Unit 3

Culture 🎨

Culture is complex and has no perfect definition. However, it can be broken down into two main components: Material Culture and Non-Material Culture.

Material Culture

Material Culture consists of physical objects, artifacts, or items that hold significance to an individual or society as a whole.

Non-Material Culture

"Non-Material Culture refers to the intangible elements of culture, such as an individual's ideas, beliefs, values, languages, and customs."

Together, Material and Non-Material Culture contribute to the formation of a society's culture.

Example: Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony

The ceremony itself embodies a number of key cultural values and beliefs. The Material Culture associated with the ceremony includes:

• Tea utensils

• Tea room

• Tea itself

Each item is carefully chosen and crafted to fit a specific aesthetic and invoke a certain experience. The Non-Material Culture surrounding the ceremony includes:

• Rules and procedures

• Social norms

• Sense of order and Harmony

Subculture

A Subculture is a group of people within a larger society or culture who share a distinct set of beliefs, values, and practices that are different from the main culture.

Types of Culture

Modern Culture

• Also known as Pop Culture

• Originates in economically developed regions or countries

• Spreads through hierarchical diffusion

• Prioritizes individualism and personal achievement

• Diverse and constantly evolving

Folk Culture

• More homogeneous and diffuse

• Uses relocation diffusion

• Places emphasis on community and collective experience

• Family and religion play a central role in daily life

• Aims to preserve traditional practices and often resists modern trends

Indigenous Culture

• Typically tied to a specific geographic region

• Has a strong emphasis on community and traditional values

• May have unique languages, art forms, and spiritual beliefs passed down through generations

Cultural Interaction

When cultures come into contact with each other, people tend to adopt one of two perspectives:

Ethnocentrism

"Ethnocentrism is when a person views another culture through their own cultural lens and evaluates and judges the culture using their own cultural standards."

Cultural Relativism

"Cultural Relativism is when an individual views and evaluates another culture by that culture's standards, without judging it based on their own cultural standards."

Think of Cultural Relativism as putting yourself in someone else's shoes.

Cultural Landscape 🏙

The Cultural Landscape refers to the visible human modifications of the natural environment. It includes:

• Religious practices

• Linguistic characteristics

• Infrastructure designs

• Agricultural practices

• Architectural styles

• Land use patterns

Different architectural styles reflect different cultural values in the cultural landscape.

Traditional Architecture

• Uses resources from the local area

• Incorporates local culture and resources into the design of the building

Modern Architecture

• Focuses on function over design

• Often does not seek to incorporate local culture into the design of the building

Post-Modern Architecture

• Strives to create a unique look that incorporates local culture into the design of the building

Sequent Occupancy

Sequent Occupancy is the impact of cultures over time on a geographic location. It illustrates how people have left their mark on a particular area throughout history.

Analyzing the Cultural Landscape

By analyzing the cultural landscape of an area, we can gain insight into:

• How cultures have influenced and shaped a place over time

• The values of the society

• How cultural beliefs and identities are reflected in the built environment

Factors that Shape the Cultural Landscape

• Human characteristics:

  • Demographic data (birth rates, age distributions, languages spoken, religions practiced)

  • Cultural practices

• Physical characteristics:

  • Natural features (rivers, mountains, vegetation, climate)

  • Man-made structures

Sense of Place

A Sense of Place refers to a strong emotional connection or perception a person may have of a specific geographic area. This connection is often unique to an individual or group and can be shaped by:

• Personal experience

• Human and physical characteristics of a place

• Shared community and cultural identities

• Distinct dialects and accents

• Ethnic traditions (food, music, land use patterns)

Placemaking

Placemaking is when a community comes together to transform a public space for different activities or events. It promotes community and social interaction between different people in a society.

Global Cultural Landscape

As the world becomes more connected, we will see a global cultural landscape form, especially in urban areas. This can lead to unique cultural practices and traditions being replaced by dominant global trends.

Forces that Shape a Place

Centripetal Forces

• Bring people together and promote unity

• Include shared history, common language, and similar cultural values and beliefs

• Result in a closer community feel and a stronger sense of identity

Centrifugal Forces

• Divide and force people apart

• Include significant cultural differences, multiple languages spoken, ethnic and religious divisions, or other cultural factors that put up barriers between people

• Result in communities becoming fragmented## Diffusion 🌎

Relocation Diffusion

Relocation diffusion occurs when an individual or group of people moves from one place to another, bringing their cultural traits with them.

• Example: The Amish, who originated in Europe, migrated to the United States in the 1700s to escape persecution.

Expansion Diffusion

Expansion diffusion occurs when a cultural trait or group of people spreads from one place to another through person-to-person contact, resulting in the trait spreading throughout a geographic area.

• Types of Expansion Diffusion:

  • Contagious Diffusion: The spread of a cultural trait happens in almost all directions, without regard to social class, religion, or other cultural factors.

  • Hierarchical Diffusion: The spread of a cultural trait happens through systems that typically center around some form of power.

    • Reverse Hierarchical Diffusion: Diffusion starts at the bottom of a power structure and spreads upwards.

  • Stimulus Diffusion: An idea, trait, or innovation spreads from one culture or place to another, but the original idea or trait is adapted to better fit the local culture.

Historical Causes of Diffusion

• Colonialism and Imperialism: The impact of colonialism and imperialism on the diffusion of different religions, languages, cultures, and people around the world.

  • Example: The British Empire's influence on the spread of English and Christianity throughout its empire.

• Trade and Commerce: The reshaping of the world and contribution to the diffusion of different traits through events such as the Colombian Exchange and the Triangular Trade.

• Missionaries: The relocation of missionaries through relocation diffusion to colonies in order to spread the word of Christianity.

Contemporary Causes of Diffusion

• Advancements in Technology: The breaking down of barriers between people, making it easier to connect with others across the world.

• Globalization: The increased interconnectedness of countries, economies, and cultures, leading to the diffusion of diverse lifestyles and ideas.

• Urbanization: The growth of cities and the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas, leading to the diffusion of diverse lifestyles and ideas.

Cultural Divergence and Convergence

• Cultural Divergence: The process by which individuals become separated from different aspects of their culture.

• Cultural Convergence: The process by which cultures become more similar as different cultures come together to start and form one mass culture.

Types of Religions

• Universalizing Religions: Religions that seek to appeal to all people, seeking to expand and spread their teachings and beliefs to as many people as possible.

  • Examples: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism

• Ethnic Religions: Religions that are closely tied to a particular ethnic or cultural group.

Language Diffusion

• Lingua Franca: A language that is used as a common means of communication between people who speak different languages.

  • Example: English became a lingua franca due to the influence of the British Empire.## Universalizing Religions 🌎

Christianity

Definition: One of the Abrahamic religions, originating in the Eastern Mediterranean.

• Diffused around the world during the colonial era through:

  • Missionaries

  • Hierarchical diffusion

• Shaped cultural landscapes with:

  • Churches

  • Holidays

  • Traditions

  • Gospel music (incorporated into popular music)

Islam

Definition: Another Abrahamic religion, originating in the Eastern Mediterranean.

• Monotheistic religion traced back to a single founder, Muhammad

• Split into Shia and Sunni branches after Muhammad's passing

• Both branches have the Quran as their holy book and follow the five pillars of Islam

• Diffused across the globe through:

  • Conquest

  • Trade

  • Missionary work

• Shapes cultural landscapes with:

  • Mosques (incorporating intricate geometric design)

  • Celebrations of different holidays and traditions

Buddhism

Definition: Originated in South Asia, does not have a set deity.

• Based around the belief that anyone can achieve salvation by following the four noble truths and the middle path

• Diffused due to:

  • Relocation diffusion (missionaries relocating to other countries and regions)

  • Extensive trade routes linking India to other parts of Asia

  • Adapting to other faiths in the regions to fit the local culture (e.g., incorporating elements of Taoism and Confucianism in China)

• Shapes cultural landscapes with:

  • Pagodas (temples serving as important cultural and religious landmarks)

Sikhism

Definition: Monotheistic religion originating in the Punjab region.

• Believes in spiritual liberation through meditation, self-discipline, and service to others

• Has 10 gurus who helped guide Sikhs in their daily lives

• Diffused through relocation diffusion, but limited due to being located between Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism

• Shapes cultural landscapes with:

  • Unique cuisine

  • Religious buildings (e.g., the Golden Temple)

  • Style of dress

Ethnic Religions 🏠

Hinduism

Definition: One of the world's oldest religions, originating in India.

• Believes in Karma and Dharma

• Sacred texts: The Vedas

• Diffused through:

  • Stimulus diffusion (spreading between different faiths, taking on some aspects of traditional faiths and eventually replacing them)

  • Migration of different people (relocation diffusion)

• Shapes cultural landscapes with:

  • Hindu temples

  • Emphasis on rituals and traditions (shaping cultural identity)

Judaism

Definition: Another Abrahamic religion, originating in the Eastern Mediterranean.

• Closely linked to a sense of shared history, culture, and traditions that all connect back to the Jewish people

• Three main branches: Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative

• Diffused through relocation diffusion (mainly due to war and persecution)

• Shapes cultural landscapes with:

  • Synagogues

  • Wearing of religious attire

  • Observance of different holidays and customs

Language 🗣

Proto-Lingua

Definition: The earliest form of a language, often requiring going back in time before written records were kept.

Language Family

Definition: A group of languages that share a common ancestor, similar to how species in biology have a common ancestor.

Dialects

Definition: Regional variances that occur in the form of a language, based on local culture.

• Examples:

  • Spelling differences

  • Vocabulary differences

  • Pronunciation differences (e.g., "pop" vs. "soda", "agriculture" vs. "agriculchure")

Isogloss

Definition: A boundary based on linguistic differences.

Language Hearts

• Review document provided for language family hearts and tips for remembering them.

Effects of Diffusion 🌈

Assimilation

Definition: When an individual or group adopts the cultural norms and practices of a dominant group in society, potentially leading to the loss of their own cultural identity.

• Example: Boarding schools set up to forcibly assimilate American Indians into American culture.

Acculturation

Definition: When an individual or group adopts and adapts certain cultural traits of another culture, modifying their own culture while retaining different aspects of its original identity.

• Example: People wearing modern clothes like jeans while still consuming traditional food and practicing original cultural traditions.

Syncretism

Definition: When two or more cultures evolve or change over time in a similar manner, or remain culturally distinct.

• Example: Sikhism, which started in India and consisted of elements from both Hinduism and Islam, eventually developing into its own religion.

Cultural Resistance

Definition: The opposition to the diffusion of specific traits or practices due to various factors, such as cultural barriers, language differences, or negative stereotypes.

Multiculturalism

Definition: When a society has a large diversity of cultures that coexist within the society, often due to immigration.

• Examples: United States and Canada as multicultural countries.