Chapter 14

fad

A ________ is a very short-lived fashion.

creative subsystem, managerial subsystem, communication subsystem

A cultural production system is a ________.

rite of passage

A special ritual marking a person's transition from one role to another is called a ________.

myth

A story containing symbolic elements that express the shared emotions and ideals of a culture is called a ________.

artifacts, scripts, performance roles

According to Dennis Rook, a key aspect of a ritual is ________.

marketing

All of the following are subsystems in a culture production system EXCEPT a ________ subsystem.

fortress

Brands that we closely link to our rituals are called ________ brands; once they become imbedded in our rituals we are unlikely to replace them.

innovators

Consumers who always are on the lookout for novel products or services and who are first to try something new are ________.

personality

Culture is best described as a society's ________.

the process of social diffusion by which style is adopted by consumers

Fashion refers to _________.

ecology

Gen enjoys owning a micro-refrigerator, which is small enough to fit almost anywhere. Gen believes that the efficient use of space is one of the characteristics that any good product should have. With respect to the functional areas of a cultural system, Gen is focusing on ________ as a variable in selecting products.

cultural gatekeepers

In the cultural production process, the people who control the flow of information between producers and customers are called ________.

cooptation

It is quite common for mainstream culture to modify symbols identified with "cutting edge" subcultures and present these to a larger audience. Such cultural products undergo a process of ________, by which their original meanings are transformed by outsiders.

gatekeepers

Movie and restaurant reviewers, magazine editors, retail buyers and DJ's are considered ________ because they filter information.

ritual

Pavel is an inventor. He read that there were several million people who could not sleep at night until they looked under the bed. He invented a light that could be put under the bed and went on automatically when someone looked there. Pavel's product is designed to help people perform a ________.

cultural selection

Products are winnowed out as they make their way down the path from conception to consumption, a process called ________.

cultural formula

Raymond Chandler wrote classic American detective stories. By always using certain roles for his characters and props that were appropriate to the genre, Chandler's novels followed a(n) ________.

The reciprocity norm

Sharon is upset with her secretary. Though everyone in the office agreed not to give Christmas presents this year, Sharon's secretary gave her an expensive bottle of perfume. Which of the following best identifies the source of Sharon's feelings?

ecology

The Japanese greatly value products that make efficient use of space because of the cramped conditions in urban areas in Japan. This is an example of ________ in Japan's cultural system.

Ideology

The aspect of a cultural system which describes the mental characteristics of a people and the way they relate to their environment and social groups is known as ________.

liminality

The second stage in the rite of passage is ________.

Psychological

The story goes that a young George Washington cut down his father's cherry tree with a hatchet. Young Washington was then asked who might have committed this act. Even though the boy feared punishment, George replied, "I cannot tell a lie; I cut down the cherry tree." This story has taken on mythical proportions in the United States. Which of the follow functions does the myth best match?

collecting

The systematic acquisition of a particular object or set of objects is called ________.

sacred

Thomas and his family recently toured the Gettysburg Battlefield on their vacation. The area was rich in history. While walking, Thomas remembered all the accounts of the battle that he had read in school. He finally understood why this place had such a special meaning in American history and to Americans in general. Gettysburg Battlefield is best classified as ________.

contamination

Through the process of ________, objects associated with sacred events or people become sacred in their own right.

ritual artifacts

Wedding rice, birthday candles, and diplomas are considered ________.

trickle-up effect

When Bob, a wealthy real estate investor, saw an inner city kid wearing a heavy gold chain with a medallion around his neck, Bob wanted the same for himself. Bob's behavior is best explained by the ________.

Profane

________ consumption occurs with objects and events that are considered to be ordinary and everyday.

Metaphysical

________ is a myth that explains the origins of existence.

Power distance

________ is the extent to which less powerful members of organizations and institutions accept and expect that power is distributed unequally.

Social Structure

________ is the way people maintain an orderly social life.

Sacralization

________ is when ordinary objects, events, and even people take on sacred meaning.

Ideology

________ is/are the mental characteristics of people and the way they relate to their environment and social group.

Levi-Strauss

________ postulated that myths involve binary opposition, in which two opposing ends of some dimension are represented (such as good versus evil).

Gestation

________ refers to a stage in the gift-giving process, where the giver procures an item to make some event.

Cultural Production System (CPS)

________ refers to the set of individuals and organizations that create and market cultural products.

Norms

________ usually dictate what is right and wrong, acceptable or unacceptable.

desacralization

When a sacred item or symbol is removed from its special place or is duplicated in mass quantities, then it becomes profane as a result of ________.

Ideology

Which functional area of culture is most closely related to the idea of a common worldview?

An art product

Which of the following is an object that is admired strictly for its beauty or because it inspires an emotional reaction?