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Culture and Society in the Changing World in Sociology | SOCI 1313, Study notes of Introduction to Sociology

University of Texas - Rio Grande ValleyIntroduction to Sociology
Prof. Raymond S. Guerra

Sociology Kendall Chapter 2 Material Type: Notes; Professor: Guerra; Class: Principles Of Sociology; Subject: Sociology; University: University of Texas - Pan American;

Typology: Study notes

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Chapter 2
Culture
Chapter Outline
Culture and Society in a Changing World
Components of Culture
Technology, Cultural Change, and Diversity
A Global Popular Culture?
Sociological Analysis of Culture
Culture in the Future
Questions for You…
Think about your definition of culture…..
How would you describe your culture to someone who is not familiar with your culture?
What values, traditions, beliefs, holidays, celebrations, and material objects are important in your culture?
What have you learned based on your culture?
Culture
The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person
and from one generation to the next in a human group or society.
oCulture is essential for survival and communication with other people.
oCulture is learned through interaction, observation and imitation.
oCulture is fundamental for the survival of societies.
oCulture is the “essence” of human social interaction.
Material culture
oPhysical or tangible creations (such as clothing shelter, and art) that members of a society make,
use, and share.
oTechnology - The knowledge, techniques, and tools that allow people to transform resources into a usable form and the
knowledge and skills required to use what is developed
Nonmaterial culture
oAbstract or intangible human creations of society (such as attitudes, beliefs, and values) that
influence people’s behavior.
oBelief – the mental acceptance or conviction that certain things are true or real
How Much Do You Know About Global Food and Culture?
True or False? Cheese is a universal food enjoyed by people of all nations and cultures.
False.
oAlthough cheese is a popular food in many cultures, most of the people living in China find cheese
very distasteful and prefer delicacies such as duck feet.
True or False? Giving round-shaped foods to the parents of new babies is considered to be lucky in some cultures.
True.
oRound foods such as pears, grapes, and mooncakes are given to celebrate the birth of babies,
because the shape of the food is believed to symbolize family unity.
Gestures with Different Meanings in Other Societies
“Hook ‘em Horns” or “Your spouse is unfaithful”
Gestures with Different Meanings in Other Societies
“Okay” Or “I’ll kill you”
Cultural Universals - Customs and practices that occur across all societies
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Chapter 2 Culture Chapter Outline  Culture and Society in a Changing World  Components of Culture  Technology, Cultural Change, and Diversity  A Global Popular Culture?  Sociological Analysis of Culture  Culture in the Future Questions for You…  Think about your definition of culture…..  How would you describe your culture to someone who is not familiar with your culture?  What values, traditions, beliefs, holidays, celebrations, and material objects are important in your culture?  What have you learned based on your culture? Culture  The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society. o Culture is essential for survival and communication with other people. o Culture is learned through interaction, observation and imitation. o Culture is fundamental for the survival of societies. o Culture is the “essence” of human social interaction.  Material culture o Physical or tangible creations (such as clothing shelter, and art) that members of a society make, use, and share. o Technology - The knowledge, techniques, and tools that allow people to transform resources into a usable form and the knowledge and skills required to use what is developed  Nonmaterial culture o Abstract or intangible human creations of society (such as attitudes, beliefs, and values) that influence people’s behavior. o Belief – the mental acceptance or conviction that certain things are true or real How Much Do You Know About Global Food and Culture? True or False? Cheese is a universal food enjoyed by people of all nations and cultures.  False. o Although cheese is a popular food in many cultures, most of the people living in China find cheese very distasteful and prefer delicacies such as duck feet. True or False? Giving round-shaped foods to the parents of new babies is considered to be lucky in some cultures.  True. o Round foods such as pears, grapes, and mooncakes are given to celebrate the birth of babies, because the shape of the food is believed to symbolize family unity. Gestures with Different Meanings in Other Societies “Hook ‘em Horns” or “Your spouse is unfaithful” Gestures with Different Meanings in Other Societies “Okay” Or “I’ll kill you” Cultural Universals - Customs and practices that occur across all societies

Examples : o Appearance (bodily adornment, hairstyles) o Activities (sports, dancing, games, joking) o Social institutions (family, law, religion) o Practices (cooking, folklore, gift giving) Components of Culture  Symbol - Anything that meaningfully represents something else. o Objects, words, gestures  Language - Symbols that express ideas and enable people to communicate. o Verbal and nonverbal o Create visual images, share experiences, and maintain group boundaries  Values - Collective ideas about what is right or wrong and good or bad, desirable or undesirable o Provide us with the criteria by which we evaluate people o Value Contradictions – are values that conflict with one another or are mutually exclusive o Core Values – values of morality and humanitarianism may conflict with values of individual achievement and success  Ideal Culture – refers to values and standards of behavior that people in society profess to hold  Real Culture – refers to the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow  Norms - Established rules of behavior or standards of conduct. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis  According to this theory, language shapes the view of reality of its speakers.  If people are able to think only through language, then language must precede thought.  If language creates reality, are we trap by language? Language and Gender Languages Spoken in US Households Ten Core American Values  Individualism  Achievement and Success  Activity and Work  Science and Technology  Progress and Material Comfort  Efficiency and Practicality  Equality  Morality and Humanitarianism  Freedom and Liberty  Racism and Group Superiority Polling Question

Cultural Diversity of U.S. Society: Income Cultural Diversity of U.S. Society: Race and Ethnicity High Culture  Classical music, opera, ballet, live theater, and other activities patronized by members of the upper-middle and upper classes, with time, money, and knowledge assumed necessary for its appreciation. Popular Culture  Activities, products, and services that are assumed to appeal primarily to the middle and working classes.  These include rock concerts, spectator sports, movies, and television.  Forms of popular culture: o Fad is a temporary but widely copied activity followed by enthusiastically by large number of people  Object fads – items that people purchase despite the fact that they have little use or intrinsic value  Activity fads – include pursuits such as body piercing, surfing the internet, and blade nights in new York city.  Idea fads – new age ideology  Personality fads – such as those surrounding celebrities such as Jennifer lopez, tiger woods and etc. o Fashion – is a currently valued style of behavior, thinking, appearance that is longer lasting, and more widespread than fad Polling Question  Which cultural background do you identify with the most? Choose only one. o Anglo (white, non-Hispanic)

o Hispanic o African American, black o Native American (American Indian) o Asian o Other The Old Order Amish Subculture  Strong faith in God.  Rejection of worldly concerns.  Rely on horse and buggy for transportation. Countercultures - A group that strongly rejects dominant societal values and norms and seeks alternative lifestyles  Beatniks of the 1950’s  Flower Children of the 1960’s  Drug Enthusiasts of the 1970’s Culture Shock, Ethnocentrism, and Cultural Relativism  Culture shock refers to the anxiety people experience when they encounter cultures radically different from their own.  Ethnocentrism is the assumption that one’s own culture is superior to others.  Cultural relativism views and analyzes another culture in terms of that culture’s own values and standards.  Cultural Imperialism – the extensive infusion of one nation’s culture into other nations  Biological needs –including food and procreation  Instrumental needs – including law and education  Integrative needs – including religion and art  Ideology – an integrated system of ideas that is external to, and coercive of, people to maintain their positions of dominance in a society  Commodities – objects outside ourselves that we purchase to satisfy our human needs or wants Sociological Analysis of Culture  Functionalist - Culture helps people meet biological, instrumental and expressive needs.  Conflict - Ideas can be used by the ruling class to affect members of other classes.  Symbolic Interactionist - People create, maintain, and modify culture during their everyday activities.  Postmodern - Culture is based on simulation of reality rather than reality itself. Quick Quiz

  1. ________ consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share.
    • Nonmaterial culture
    • Cultural universals
    • Material culture
    • High culture Answer: C  Material culture consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share.
  2. Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of:
    • material culture
    • high culture
    • nonmaterial culture
    • cultural universals Answer: C  Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of nonmaterial culture.
  3. An example of a symbol is:
    • a dove
    • all of the choices
    • a heart
    • Nazi swastika