Chapter 2: Culture
Explain how the Black Forest Ham is an example of cultural boundary porosity?
(schwarzwalder Schinken) EU - geo designation Protects all those manufacturing the product (ham) that they alone can market it as BF ham Laws to protect the trade of products with geo heritage Black Forest is a place, mysterious representation Traditions of curing particular kind of ham - BF ham! Amercian retailer wanted to buy ham in Germany, package and distribute it in America, and call it actually BF hams Packaging and marketing is part of the ham What about ham made by German emigrants to Can, SAmerica, or Russia? Compare: genuine Canadian Inuit art particular method What makes something genuine? A member of ethnic German community who established a village in Siberia, and maintained language, built school, bakery etc., taught kids german, and maintained it for 2.5 centuries, still make that kind of ham, and selling it as BF ham Anathema, cannot do that in the EU Who owns the culture? No one else speaks the german, no one knows og recipe expect minority Culture has changed and moved on What is genuine, tradition, real?
What did Sir Edward B Tylor do? What years was he alive?
1832 - 1917 Founding figure of cultural anthro Offered first justification to use the word culture to understand differences and similarities among groups
What is the period of social/cultural evolutionism?
1870-1910s
What is the period of historical particularism?
1910s - 1930s
Period of functionalism?
1920-1960
Periods of structural-functionalism?
1920s-60s
Period of neo-evolutionsim?
1940-70s
Period of post-structuralisM?
1980s-present
Define the functionalist view of culture
20s - 60s Culture = glue that holds people together in ordered social relationships - cultural practices and beliefs serve important purposes for society, explaining how world works and organizing people into roles so they can get things done Cultures closed, autonomous systems Associated with Bronislaw Malinowski and AR Radcliffe Brown
Period of cognitive anthropology?
50s-70s
Period of cultural materialism?
60s-70s
Period of structuralism?
60s-70s
Period of interpretive anthropology?
70s - present
What is critical relativism?
A =n idea of taking a stance in a practice or belief oNLY AFTER trying to understand it in its cultural and historical context Holds that no group of people is homogenous, so it is impossible to judge an entire culture based on actions or beliefs of a few Ie, male circumcision in America = abhorrent in other places, but we don't condemn our entire culutre In extreme form, cultural relativism can be difficult to uphold, so this is championed
Explain how the Navajo pride in US is an example of cultural boundary porosity?
A Navajo Powow in Flagstaff AZPow Wow = celebration of American Indian culture, involving dance, song, and honouring of ancestral triadiotns Regalia dance, song, and flag of USA Code Talkers: example of interwoven heritage Fought for US in the War, for the culture who marginalized, disadvantage them Not simply knit as humans, choreography of contradictions Extreme mess and complicated - they paid for it, but that doesn't mean they didn't pay for it Complicated history with the state, and individuals would not talk of a decolonial era, IN citizens feel the burden of majority as corroding Not mainstream US, a group of elders in full Navajo regalia, marches in to drums, chanting with the American flag -> which is the flag where res schools were instituted, where land was rescinded, and people were persecuted
What is a relativistic perspective?
A central tool for overcoming ethnocentrism, and is a major feature of the anthropological perspective on culture
What is a social sanction?
A reaction or measure intended to enforce norms and punish violation
Major figures of structural functionalism?
AR Radcliffe Brown (1952)
What do norms orient?
Actual behaviour
What is the def of social/cultural evolutionism?
All societies pas through stages, from primitive state to complex civilization Cultural differences = different evolutionary stages? All societies follow a unilinear developmental trajectory of progress Cultural differences express a given stage of evolutionary progress Evolution = improvement, progress, better Savage to highly advanced We still think that way today Moved far away from that, revisit ways of thinking Definition of culture influenced by way of thinking at the time
What is a cross cultural perspective?
Analyzing human social phenomenon by comparing the that phenomenon in different cultures Important to appreciate how artificial our beliefs and actions are
Are traditions actually very old?
Anthropologists are aware that, when it comes to traditions, looks are actually deceiving - many traditions are NOT as old as they are thought to be E.g -> Scottish tradition of identity = bagpipes, kilts from tartans -> these aren't actually ancient, merging during eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
What is significant about the 2005 National Collegiate Athletic Association's decision?
Banned teams with American Indian names and mascots from competing in postseason tournaments ZTHis concluded decades of pressure from AmIn, students, and others who argue these stereotype and denigrate AmIn traditions To AmIN, these mascots seem to be another attack on IN cultures by non IN IS AN EXEMPLAR of porous boundaries of cultural ownership -> Boundaries with holes - what degree of porousness prevents it from being a boundary?
Why is culture shared?
Because people make sense of worlds and order their lives through participation in social groups Culture doesn't emerge, or reduce to individual psych or bio
What did E.E Evans Pritchard do in 1961?
Broke with the functionalists, saying anthropology shouldn't model itself on natural sciences but on humanistic disciplines, especially history bc of its processual focus
Major figures of functionalism?
Bronislaw Malinowski (1922)
What are some examples (lecture) of the porosity of cultural boundaries?
Canadian flag -> we identify each other as Canadian with the flag, if you aren't a Canadian why are you wearing it? Things dear to us to identify and imbue with deep meaning can make just a symbol worth a lot -> losses can be symbolized (in war, for that flag/country etc.), you don't have the same situation so why flying it? What if you have an indigenous member of the Sioux on that team and they say its fine? Maybe we can't generalize, and just go by situation 2005 - 2015 U of North Dakota Controversy Navajo pride in US military history Canadian FN involvement in Anglican Church Canadian Black Forest ham
Major figures of structuralism?
Claude Levi Strauss (49/69/61)
Major figures in interpretive anthropology?
Clifford Geertz (1973) Victor Turner (1967) Mary Douglas (1966) Roy Wagner (1975)
How are values conservative?
Conserve prevailing ideas about social relations and morality Does not mean community's values don't change, nor that in a community, people won't have opposing values People can even hold conflicting values simultaneously
What was the counterargument to the AmIn efforts to stop having AmIn mascots?
Countered these mascots honour In traditions, pointing to strength and bravery which they hope to emulate Point out that mascots are part of traditions, living cultures of universities
What is the 2005 National Collegiate Athletic Association's decision an example of?
Cultural conflict: each side calls into play an issue of deep concern that divides participants into two opposed groups, with radically different interpretations of the issue that views the other as wrong
Def of functionalism?
Cultural practices, beliefs and institutions fulfill psych and social needs What we do and what we believe can be explained in terms of what it accomplishes for us in terms of our psych and social needs Culture... Endorses practices that fulfill its carriers' daily personal and collective needs, fulfills a function, what does it accomplish Satisfying reason Evoke same emotions/social needs
What is the first step to understanding cultures?
Overcoming ethnocentrism If we are judging another society and how it does things by our own goals, morals, and understandings, we can't understand that society in its own terms Must understand other culture in terms of its own goals, ideas, assumptions, values and beliefs = cultural relativism
How is culture dynamic/changing?
Cultural sharing attests to porosity (lack of clear) boundaries Both kinds of interpretations of a wink are true to them Picture: she's a woman - why is she wearing the glasses she is wearing, why is her hair the way she is? Is she pwoerful? Powerless? Fits into cultural mold, millenial, necklace says something, wears her hair loose, colouration of photo = Americana, wasn't taken long ago Photo cna be analyzed based on all definitions of culture, and within last three: change, flux, porosity Culture is less as system and more a dynamic process by which create and share meanings Culture is uncertain (not always clearly definable), each of us has own understanding hipster, millennial? Who is who? What is one? Can invent things, come up with new terms etc. Hipster is accepted, meaning of it has changed, who they are has changed, but we use it as a term, symbolic meaning
Define interpretive anthropology?
Culture is a shared system of meaning Make sense of worlds through use of symbols, symbolic activities like myth/ritual Not a materialist Humans understand world in terms of multiplyered symbols - to study culture, we must learn to interpret these symbols in varying context *Culture is a system of symbols, meaning fo which is shared* Cdn flag could see it as something that brings us together, and also as a degeneration of their own culture Big on context, cannot understand layers of symbol without context, really have to dig deep, how do people use concept differently? Looking at it in all contexts
Def of structural func.?
Culture is systematic, pieces work together in a balanced fashion so whole society runs smoothly Bronislaw Malinowski and AR Radcliffe were friends -> enemies How we act may change, but all our actions are governed by an overarching structure, which should be subject of study How we act may change, yeah But all our actions, no matter how often they change, are governed by something overarching, a law and rule of law *Cultural traits point towards the kind of structure by which a society is governed* Shouldn't look at specificity, look for underlying law - can identify function of every trait, always points towards that structure
Def of cognitive anthropology?
Culture operates through mental models and logical systems
How is culture symbolic?
Culture relies on symbols A symbol signals (often) intangible concepts (danger, pride, divinity, nationhood, etc.) Famous example: wink with twitch From materialist standpoint, there is no difference, just using muscle and getting it out, and it turned into a wink How to wink and what it means isn't a textbook, learned thing. Wink can accomplish a lot more than a twitch = cultural knowledge Cannot assume anything, stuff you learn between the line Cultural knowledge enables us to decipher specific symbols Wink - hitting on you? Harassing? Inside message? Can mean so many things, has to understand concept and hermeneutics about it
Def of Neo-evol.?
Cultures evolve from simple to complex by harnessing nature's energy through tech and influence of particular culture specific processes Cultural evolution is evident in our increasing ability to harness energy by improving technology INTERESTED in physics, connecting physics and culture How people make use of energy If we understand degree of efficiency with such resources, we are optimizing resources *Culture reps the ways in which we extract, harness and put energy to use*
Major figures of social/cultural evolutionism?
Edward B. Tylor (1871) Herbert Spencer (1874) Kewis Henry Morgan (1877)
What are cultural processes?
Emergent Fluid Marked by creativity , uncertainty, differing individual meaning, and social conflict Relations of power and inequality permeate these processes
Describe the functionalist view of social institutions?
Emphasize that social institutions function together in an integrated and balanced fashion to keep society functioning smoothly and minimize social change LECTURE Glue that hold societies tog. Doesn't matter what you look like, if you follow the script you perform society into place Mall = social institution -> already decided what fashion is appropriate, wouldn't be selling what is against the norm, what is gendered, what is appropriate for seasons, rules in place that we negotiate or are in place Can fall back onto them Established practice = stability Balance society and interconnect One institution could drive you in one direction and derail you, the other will bring you back and counter that If you have urge to kill, society says this is counter intuitive, but you can read and that is okay Static Difference between what ought to be and what is Prescriptive: how language should be vs ok but how, how do people speak Can work together -> Holism
Why does culture feel so stable, if it is so dynamic?
Enculturation - idea that people have been doing or believing things for much of their lives - only partly explains why it is so stable Number of other features, symbols, values, norms, and traditions to help explain the sense of stability
What does the integration of cultures across social, economic, and belief structures lead to?
Expectations that are specific to a given group EG Most white, middle class American parents think its natural for babies to sleep by themselves, and that their babies sleeping with them would create emotional independence, looked down on in our society that prizes independence and self reliance Other societies would find this idea strange and exotic?
How does enculturation happen?
Explicitly and implicitly E.g. = student experience Explicitly taught to write, analyze a text, do math = how to be a productive member of society Implicit = obedience to authority respect for social hierarchy
What is an illustration of how culture shapes basic bio survival?
Food preferences We are omnivorous,s o we can eat a lot of foods, but USA thinks rotten shark flesh, buffalo penis stew, or dogs is disgusting, when they are delicacies elsewhere
Define post-structuralism
Not a single school of thought Set of theoretical positions Rejects idea that there are underlying structures explaining culture Embraces idea that cultural processes are dynamic, and observer of these processes cannot see culture completely objectively An objective view of culture is impossible No underlying universal structure Must take multi perspectival view *Culture is highly dynamic, any view of it will always be partial at best* Pierre Bourdieu Have to assume you are not tabla rasi, only know from one angle, truth from one angle, but your life could be looked at from so many different angle, cannot be an objective description from your life Fluid between perspectives of the same world
Explain some of the institutions from a functionalist view
Formal edu One person in authority, everyone follows them Obedience -> teaching to follow and accept authority Intelligence? Socialization Individuality Property nationalism: reverence for the state, if everybody raised in a different ideology, society might work differently Through school system, mind is forged for certain common ideals, then it is easier to control you, keep society peacefully together Work force Listen to boss, authority Boss owns company bc of loan from the bank, which will only give loan if this investment won't be lost. All went to school and were enculturated to subscribe to values of nationalism, so things like banks loans to help Cdn economy works Boss has more power Assets protected by states Working to own kinship/family Marriage protected by law: what marriage means changed, structure still the same, organization and structure still the same Idea that parents have last word, or make decisions Both parents work What if there was an anti-authoritarian childhood? Alternative models, all of these are specific to our own culture Parallels between social institutions organization reflects itself in all different dimensions, so becomes ingrained
Major figures of historical particularism?
Franz Boas (1940) Alfred Kroeber (1923) Edward Sapir (1921)
When does enculturation happen?
From birth, or before? Gma in Dresden, Germany, when that city was bombed (she was not yet burned) and bombs fell out of the sky, and airplanes had a specific sound, and these engines produced to this day, a specific sound Growing up, when she hears that engine, she panics Association with mother's panic Perhaps, enculturation starts even before you are born, which then leads us through our lives
What is the interpretive theory of culture?
Geertz' concept of culture idea that culture is embodied and transmitted through symbols Bc culture is implicit in how people think and at, we express culture in everything we do/ Meanings and symbols that underlie these meanings, differ from groups to groups, and people do and organize themselves differently around the world
Describe the history of the kilt?
It was actually an ENGLISH iron industrialist. who designed the kilt, as it caught on in Socttish Highlands, textile amnufatureers produced distinctive plaids to expand sales, and clan chiefs wanting to distinguish themselves and ancestry as unique adopted particular designs Englands King George IV visited Scotland, organizers promoted use of kilts and tartans, and legitimized highlands culture and established the look as a national institution Power of tartans not from antiquity, but association with clans that are central to highlander social life
What are some of the social institutions?
Kinship and marriage patterns (domestic arrangements, organization of sex and reproduction, raising children) Economic activities (farming, herding, manufacturing and trade) Religious institutions (rituals, religious organizations) Political forms LECTURE Home/family organized Way that we have a home/dream of having one -> how is it a social institution? Organization, or does it fall into place? How deliberate do you have to be to create a home? Rules? Spatial patterns, personal space, permanence Assumptions on what makes a home: stability, personal space/privacy through locks on the door/doors, individuality - one room per person or more? Sex Religion -> purity until marriage? Intimate, close connection Between a pair of people Gendered Should be private, and not talked about Consistent and reproduce again and again - inspire confidence, answers how to act, you fulfill the procedure it prescribes How Children are Raised How food is produced How money is made All prescribed, follow a script, only some leeway in changing the script
Explain how the Canadian FN involvement in the Catholic Church is an example of cultural boundary porosity?
Leadership Self determination Anglican Council of IN Peoples in FN land? These councils caused res schools and colonizations? How are these working together? Elders, and familiarized with dark heritage of Christian colonial/missionary Influential elders were also elders in Anglican Church - gone to res schools and suffered, how are they members of the Church? Why don't they hate everyone who had part in htis? Members that were elders were highly respected, gatekeepers to local cultures A surprise in Cdn Arctic (Gwitch'in elders and Anglican Church of Canada) Divided view on mixing culture and heritage Should they have been allowed to be here? Can we affiliate with people who have harmed us? Or is self-determination - changing vision and structure of church to make their own? Council had a conference at UNBC (mixed repsonses) Change: can an old heritage be decolonized?
Why are norms stable?
Learnt from an early age Social pressure to conform
Major figures of neo-evol.?
Leslie White (1949) Julian Steward (1955)
how do we know the difference between a wink, and a twitch?
Look the same as movements of the eye Twitch = involuntary blink, no symbolic significance Wink = particular message to a particular someone Telling difference and understanding what the action is communicating takes implicit knowledge - is there intent? What is it? Is this action socially appropriate? Underlying these considerations = shared system of meaning which both you and winker participate in to understand what they mean Comes naturally = bc human capacity for learning with symbols and signs that have little meaning
Major figures of cult. materialism?
Marvin Harris (1979)
What was Mascot Chief Illiniwek?
Mascot of U of Illinois in 2007, the uni retired the mascot
Def of cult.materialims?
Material world, esp. economic and eco conditions, shapes people's customs and beliefs Our actions are responses to material and economic determinants, what we do and believe is determined from outside of us *Culture is a mirror of our physical material environment* Lets look at collateral damage we leave, we will know who you were, and can see measurable impact. Determinist POV, all our great ideas are subject to circumstances Talking as smart as you are so you can warm your booty in this lecture theatre Critiqued many times since, bc it is one sided - yes, enviro determines much, but we shape our environment, and our ideas have force
How does culture shape an American's life vs a minorities life?
Middle class Americans believe they have no culture, but minorities who differ from these white, middle-class norms are viewed as "people with culture" Tied to social and institutional power, where NAmericans have more power, and appear to have less culture, but the more culture, the less power you have By differing from mainstream patterns, a group's culture = more visible
Describe holism in social institutions?
Parts of whole inteconnected, don't exist independently without the whole, or without reference to whole Applied to mental states, lang. Example Illegal to homeschool in prison, done to him in 4th grade Left country to be homeschooled These parents seem to have a crazy ideology, child may not fit into society Wasn't raised in Germany, in that ideology, different beliefs and practices, If you pull one out, you endanger the others - it stops fitting Take education out Shows connections between social institutions, creates a cultural fabric
What does a construction derive from?
Past collective experiences in a community People talking, thinking and acting in response to a common set of goals and problems
Major figures of post-structuralisM?
Pierre Bourdieu (77) Renato Rosaldo (89) James Clifford, George Marcus, and Michael M. J. Fischer (Clif?Marcus = 86, Marcus Fischer 86)
What does the culture concept lead to?
Powerful way to make sense of what people do, why, and differences and similarities across and within societies Leads to a question: how does the culture concept explain differences and similarities in people's ways of life?
What is enculturation?
Process of learning cultural rules and logic
What did Clifford Geertz (1926-2006) do?
Proposed that culture = system of symbols through which people make sense of world Posed the question: how do we know the difference between a wink, and a twitch?
Seven elements of culture
Shared Learned Adaptive/Dynamic Symbolic Integrated with daily experience Shapes everyone's life Need to overcome ethnocentrism
What is cultural determinism?
Something cultural relativism can lead to Idea that all human actions are the product of culture, denying the influence of other factors like physical environment and human bio on human action Extreme relativism is thought to, by some critics, justify atrocities like genocide, human rights abuses
What are symbols?
Something that conventionally stands for something else Verbal or non-verbal Things people in a given culture associate wit something else, usually intangible (motherhood, God, country)
How do we approach the issue of cultural stability by examining symbols?
Stores conventional meanings in symbols because these meanings are stable, usually Symbols and meaning can and do change, even drastically! Eg Spanish conquest of Peruvian Andes in 16th century, Spaniards carried banners of Santiago matamoros to ensure victories over Indians. Indians absorbed Santiago into native religion, identifying Santiago as their own god of thunder and lightening, Illapa, who believed changed forms Now, Santiago for the Indians symbolizes power of mtn. gods and encouraged resistance against spaniards
What are values?
Symbolic expressions of intrinsically desirable principles or qualities Refer to that which is moral and true for particular group of people "Mom and apple pie" for American core values "Mom" = purity of selfless sacrifice for greater good Apple pie = common food since colonial times, = MAerican's shared heritage.
What is key to understanding how the whole of a culture operates?
That a culture comprises dynamic and interrelated sets of social, economic, and belief structures
What are the two influential aspect of Sir Edward B. Tylor's definition of culture?
That culture is acquired (learned) And that culture I s "complex whole"
What is the most important changes in cultural theory?
That early anthropologists tended to see cultures in societies with simple tech as fixed and stable, more than anyone does today
What is the power of the definition of culture used by the textbook?
That it makes culture a dynamic and emergent process based on social relationships, leading anthropologists to study the ways cultures are created and re-created constantly I people's lives
What were the criticisms of functionalism?
That it was too stable - not all societies function smoothly, a nd its static view of culture didn't explain history and social change
What is an example of natural beliefs and conducts?
The One, IN group in Andaman Islands in Indian Ocean learn that ancestors cause earthquakes and tidal waves Have a ready made explanation for how world works, guiding responses so they don't have to relearn to deal with these every time they occur
What does culture help shape?
The basic things all humans must do for bio survival - like eating, sleeping, drinking, defecating and having sex
Why are our beliefs and conducts so natural to us?
The process of learning a culture begins at birth We have been doing and thinking in certain ways since we were babies
What are cultural constructions?
The way a person's comprehension of anything is always based on what their group deems proper and improper People collectively "build" meanings through common experiences and negotiation EXAMPLE -> college mascots, both sides collectively constructed sig. of images and symbols for Indians and colleges
What do values do?
These ideals don't reflect what happens in real world, but orient thinking about one's obligations as a citizen, like putting aside differences with other Americans and be willing to sacrifice oneself for love of fam and country
how do the Gusii people raise their children?
Thinking it is natural to sleep with babies, and hold them during waking hours so they are dependant on other people
What are norms?
Typical patterns of behaviour, viewed by participants as the rules of how things should be done Tend to be invisible, until they are broken, as visitors to a different society or city see when they do things "wrong" IE We wouldn't haggle over price of toothpaste, should pay listed price Arab world and Indonesia, the norm is opposite - no matter how small the item, it is considered rude nOT to haggle. Taking the first asking price disrespects seller
Major figures of cognitive anthropology?
Ward Goodenough (1965) Roy D'Andrade (1995)
How is culture learned?
We learn culture through encu;turation (implicit and explicit) Ton of stuff that you are actively learning without being written down (implicit) Sciences, learning equations (explicit) What do we learn "in the lines" What do we learn "between the lines" Communicate to each other, but not necessarily through words Idea of authority, assumptions, don't need to tell you that - in the air Some people haven't learned to read that between the lines, shackles people, and enables them to succeed. Cultural capital, know how to conduct yourself
What are symbols?
anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture Something that stands for something else Relationship to symbol is arbitrary Can be more than just images or concepts - people can use bodies as symbols (In Japan, bowing is a form of greeting, but depending on length may symbolize respect, apology, gratitude, sincerity, remorse, superiority, or humility)
Define culture?
defined in many ways by anthropologists diversity of these definitions = vibrant discipline Most of these definitions emphasize common features
Why does culture feel stable?
emphasis on the idea that culture is shared implies a uniformity and stability because people need a relatively stable and common base of info and knowledge to live together There is another reason that these different aspects of culture (symbols, values, norms, traditions) seem stable and common, despite not being shared - social institutions
Def of historical particularism?
individual societies develop particular cultural traits undergo unique processes of change cultural traits diffuse from one culture to another Each society forms unique traits, by borrowing from other cultures Traits change over time , yet form cohesive whole Culture is... the outcome of diffusion: is cohesive, BUT not bounded, and it changes Traits that are constantly changing, and borrowed, forms a cohesive whole -> have to associate with all the other trait
Social institutions?
organized sets of social relationships that link individuals to each other in a structured way in that society FROM LECTURE What is a relationship? Is there any *asocial* relationships? Doesn't have to be repetitive Relationship between customer and retail representative In terms of org. And structure, the position fulfills a link between person and store, plus a transaction Maybe better to say socialites -Emergency Responder and victim -> there is a connection and relationship Hunter and prey -> tracks an animal and kills it Quality of sociality: does it have to be beneficial to both parties to be a relationship? No! Some can save us, some can hurt us etc. Links people - store clerk, doctors, children etc. in a structured way
Def of structuralism?
people make sense of worlds through binary oppositions (hot-cold) Binaries expressed in social institutions and cultural practices like kinship, myth, language People everywhere structure the world into binaries (lifht, dark, life-death, father-morther, which is reflected in their social isntituitons, beliefs, and logic) *Culture is locally specific application of binary oppositions* We all have overarching undergirding structure in our heads, figured that there is something in our brains, and it is universal, we all share a universal structure Looking at specificities of how, why don't we look at what this universal structure is, and how it is expressed in different ways We impose binaries on a world that is chaotic to create order From language, words is divided into vowels and consonants, but by juxtaposing consonants and vowels we have contrast Pin to that contrast meaning, nothing to hang meaning off of, can make sense of the world, in different ways Building a bridge between opposites Christianity, idea of Jesus Christ Christ = Messiah, mediator between people and God Binary, God is perfect, humans are not Christianity is product of attempt to reconcile holy god with sinful people Interpretive Anthropology (70s - present)
What are customs?
practices that are the result of the need for order and discipline and are established by frequent use over a long period Long established norms can become customs, with a codified and lowlife aspect
What is tradition?
refers to the most enduring and ritualized aspects of a culture Often feel like traditions are very old, justifying actions that make no logical sense in modern times
What do values provide a general orientation for?
social relations
What did Sir Edward B Tylor define culture as?
the complex whole which includes knowledge belief art morals law custom and any other capability and habits acquired by man as member of society
What is culture?
the perspectives and actions a group of people consider natural, self-evident, and appropriate These are rooted in shared meanings and way people act in social groups Uniquely human capacity helps us confront common problems = like communication, organizations, and making life predictable and meaningful, as well as dealing with conflict and change
How does this book define culture?
those collective processes through which people in social groups construct and naturalize certain meanings and actions as normal and even necessary In whatever manner a group of people do something, their way = sensible and obvious to the people in that community, even though others may be confused Emphasizes it as NOT A STATIC SET OF RULES, OR COHERENT SYSTEM OF SYMBOLIC BELIEFS THAT PEOLE HAVE, OR CARRY THAT GET PASSED DOWN GENERATION TO GENERATIONS
What are core values
those values that express most basic qualities central to a culture
