Introduction to Culture and Community

Flashcards covering the definitions, history, and sociopolitical implications of 'culture' and 'community' as discussed in the lecture transcript.

Common values and moral obligation

A suggestion by Parsons (1949) that members of a nation share these and fulfil role expectations, though they do not normally interact systematically toward a common goal.

South African context of terms

The popular use of terms like nation or culture is often inconsistent and informs the policies of those who hold power, causing suffering for the majority.

Multicultural

A term used by political figures like Chris Heunis to suggest South Africa is composed of many cultures that the constitution must reflect.

Volke

A term referring to different peoples, often used with the notion that culture is the property of specific, separate groups.

D. P. Stoffberg's definition of culture

The expression of an ethnic group's speech, thought processes, actions, and aspirations, which develops organically and simultaneously with the group.

A. C. Myburgh's definition of 'a people'

A human group producing and maintaining a culture.

Elvin Hatch's definition of culture

The way of life of a people, as defined in the 1985 edition of The Social Science Encyclopedia.

The 'cup of clay' parable

A 'just-so' story from Ruth Benedict's Patterns of Culture used by P. J. Coertze to suggest God gave every people their own unique culture.

The problem of the 's' in 'cultures'

The linguistic shift from 'culture' to 'cultures' which implies humanity is divided into many distinct, separate entities rather than sharing a common human trait.

Culture as a political statement

The act of defining culture is itself a declaration of identity and a statement of what it is to be human.

Self-contained wholeness

An idea shared by the 19th-century concepts of 'society,' 'nation,' 'organism,' and 'culture.'

Political hygiene

The use of ideas about cultures and organisms to justify repressive state bureaucracies defending against 'internal enemies.'

Romantic idea of culture

The 19th-century view that culture is the organic product of a people or nation, influenced by thinkers like Goethe, Hegel, and Grimm.

Wilhelm Bleek

A Prussian intellectual and assistant to Sir George Grey who coined the term 'Bantu' and regularized the usage of words like Zulu.

Enlightenment view of 'civilisation'

The belief that civilisation results from rational thought leading to general improvement, often distinguishing urban dwellers (civil) from rural ones (uncivilised).

Edward Burnet Tylor's definition (1871)

'Culture or civilisation is that complex whole acquired by man as a member of society,' including knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, and custom.

Modernist idea of culture

The 20th-century view that culture functions to maintain society or nations and changes over time in relation to social or economic shifts.

Culture as a resource

A contemporary view that culture is learned information needed for social interaction, which, like energy or air, cannot belong exclusively to any one group.

Boundaries

Created by culture to define class, ethnicity, race, gender, and territory through automatic and unconscious rituals and habits.

Community

A highly stereotyped and obscure political term often used by the South African government as a euphemism for 'race.'