Unit 3: Cultural Patterns and Processes (copy) (copy)

What defines culture?

Culture is the shared experience, traits, and activities of a group of people who have a common heritage.

What is cultural synthesis (syncretism)?

Cultural synthesis is the blending together of two or more cultural influences.

Give an example of cultural synthesis.

Country music blends Scots-Irish, German, and African musical traditions to create a distinct American genre.

What are the main components of culture?

Art, architecture, language, music, film and television, food, clothing, social interaction, religion, folklore, and land use.

What is modern architecture?

Modern architecture developed during the 20th century, expressing geometric, ordered forms.

What characterizes contemporary architecture?

Contemporary architecture uses more organic shapes and incorporates green energy technologies and nontraditional materials.

What is an I-house in the context of American architecture?

The I-house is a rectangular house influential in the U.S. and Canada, characterized by a central door and symmetrical windows.

What is the significance of the Five Pillars of Islam?

The Five Pillars provide a moral system for Muslims, emphasizing daily prayers, charity, Ramadan observance, and pilgrimage to Mecca.

What are the characteristics of folk music?

Folk music is original to a specific culture, often featuring unique instruments and lyrics that incorporate cultural stories.

What is a lingua franca?

A lingua franca is a bridge language used to aid communication between people of different native languages.

How is the caste system structured in India?

The caste system in India is hierarchically structured into five castes: Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Dalits.

What does cultural relativism mean?

Cultural relativism is the idea that an individual’s beliefs and practices can only be understood in the context of their own culture.

What is sequent occupance?

Sequent occupance refers to the process where different dominant cultures succeed one another in a specific place or region.

What is cultural globalization?

Cultural globalization refers to the worldwide exchange and integration of cultural elements, often leading to the spread of dominant cultures.

What are the main theories regarding the origins of European languages?

The Anatolian theory suggests migrants spread language from Turkey, while the Kurgan theory posits migration across Central Asia into Europe.

What is the role of folklore in culture?

Folklore consists of stories and traditions that define a culture's history and ethical foundations.

Define ethnocentrism.

Ethnocentrism is the belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture over others.