a cultural norm within a society?

A cultural norm codifies acceptable conduct in society, serving as a guideline for behavior, dress, language, and demeanor within a specific situation and social group.

What are the potential risks associated with adhering to only a monoculture within a social group?

Adhering to only a monoculture in a social group can carry risks, similar to how a single species might struggle to survive environmental changes due to a lack of varied functional responses.

How are cultures influenced by both internal and external factors?

Cultures are internally affected by forces that encourage change and those that resist it, while external influences come from contact between different societies.

What is the purpose of organizations like UNESCO in relation to culture?

Organizations like UNESCO work to preserve culture and cultural heritage, aiming to protect humanity's cultural legacy.

What are considered 'cultural universals' that are present in all human societies?

Cultural universals, found in all human societies, include expressive forms such as art, music, dance, ritual, and religion, as well as technologies like tool usage, cooking, shelter, and clothing.

How does 'material culture' differ from 'immaterial culture'?

Material culture encompasses the physical expressions of culture, such as technology, architecture, and art. Immaterial aspects include intangible elements like social organization principles, mythology, philosophy, literature, and science.

From a humanities perspective, how has 'culture' been understood as an individual attribute?

In the humanities, culture has been viewed as the degree to which an individual has cultivated sophistication in areas like the arts, sciences, education, or manners.

What is the distinction between 'high culture' and 'low culture' or 'popular culture'?

The distinction between high culture and low or popular culture often reflects class-based differences, with high culture associated with the elite and popular culture belonging to the broader masses, often distinguished by access to cultural capital.

How is 'culture' commonly used in everyday language, particularly concerning ethnic groups?

In common parlance, culture is often used to refer to the symbolic markers that ethnic groups use to visibly distinguish themselves from one another, such as body modification, clothing, or jewelry.

What is 'mass culture' as described in the text?

Mass culture refers to the forms of consumer culture that are mass-produced and mass-mediated, which emerged prominently in the 20th century.

According to Marxist and critical theory, how can culture be utilized politically?

From a Marxist and critical theory viewpoint, culture can be used politically as a tool by elites to manipulate the proletariat and foster a false consciousness among the population.

What is the fundamental idea behind 'cultural materialism' as a theoretical perspective?

Cultural materialism posits that human symbolic culture arises from the material conditions of human life and that evolved biological dispositions form the basis of culture.

When 'culture' is used as a count noun, what does it specifically refer to?

When used as a count noun, 'culture' refers to the set of customs, traditions, and values of a society or community, such as an ethnic group or nation, along with the knowledge acquired over time.

What is the principle of 'cultural relativism' within cultural anthropology?

Cultural relativism, an ideology and analytical stance in cultural anthropology, suggests that cultures cannot be easily ranked or objectively evaluated because any evaluation is inherently tied to the value system of a particular culture.

What is the origin of the modern term 'culture,' and what was Cicero's early contribution?

The modern term 'culture' is based on a term used by the ancient Roman orator Cicero in his *Tusculanae Disputationes*, where he wrote of the 'cultivation of the soul' (*cultura animi*) using an agricultural metaphor for philosophical development.

How did Samuel von Pufendorf adapt Cicero's concept of 'cultura animi'?

Samuel von Pufendorf adopted Cicero's metaphor in a modern context, using it to describe how human beings overcome their original barbarism through artifice to become fully human, no longer assuming philosophy was the sole path to perfection.

What is Edward S. Casey's interpretation of the word 'culture' and its connection to inhabiting a place?

Edward S. Casey interprets the word 'culture' as originating from the Latin 'colere' (to inhabit, care for, till, worship), suggesting that being cultural means inhabiting a place intensely enough to cultivate and care for it.

How did 18th-century German thinkers shape the modern understanding of 'culture'?

In the 18th century, German thinkers developed the modern meaning of 'culture' by building on Rousseau's criticism of liberalism and the Enlightenment, often implying a contrast between 'culture' and 'civilization'.

According to Terror Management Theory, what role does culture play for humans?

Terror Management Theory posits that culture provides humans with a framework of activities and worldviews that allow them to perceive themselves as persons of worth, thereby transcending their physical existence and the awareness of death.

When did 'behavioral modernity' emerge, and what key human ability is it linked to?

Behavioral modernity emerged around 50,000 years ago and is linked to the evolved human ability to categorize and represent experiences using symbols, and to act imaginatively and creatively.

What are the various ways cultural change can occur, as identified by Raimon Panikkar?

Raimon Panikkar identified 29 ways cultural change can happen, including growth, development, evolution, renovation, innovation, revolution, diffusion, osmosis, borrowing, eclecticism, syncretism, modernization, indigenization, and transformation.

What factors are currently driving an 'accelerating culture change period' globally?

The current global period of accelerating culture change is driven by the expansion of international commerce, the mass media, and significantly, the human population explosion.

How do internal and external forces contribute to the process of cultural change?

Cultures are internally influenced by forces that promote change and those that resist it, often related to social structures and natural events. Externally, contact between societies can also lead to cultural shifts and changes in practices.

What is 'stimulus diffusion' in the context of cultural transfer between societies?

Stimulus diffusion refers to the sharing of ideas where an element from one culture leads to an invention or propagation in another culture.

What does 'acculturation' signify in terms of cultural replacement?

Acculturation, in the context of cultural replacement, signifies the process where traits of one culture are replaced by those of another, as observed with some indigenous peoples during periods of colonization.

How did Johann Gottfried Herder's ideas on culture differ from Immanuel Kant's?

Johann Gottfried Herder emphasized human creativity and proposed a collective form of *Bildung* (formation or education) as essential for a people's identity, contrasting with Kant's focus on individual enlightenment and rationality.

What was Adolf Bastian's significant contribution to the understanding of cultural diversity?

Adolf Bastian proposed the 'psychic unity of mankind,' suggesting that all human societies share fundamental 'elementary ideas' (*Elementargedanken*), with variations in cultures ('folk ideas' or *Völkergedanken*) being local adaptations of these basic concepts.

How did Matthew Arnold define 'culture' in the 19th century?

In the 19th century, Matthew Arnold defined culture as an ideal of individual human refinement, representing 'the best that has been thought and said in the world'.

What was the Romantic movement's interest in folklore, and how did it relate to the concept of 'culture'?

The Romantic movement's interest in folklore led to the identification of a distinct 'culture' among non-elites, differentiating it from the 'high culture' associated with the ruling class and urban life.

How did philosophers like Hobbes and Rousseau use the contrast between 'culture' and 'the state of nature'?

Philosophers like Hobbes and Rousseau contrasted 'culture' with 'the state of nature' to categorize societies, often labeling those perceived as living in a 'state of nature' as 'uncivilized' compared to European societies.

What was Edward Tylor's contribution to the study of cultural evolution and religion?

Edward Tylor applied ideas of cultural evolution to religion, proposing a progression from polytheistic to monotheistic forms, and redefined culture as a broad set of activities characteristic of all human societies.

How did American anthropology in the 20th century establish 'culture' as a central concept?

In the 20th century, 'culture' became the central and unifying concept in American anthropology, primarily referring to the universal human capacity for symbolic classification, encoding, and social communication of experiences.

What did Franz Boas introduce as 'culture glasses' (*Kulturbrille*)?

Franz Boas introduced the term *Kulturbrille*, or 'culture glasses,' to describe the perceptual framework through which individuals view their own culture, which can sometimes obscure external perspectives.

How did Georg Simmel define culture from a sociological perspective?

Georg Simmel defined culture sociologically as 'the cultivation of individuals through the agency of external forms which have been objectified in the course of history'.

What are the two primary categories of culture identified within sociology?

In sociology, culture is typically categorized into non-material culture, encompassing abstract ideas like values and beliefs, and material culture, which includes the physical objects and structures created by a society.

When and where did cultural sociology first emerge, and what were its initial characteristics?

Cultural sociology first emerged in Weimar Germany (1918-1933), characterized by its focus on cultural analysis and critical theory, often employing hermeneutic methods to study symbolic elements.

How did cultural studies develop in the United Kingdom, and what were its key influences?

In the UK, cultural studies developed with influences from Marxism, focusing on consumption and leisure as tied to production relations, and incorporating critiques of the 'culture industry' from thinkers like Stuart Hall and Raymond Williams.

What is the primary focus of cultural studies in the United Kingdom?

In the UK, cultural studies primarily concentrates on the study of popular culture, examining the social meanings derived from mass-produced consumer and leisure goods.

Within the field of cultural studies, what does the term 'text' encompass?

Within cultural studies, a 'text' is broadly defined to include not only written language but also films, photographs, fashion, and hairstyles, encompassing all meaningful artifacts of culture.

How do non-Marxist approaches to cultural studies differ from Marxist ones regarding the interpretation of meaning?

Non-Marxist approaches to cultural studies challenge the Marxist idea of a single, dominant meaning for cultural products, proposing instead that the consumption of these artifacts influences their meaning.

What is the definition of a 'super culture' as presented in the text?

A 'super culture' is defined as a collection of cultures and/or subcultures that interact, share similar characteristics, and collectively possess a degree of unity.

How has psychological research on culture evolved since the 1990s?

Since the 1990s, psychological research on culture has grown, challenging the universality assumed in general psychology by exploring the relationship between emotions and culture, and investigating the mind's independence from cultural influences.

What is 'culture shock,' and what does the study of it aim to understand?

Culture shock is studied to understand how individuals react when confronted with unfamiliar cultures, examining variations in tolerance and the differing functions of cognitive tools and cultural lenses across societies.

What did Robert Epstein and Jennifer suggest regarding adolescent turmoil and its relationship to culture?

Robert Epstein and Jennifer suggested that adolescent turmoil is not biologically inevitable and varies across cultures, questioning whether brain characteristics cause turmoil or if it results from lifestyle and experiences.

What is the objective of international agreements and national laws concerning the protection of cultural heritage?

International agreements and national laws aim to protect cultural heritage and diversity, often coordinated by organizations like UNESCO, with the goal of preserving humanity's cultural legacy, especially during times of war and armed conflict.

According to Karl von Habsburg, why are cultural assets sometimes targeted in psychological warfare?

Karl von Habsburg stated that cultural assets are targeted in psychological warfare because the attacks aim at the opponent's identity, impacting their cultural memory, diversity, and economic stability.

How does tourism impact culture, as described in the text?

Tourism can impact culture both physically, through effects on individual objects or environmental pollution, and socio-culturally, by influencing the society itself.

How can cultural cues influence the perception of time in a photograph?

The presence or absence of cultural cues in a photograph, such as traditional clothing or artifacts, can make it difficult for a viewer to date the image accurately, as these cues are often tied to specific cultural contexts and time periods.

Culture Wiki: The Tapestry of Human Experience: An Exploration of Culture

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Defining Culture

A Multifaceted Concept

Culture is a complex construct encompassing the social behaviors, institutions, and norms prevalent within human societies. It includes the collective knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, attitudes, and habits of individuals within these groups. Often, culture is intrinsically linked to or attributed to a specific geographical region or locale.

Transmission and Diversity

Humans acquire culture primarily through the processes of enculturation and socialization. This dynamic transmission leads to the remarkable diversity of cultures observed across different societies, reflecting unique adaptations and historical trajectories.

Historical Roots

The term "culture" traces its lineage to Cicero's concept of cultura animi, or "cultivation of the soul," employing an agricultural metaphor for personal development. Over centuries, its meaning evolved, encompassing the ways humans transcend their natural state through artifice and intellectual cultivation.

The Acquisition of Culture

Enculturation and Socialization

The process by which individuals learn and internalize the norms, values, and behaviors of their society is fundamental to culture. Enculturation refers to the learning of culture through observation and interaction within one's own society, while socialization is the broader process of learning to participate in social life.

Cultural Universals and Diversity

While specific cultural expressions vary immensely, certain cultural universals are found across all human societies. These include expressive forms like art, music, dance, ritual, religion, and technologies such as tool use, cooking, shelter, and clothing. This shared foundation, however, is expressed through a vast spectrum of diverse practices.

Cultural Norms and Societal Guidance

Codifying Behavior

Cultural norms serve as guidelines that codify acceptable conduct within a society. They provide a framework for expectations regarding behavior, dress, language, and demeanor, acting as templates for social interaction.

The Risks of Monoculture

While norms provide structure, adhering strictly to a single cultural model (monoculture) can pose risks. Just as a single species may struggle to adapt to environmental changes, a society lacking diverse functional responses may falter. This highlights the importance of cultural adaptability and the integration of varied perspectives.

Cultural Dynamics: Change and Continuity

Drivers of Cultural Evolution

Cultures are not static; they are continuously shaped by both internal forces that encourage change and external forces that resist it. Contact between societies, technological advancements, social conflicts, and even environmental shifts can all precipitate cultural transformation.

Raimon Panikkar identified numerous ways cultural change can occur, including growth, development, evolution, innovation, revolution, diffusion, borrowing, syncretism, modernization, and transformation. These processes illustrate the dynamic nature of cultural adaptation and evolution.

Globalization and Influence

In the contemporary era, global commerce, mass media, and population growth accelerate culture change. The transnational flow of ideas, practices, and goods leads to the merging of cultures, fostering both shared global trends and the adaptation of external influences into local contexts (indigenization).

Historical Perspectives on Culture

Ancient and Romantic Roots

The concept of culture evolved significantly. Early Roman thinkers like Cicero used it metaphorically for intellectual cultivation. During the German and English Romantic periods, scholars like Herder and Arnold explored culture in relation to national identity and individual refinement, distinguishing between "high" and "low" cultural forms.

Cicero's cultura animi: The metaphorical use of cultivation for the soul.

German Romanticism: Emphasis on national cultures and "worldview" (Weltanschauung), with thinkers like Herder proposing the "psychic unity of mankind" and shared "elementary ideas."

English Romanticism: Matthew Arnold defined culture as the pursuit of "the best that has been thought and said," often associated with elite artistic and intellectual pursuits, contrasting it with "anarchy" or "low culture."

Edward Tylor's Inclusive Definition: The anthropologist E. B. Tylor provided a foundational, inclusive definition: "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

Disciplinary Evolution

In the 19th century, scholars like Herbert Spencer and Lewis Henry Morgan developed theories of cultural evolution and social Darwinism. Later, anthropologists like Franz Boas championed cultural relativism, emphasizing that cultures should be understood within their own contexts, paving the way for modern anthropological approaches.

Culture in Anthropology

Centrality of Culture

Culture emerged as a pivotal concept in American anthropology, referring to the universal human capacity for symbolic classification and communication. This field is broadly divided into biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, cultural anthropology, and archaeology, each contributing to the understanding of human societies.

Franz Boas and Cultural Relativism

Franz Boas, a key figure, introduced the idea of "culture glasses" (Kulturbrille), suggesting that our perception is filtered through our own cultural lens. His work promoted cultural relativism, advocating for the understanding of cultures on their own terms, rather than through ethnocentric judgments.

Culture Through a Sociological Lens

Ways of Life

Sociology views culture as the collective ways of thinking, acting, and the material objects that shape a society's way of life. This encompasses both non-material culture (ideas, values, beliefs, norms, language) and material culture (physical objects, architecture, technology).

Development of Cultural Sociology

Emerging from early sociological theorists like Marx, Durkheim, and Weber, and influenced by anthropology, cultural sociology analyzes culture's manifestation in society. It often focuses on relationships between popular culture, political control, and social class, employing qualitative methods and critical theory.

Cultural Studies: Meaning and Practice

Popular Culture and Meaning

Cultural studies, particularly in the UK, focuses on popular culture, examining the social meanings derived from mass-produced goods and leisure activities. Scholars like Stuart Hall and Raymond Williams analyzed how these practices relate to power structures, ideology, and social class.

Texts and Everyday Life

This interdisciplinary field treats various forms of expression—including films, fashion, and hairstyles—as "texts" to be analyzed. Cultural studies investigates the meanings and practices of everyday life, often challenging the notion that producers solely control the interpretation of cultural products.

Culture's Influence on the Mind

Cultural Psychology

Cultural psychology explores the intricate relationship between culture and psychological processes, such as emotions and personality. Research indicates that cultural contexts can influence how emotions are experienced and expressed, and how individuals are motivated.

Cross-Cultural Differences

Studies highlight cross-cultural variations in self-evaluation and cognitive tools. For instance, individuals from collectivistic cultures may suppress emotions differently than those from individualistic cultures. Understanding these differences is crucial for navigating intercultural interactions and avoiding culture shock.

Safeguarding Cultural Heritage

International Frameworks

Numerous international agreements and national laws exist to protect cultural heritage and diversity. Organizations like UNESCO and Blue Shield International coordinate efforts to preserve cultural assets, recognizing their importance to collective identity and as targets in psychological warfare.

Tourism and Impact

Tourism significantly impacts culture, presenting both opportunities for cultural exchange and challenges related to physical preservation and socio-cultural effects. Managing these impacts is vital for maintaining cultural integrity.

Related Concepts

Interdisciplinary Connections

Culture intersects with numerous fields, including anthropology, sociology, psychology, and philosophy. Concepts like cultural capital, cultural relativism, and the distinction between material and immaterial culture are central to understanding its multifaceted nature.

Navigating Cultural Frameworks

Understanding concepts like cultural imperialism, cultural appropriation, and cultural assimilation is crucial for critically engaging with global cultural dynamics. These terms highlight the complex power relations and exchanges that shape contemporary cultural landscapes.

External Resources

Sister Projects

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Wikibooks: Textbooks
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Wikivoyage: Travel Information

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References

Michael Obert (2013) Song from the Forest

Culture and History, by Philip Bagby

âDie Elektronische Invasion. Rave â aus der Subkultur in die Superkulturâ Benjamin Franz Jochum, University of Copenhagen, 2012.

The Subculture Reader, Ken Gelder, 2005

Roger OâKeefe, Camille PÃ©ron, Tofig Musayev, Gianluca Ferrari "Protection of Cultural Property. Military Manual." UNESCO, 2016, p. 73.

UNESCO Director-General calls for stronger cooperation for heritage protection at the Blue Shield International General Assembly. UNESCO, September 13, 2017.

Gerold Keusch "Kulturschutz in der Ãra der IdentitÃ¤tskriege" In: Truppendienst - Magazin des Ãsterreichischen Bundesheeres, October 24, 2018.

A full list of references for this article are available at the Culture Wikipedia page

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This content has been generated by an AI, drawing upon academic and encyclopedic sources to provide an educational overview of culture. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness based on the provided source material, it is intended for academic enrichment and not as a definitive or exhaustive treatise.

This is not a substitute for rigorous academic research or primary source analysis. Users are encouraged to consult original scholarly works and engage in critical evaluation of the information presented. The nuances and complexities of cultural phenomena are vast, and this overview serves as an introduction rather than a final word.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any interpretations or actions taken based on the information provided herein. Always cross-reference with peer-reviewed academic literature for in-depth understanding.

The Tapestry of Human Experience

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Defining Culture ℹ️

🌐 A Multifaceted Concept

🤝 Transmission and Diversity

📜 Historical Roots

The Acquisition of Culture 📚

🧠 Enculturation and Socialization

🌍 Cultural Universals and Diversity

Cultural Norms and Societal Guidance ⚖️

📏 Codifying Behavior

⚠️ The Risks of Monoculture

Cultural Dynamics: Change and Continuity 🔄

➡️ Drivers of Cultural Evolution

🌐 Globalization and Influence

Historical Perspectives on Culture ⏳

🏛️ Ancient and Romantic Roots

💡 Disciplinary Evolution

Culture in Anthropology 🧑‍ anthropologist

🔬 Centrality of Culture

👓 Franz Boas and Cultural Relativism

Culture Through a Sociological Lens 🧑‍ sociologist

👥 Ways of Life

📈 Development of Cultural Sociology

Cultural Studies: Meaning and Practice 📈

🎬 Popular Culture and Meaning

💬 Texts and Everyday Life

Culture's Influence on the Mind 🧠

💡 Cultural Psychology

❓ Cross-Cultural Differences

Safeguarding Cultural Heritage 🛡️

⚖️ International Frameworks

🌍 Tourism and Impact

Related Concepts 🔗

📚 Interdisciplinary Connections

🏛️ Navigating Cultural Frameworks

External Resources 🌐

🔗 Sister Projects

📖 Further Reading

References 📚

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

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Academic Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Defining Culture

A Multifaceted Concept

Transmission and Diversity

Historical Roots

The Acquisition of Culture

Enculturation and Socialization

Cultural Universals and Diversity

Cultural Norms and Societal Guidance

Codifying Behavior

The Risks of Monoculture

Cultural Dynamics: Change and Continuity

Drivers of Cultural Evolution

Globalization and Influence

Historical Perspectives on Culture

Ancient and Romantic Roots

Disciplinary Evolution

Culture in Anthropology

Centrality of Culture

Franz Boas and Cultural Relativism

Culture Through a Sociological Lens

Ways of Life

Development of Cultural Sociology

Cultural Studies: Meaning and Practice

Popular Culture and Meaning

Texts and Everyday Life

Culture's Influence on the Mind

Cultural Psychology

Cross-Cultural Differences

Safeguarding Cultural Heritage

International Frameworks

Tourism and Impact

Related Concepts

Interdisciplinary Connections

Navigating Cultural Frameworks

External Resources

Sister Projects

Further Reading

References

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Academic Disclaimer

Important Notice