WHAT IS CULTURE?

¢ Culture is all the elements that define a person’s society or civilization

WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF CULTURE?

¢ Within culture, there are seven (7) major elements:

1.  Government 2.  Religion 3.  Arts & Literature 4.  Customs &

Traditions 5.  Economy 6.  Social

Organizations 7.  Language

GOVERNMENT ¢ The person or

organization within a society that governs a culture

¢ Function: �  To make and enforce

laws within a culture

RELIGION ¢ A set of practices and

beliefs important to a culture

¢ Two (2) functions: �  Create a set of morals

to live by �  Answers basic

questions about the unknown

ARTS & LITERATURE

¢ Many categories of art: �  Painting �  Sculpture �  Theater / music �  Architecture

¢ Function: �  The way cultures

express themselves

CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS

¢ Patterns of behavior handed down from generation to generation in a culture

¢ Function: �  Promote a common

history / common culture

ECONOMY

¢ The production and consumption of goods by a culture or society

¢ Function: �  The building and

creating of jobs and wealth for a culture

SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS ¢ The way(s) that a

culture organizes themselves �  Social class �  Family groups

¢ Function: �  Allows cultures to

organize and recognize those around them

LANGUAGE

¢ The verbal and non-verbal ways that a culture communicate �  Speaking �  Writing �  Gestures

¢ Function: �  To make it easier to

express ideas and thoughts within a culture