SOCIOLOGY GS121

Culture

What is culture

Culture is the totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects, and behavior.

A fairly large number of people are said to constitute a society when they live in the same territory, are relatively independent of people outside their area, and participate in a common culture.

What is culture

Culture consists of both material and nonmaterial elements.

Material culture: Physical or technological aspects of daily lives: Food, House, Raw material

Nonmaterial culture: Customs, Beliefs, Philosophies, Governments, and Patterns of communication

Sociobiology emphasizes the ways that culture is determined by human biology.

What is culture

Subcultures A segment of society that shares a distinctive pattern of mores, Value that differs from the pattern of the larger society. Example: employees of international call centers in India

Countercultures A subculture that conspicuously and deliberately opposes

certain aspects of the larger culture.

Culture Shock Surprise and disorientation experienced when people

encounter cultural practices different from their own.

Example: Americans who encounter dog meat as a delicacy in China.

Language and Culture

Language is an abstract system of word meanings and symbols for all aspects of culture. Language not only describes reality, it also serves to shape the reality of culture

Language can transmit stereotypes. Example: dictionary definitions of words such as black and

white.

Language can shape how we taste, smell, feel, and hear.

Nonverbal Communication Gestures, facial expressions, and other learned visual images. Varies from culture to culture. Example: The meaning of the

“thumbs-up” symbol in the U.S. and Australia.

Norms

Norms are established standards of behavior maintained by society. Norms are classified as either formal or informal.

Formal norms generally are written down and specify certain behaviors through laws and regulations.

Informal norms are generally understood, but not precisely written Example: standards of proper dress.

Norms

Acceptance of Norms People do not follow norms in all situations. Weak norms

will often be ignored. Example: teenage drinking.

Norms may be violated due to norm conflict. Example: reporting your neighbor being beaten after you hear screams.

Norms are influenced by political, economic, and social conditions of a culture. Example: views on interracial marriage.

Sanctions Penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social

norm.

What is culture

Values are collective conceptions of what is considered good, desirable, and proper, or what is considered bad, undesirable, and improper in a culture. Values may be specific or they may be more general. The values of a culture may change, but most remain relatively stable during any one person’s lifetime.

Symbols

Symbols

Symbols

Conclusion

Functionalists view culture as a stabilizing agent for society.

Conflict theorists view culture as serving the privileges of powerful groups.

Dominant ideology is a set of cultural beliefs and practices that helps maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests.

Example: male domination of females.

Group discussion

A group of five.

First quiz: Think what makes culture and present in a mind map form.

Second quiz: If you grew up in your parents’ generation without computers, e-mail, ipod, and cell phones. How would your daily life differ from the one you lead today?

Write your name down in the paper with student ID.

This is your homework

Big Project

Group project (45%): 3 and 10 September: “Breaking a normal behavior”

Go out in public, break social norms and document it with your video camera. Upload to Sociology facebook page 1 day before presentation and Present in class how people around you react, and how your action creates this meaningful event. You need to present at least 3 different scenarios.

Example