3.18

intro to culture

native architecture

native architecture

native cultures often build unique structures because of ties to the environment/resources (ex. people in the Southwest using adobe clay because it’s traditional and has good insulation)

what factors influence land use?

extracting valuable resources to survive and make money, geographic setting, cultural patterns

long-lot settlement pattern

home settlement pattern with homes at the end of long lots so that each plot of land has resource access (Americas, West Africa, Southeast Asia)

migrant land use patterns

don’t always fit with new environments (ex. settlers from the East liked golf and big lawns, but such things are impractical in the dry Southwest)

how do food preferences reflect culture?

resource availability and cultural taboos shape food preferences, and changes in preferences often reflect cultural shifts (ex. immigration, technology, intermarriage)

how can cultural landscapes involve food/taste?

restaurants (signage/imagery) and smells of food

why is singaporean food so similar to chinese food?

lots of chinese immigrants live in singapore and intermarry with singaporean people

material culture

physical objects made and used by a culture (buildings, furniture, clothing, food, art, instruments)

nonmaterial culture

intangible range of beliefs, values, myths, and symbolic meanings passed between generations in a culture that dictate morals, relationships, and interactions (school, land use, gender roles, government)

cultural traits

all material and nonmaterial aspects of a culture that impact how people perceive and act in a place

local/folk cultures

rural, ethnically similar, connected to land, pass traditions down, slow to change, regionally distinct (ALL cultures were local until migration)

indigenous cultures

when a local culture is oppressed because of migration, colonization, or marginalization (ex. Native Americans, Aborigines)

popular cultures

heterogenous culture influenced by key urban areas and is quick to adopt new technology (opposite of local culture)

are cultures rigid?

no, cultures are always changing and cultural elements can blend

how does age affect culture?

old people try to preserve local culture while young people drive change in popular cultures

cultural attitudes

attitudes in a society shaped by cultural opinions, beliefs, and practices (ex. many different ideas about ideal family structures and gender roles)

what type of culture defines cultural attitudes?

nonmaterial culture

cultural norms

cultural practices that are accepted/agreed upon

cultural taboos

heavily discouraged behaviors in a certain culture

what’s the influence of cultural attitudes?

cultural attitudes influence the way people understand the world, their place in society, and interactions with others (ex. cultural ideas about family size have lead to TFR decrease)

how does a society’s geographic location influence cultural attitudes?

farming societies generally prefer bigger families for farm labor, while metropolitan societies are more tolerant of few/no children because housing is expensive and kids can’t contribute economically

language

a mutually agreed upon system of symbolic communication

significance of language

it’s often considered the essence of human nature because it identifies groups, spreads ideas, and impacts perceptions and naming of the environment

how does knowing many languages affect worldview?

it gives bilingual people/polyglots a more unique worldview and helps them navigate cultures/difficult situations

polyglots

people fluent in more than 2 languages

code switching

when we speak and act differently based on the cultural environment

what is the most profoundly felt dimension of identity for most people?

religion

religion

a structured set of beliefs and practices that people seek harmony with the universe through and shapes celebration of important events

how are place and religion intertwined in Hinduism?

Hindus believe Ganga River brings life (agriculture) and death (floods)

ethnic group

people of common ancestry and cultural tradition, characterized by feeling of group identity

keepers of distinctive cultural traditions facilitating social interaction

what can your ethnic group influence?

friendships, marriage, business, politics, identity

offers cultural security and reinforces tradition

are ethnic groups voluntary or involuntary?

involuntary; you can’t choose your ethnicity (you could join through adoption or intermarriage)

what are some traits that ethnic groups base their identities on?

religion (Jews), local culture (Amish), national origin, language, diaspora

where do many ethnic groups come from?

migration, as they weren’t the minority in their home country but they are now

what often happens to ethnic groups living in ancient homes?

they get absorbed into larger political states (ex. Navajo live on traditional lands but became ethnic after the US annexed their territory)

race

a social construct based on the physical characteristics of a group often used to mark minority groups as different

ethnic geography

study of spatial aspects of ethnicity

how can ethnic groups change the cultural landscape

struggles and events leave a mark on landscape

ethnic group practice unique adaptive strategies and occupy clearly defined areas

why does race have different meanings over time?

because it’s a social construct (ex. one-drop rule in the 1900’s said that any person with african american lineage is black and should be treated differently)

what would cause a country to promote patriotism?

no place is fully culturally homogenous

what would cause a country to promote diversity?

some people aren’t in favor of having a single national identity

multiculturalism

promoting active inclusion of minorities in history, politics, and cultures (there will still be a representation imbalance)

ethnocentric approach

pov that the observer’s culture is always seen as correct and other cultures are judged that way (looks for mistakes in other cultures)

cultural relativism

understands traditions with an open mind

when does an ethnocentric approach need to be used?

when culture harms human rights (forced marriage, slavery, etc.)

how do homemade goods impact culture?

tools, clothing, musical instruments, etc. were regionally distinctive and shaped locally distinct cultures (some still reject technology)

amish

a sect of christianity that isolate themselves from modern technology

how does modern technology impact culture?

communication technology allows the sharing and creation of social media

new machines and distribution networks reshape food (ex. texans eat flour tortillas because they fit the american palette, but people are worried that mass production will lead to loss of culture)