CULTURECULTUREDefinitionDefinition

-is concerned with beliefs and -is concerned with beliefs and values on the basis of which people values on the basis of which people interpret experiences and behave, interpret experiences and behave,

individually or in groupsindividually or in groups-refers to a group or community -refers to a group or community with which you share common with which you share common

experiences that shape the way experiences that shape the way you understand the worldyou understand the world

-is the lens through which you view -is the lens through which you view the worldthe world

More definitionsMore definitionsThe quality in a person or society The quality in a person or society

that arises from a concern for what is that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuitsmanners, scholarly pursuits

A particular form or stage of A particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation civilization, as that of a certain nation or period: Greek cultureor period: Greek culture

A development or improvement of A development or improvement of the mind by education or trainingthe mind by education or training

More definitionsMore definitions

The behaviours and beliefs characteristic The behaviours and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic or age of a particular social, ethnic or age group: group: the youth culturethe youth culture

““Culture, then, is a study of perfection, Culture, then, is a study of perfection, and perfection which insists on and perfection which insists on becoming something rather than in becoming something rather than in having something, in an inward having something, in an inward condition of the mind and spirit, not in condition of the mind and spirit, not in an outward set of circumstances” an outward set of circumstances” Matthew ArnoldMatthew Arnold

The fundamental element or building The fundamental element or building block of culture is the culture trait.block of culture is the culture trait.

Traits assume many forms varying from Traits assume many forms varying from material artifacts – tools, house material artifacts – tools, house structures, art works – to behaviourial structures, art works – to behaviourial regularities – family interrelationships, regularities – family interrelationships, economic exchanges, and legal sanctions economic exchanges, and legal sanctions – to abstract concepts and beliefs.– to abstract concepts and beliefs.

All these complex and diverse All these complex and diverse manifestations share one feature in manifestations share one feature in common; they are symbols and as such common; they are symbols and as such express meaning express meaning

Cultural elements as symbols Cultural elements as symbols assume their meanings in assume their meanings in relationship to other symbols within relationship to other symbols within a broader context of a meaning a broader context of a meaning systemsystem

To interpret a symbol, therefore, To interpret a symbol, therefore, anthropologists must investigate the anthropologists must investigate the interrelatedness of elements and the interrelatedness of elements and the presence of unifying principles that presence of unifying principles that connect symbols to form larger connect symbols to form larger patterns and cultural wholes patterns and cultural wholes

Culture traits and broader cultural Culture traits and broader cultural patterns inclusive of language, patterns inclusive of language, technology, institutions, beliefs, and technology, institutions, beliefs, and values are transmitted across values are transmitted across generations and maintain continuity generations and maintain continuity through learning, technically termed through learning, technically termed enculturation enculturation

Accordingly, learning abilities and Accordingly, learning abilities and intelligence are essential assets for all intelligence are essential assets for all human groups and have replaced the human groups and have replaced the role of biologically based genetic role of biologically based genetic transmission of instinctstransmission of instincts

ConclusionConclusionCulture refers to the following Culture refers to the following ways of ways of

lifelife, included but not limited to:, included but not limited to:LanguageLanguage: the oldest human institution : the oldest human institution

and the most sophisticated medium of and the most sophisticated medium of expressionexpression

Arts and SciencesArts and Sciences: the most advanced : the most advanced and refined forms of human expressionand refined forms of human expression

ThoughtThought: the ways in which people : the ways in which people perceive, interpret and understand the perceive, interpret and understand the world around themworld around them

SpiritualitySpirituality: the value system transmitted : the value system transmitted through generations for the inner well-being through generations for the inner well-being of human beings, expressed through of human beings, expressed through language and actionslanguage and actions

Social activitySocial activity: the shared pursuits within a : the shared pursuits within a cultural community, demonstrated in a cultural community, demonstrated in a variety of festivities and life –celebrating variety of festivities and life –celebrating eventsevents

InteractionInteraction: the social aspects of human : the social aspects of human contact, including the give-and-take of contact, including the give-and-take of socialization, negotiation, protocol, and socialization, negotiation, protocol, and conventionconvention

MEANS OF EXPRESSING MEANS OF EXPRESSING CULTURECULTURE

PicturesPictures WritingWriting BooksBooks PrintingPrinting NewspapersNewspapers TelegraphTelegraph RadioRadio CinemaCinema TelevisionTelevision InternetInternet

CULTURAL AND SYMBOLIC CULTURAL AND SYMBOLIC PRODUCTIONPRODUCTION

-international tourism-international tourism-thematic parks-thematic parks-fashion-fashion-cuisine-cuisine-culture of the body-culture of the body-video game market-video game marketGrowing entertainment Growing entertainment

industry( Disney, AOL-Time Warner, industry( Disney, AOL-Time Warner, Fox, Vivendi Universal)Fox, Vivendi Universal)

CROSS-CULTURAL CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

Culture is at the root of communication Culture is at the root of communication challengeschallenges

To open channels for cross cultural To open channels for cross cultural communication one must explore the communication one must explore the historical experiences and the identity of historical experiences and the identity of the interrelating groupsthe interrelating groups

Identity cannot exist without Alterity, each Identity cannot exist without Alterity, each human being relates himself to the Other human being relates himself to the Other in the process of defining the differencein the process of defining the difference

National identity strongly related to National identity strongly related to culture and its symbolsculture and its symbols

CULTURAL IDENTITYCULTURAL IDENTITY

Criteria to define the Other:Criteria to define the Other:ReligiousReligiousPoliticalPoliticalIdeologicalIdeologicalEconomicEconomicCulturalCultural

More Culture DefinitionsMore Culture DefinitionsCulture is learned, shared and Culture is learned, shared and

transmitted from one generation to the transmitted from one generation to the nextnext

Culture is primarily transmitted from Culture is primarily transmitted from parents to children, but at the same time, parents to children, but at the same time, by school, church, social organizations, by school, church, social organizations, even by governments or special interest even by governments or special interest groupsgroups

Social pressure influences culture due to Social pressure influences culture due to its power of reinforcing ways of human its power of reinforcing ways of human thinkingthinking

Aim of this courseAim of this courseThe presentation of a specific culture, The presentation of a specific culture,

the British culturethe British cultureUnderstand itUnderstand itTo acquire basic knowledge on the life To acquire basic knowledge on the life

and thinking of the British society with and thinking of the British society with its language, customs, shared manners, its language, customs, shared manners, attitudes and feelings, religion, attitudes and feelings, religion, aesthetics, education, social and aesthetics, education, social and political institutions, geographical political institutions, geographical environment and historical eventsenvironment and historical events

Cultural UniversalsCultural Universals

Elements included in all culturesElements included in all culturesRepresent general values characteristic Represent general values characteristic

of the manifestations representing the of the manifestations representing the worldwide way of life of any groupworldwide way of life of any group

Include: etiquette, the concept of family, Include: etiquette, the concept of family, family rituals and celebrations, family rituals and celebrations, gestures, mealtime, music, artifacts gestures, mealtime, music, artifacts (clothes, cars) trade customs(clothes, cars) trade customs

CivilizationCivilization AT A CERTAIN MOMENT OF ITS EXISTENCE, AT A CERTAIN MOMENT OF ITS EXISTENCE,

EACH SOCIETY OR SOCIAL GROUP FINDS EACH SOCIETY OR SOCIAL GROUP FINDS ITSELF AT A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ITSELF AT A CERTAIN LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT, REGARDING SOCIAL, DEVELOPMENT, REGARDING SOCIAL, MATERIAL OR SPIRITUAL LIFEMATERIAL OR SPIRITUAL LIFE

THE LEVEL OF MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL THE LEVEL OF MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF A SOCIAL ECONOMIC GROUPGROUP

A PROCESS OF IMPROVING INSTITUTIONS, A PROCESS OF IMPROVING INSTITUTIONS, EDUCATION, LEGISLATIONEDUCATION, LEGISLATION

definitiondefinition

A relatively high level of cultural and A relatively high level of cultural and technological developmenttechnological development

Specifically: the stage of cultural Specifically: the stage of cultural development at which writing and the development at which writing and the keeping of written records is attainedkeeping of written records is attained

The culture characteristic of a The culture characteristic of a particular time or placeparticular time or place

Refinement of thought, manner, tasteRefinement of thought, manner, taste

More definitionsMore definitions

The people or countries that have The people or countries that have reached an advanced stage of reached an advanced stage of human development marked by a human development marked by a high level of art , religion, science, high level of art , religion, science, and social and political organizationand social and political organization

Life in a place which has all the Life in a place which has all the comforts of the modern worldcomforts of the modern world

The beginning of a peopleThe beginning of a peopleHas not always been an island – it became Has not always been an island – it became

one after the end of the last ice ageone after the end of the last ice ageFirst evidence of human life dates about First evidence of human life dates about

250,000 BC – stone tools250,000 BC – stone toolsAround 10,000 BC Britain was peopled by Around 10,000 BC Britain was peopled by

small groups of hunters, gatherers and small groups of hunters, gatherers and fishersfishers

About 3000 BC Neolithic people crossed About 3000 BC Neolithic people crossed the sea from Europe in small boats. They the sea from Europe in small boats. They came either from the Iberian peninsula or came either from the Iberian peninsula or North AfricaNorth Africa

They were small, dark, and long-They were small, dark, and long-headed people, the forefathers of headed people, the forefathers of dark-haired inhabitants of Wales and dark-haired inhabitants of Wales and CornwallCornwall

They settled in the Western parts of They settled in the Western parts of Britain and Ireland, from Cornwall at Britain and Ireland, from Cornwall at the southwest end of Britain all the the southwest end of Britain all the way to the far northway to the far north

After 3000 BC people started building After 3000 BC people started building great circles of earth banks and great circles of earth banks and ditches – centers of religious, political ditches – centers of religious, political and economic powerand economic power

Most spectacular: Stonehenge built over a Most spectacular: Stonehenge built over a period of more than 1000 yearsperiod of more than 1000 years

The purpose – remains a mysteryThe purpose – remains a mysterySuggests: the political authority of the Suggests: the political authority of the

area surrounding Stonehenge was area surrounding Stonehenge was recognized over a very large area, recognized over a very large area, probably over the whole of the British probably over the whole of the British IslesIsles

After 2400BC new groups of people After 2400BC new groups of people arrived in southeast Britain from Europearrived in southeast Britain from Europe

They were round-headed and strongly They were round-headed and strongly built – became leaders of British societybuilt – became leaders of British society

They spoke an Indo-European languageThey spoke an Indo-European language

StonehengeStonehenge

The CeltsThe CeltsFrom the 7From the 7thth century to the 3 century to the 3rdrd century century

BC they were moving across Europe in BC they were moving across Europe in many directionsmany directions

One great body settled in France – One great body settled in France – element in the racial content of the element in the racial content of the Galish nationGalish nation

A southern wing settled in the Valley of A southern wing settled in the Valley of Po – put an end to the Etruscan Po – put an end to the Etruscan hegemony in Italyhegemony in Italy

Others pushed into Spain and the Others pushed into Spain and the BalkansBalkans

A northern wing of this great world A northern wing of this great world movement overran the British Island movement overran the British Island and imposed the Celtic rule and and imposed the Celtic rule and language on its inhabitantslanguage on its inhabitants

They came in successive tribal They came in successive tribal waves, each with a dialect of its ownwaves, each with a dialect of its own

Wave after wave of Celts entered Wave after wave of Celts entered Britain by lowlands of south and east, Britain by lowlands of south and east, slaughtered, subdued or chased slaughtered, subdued or chased across the island not only the across the island not only the Iberians, but also their own kinsfolk Iberians, but also their own kinsfolk that preceded themthat preceded them

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Tall, light-haired warriors, skillful in ironTall, light-haired warriors, skillful in iron Imposed themselves as an aristocracy on the Imposed themselves as an aristocracy on the

conquered tribes throughout Britain and conquered tribes throughout Britain and IrelandIreland

They remained tribesmen bound together by They remained tribesmen bound together by legal and sentimental ties of kinship as the legal and sentimental ties of kinship as the moral basis of societymoral basis of society

They didn’t develop any territorial or feudal They didn’t develop any territorial or feudal organizationorganization

Hunting, fishing, herding, weaving, bee-Hunting, fishing, herding, weaving, bee-keeping, metal work, and above all fighting keeping, metal work, and above all fighting preoccupied them most of their timepreoccupied them most of their time

Highly successful farmers – suggested by the Highly successful farmers – suggested by the increasing number of hill forts filled with housesincreasing number of hill forts filled with houses

They remained local economic centres long after the They remained local economic centres long after the Romans came to Britain and long after they wentRomans came to Britain and long after they went

For money they used iron barsFor money they used iron bars Men wore shirts and breeches and a striped or Men wore shirts and breeches and a striped or

checked cloak fastened with a pin (Scottish tartan checked cloak fastened with a pin (Scottish tartan and dress)and dress)

Very clean and neatVery clean and neat Women more independent than hundreds of years Women more independent than hundreds of years

later – the Romans found women who ruled the later – the Romans found women who ruled the tribes and fought on chariotstribes and fought on chariots

The most powerful woman who stood up to the The most powerful woman who stood up to the Romans - Queen Boadicea she almost drove them Romans - Queen Boadicea she almost drove them from Britain in 61 AD from Britain in 61 AD

The Roman BritainThe Roman Britain The name Britain comes from the Greco-The name Britain comes from the Greco-

Roman word “Pretani” for the inhabitants Roman word “Pretani” for the inhabitants of Britainof Britain

The Romans mispronounced the word and The Romans mispronounced the word and called the island Britanniacalled the island Britannia

Why did they invadeWhy did they invade?? – – the Celts of Britain were working with the Celts of Britain were working with

the Celts of Gaul against them the Celts of Gaul against them - important food producers- important food producers - came to exploit and govern by right of - came to exploit and govern by right of

superior civilizationsuperior civilization

The Roman conquerors’ effort was to The Roman conquerors’ effort was to induce their western subjects to induce their western subjects to assimilate Latin life in all its aspectsassimilate Latin life in all its aspects

Their success with the Gauls was Their success with the Gauls was permanent and became the starting permanent and became the starting point of modern European historypoint of modern European history

55 BC the first invasion under Julius 55 BC the first invasion under Julius Caesar Caesar - the need of tributes and slaves to - the need of tributes and slaves to

enrich his partisans and to pay the enrich his partisans and to pay the soldierssoldiers

- quite a failure- quite a failure

43 AD emperor Claudius sent an army of 43 AD emperor Claudius sent an army of 40,000 men and the Romans settled for the 40,000 men and the Romans settled for the next 400 yearsnext 400 years

The highlands and moorland of the northern The highlands and moorland of the northern and western regions (present -day Scotland and western regions (present -day Scotland - Caledonia - and Wales) were not as easily - Caledonia - and Wales) were not as easily settled, they remained the frontiersettled, they remained the frontier

They built a strong wall along the northern They built a strong wall along the northern border - Hadrianborder - Hadrian

Roman control came to an end when the Roman control came to an end when the empire began to collapseempire began to collapse

409 AD Rome pulled its last soldiers out of 409 AD Rome pulled its last soldiers out of BritainBritain