Course Notes on Culture, Race, and Globalization

Overview of Course Themes

• Exploration Areas: Language, religion, economy, cultural landscape, and globalization.

Key Themes

• Nature Culture: Examines human relationship with nature and the cultural landscape.
  • Examples: Impact of religion and food on cultural landscapes.

Cultural Landscape Impact Examples

• Commercial vs. Family Agriculture:
  • Central Valley: Large commercial farms (monoculture - e.g., almonds).
  • Caribbean: Diverse family farms (mixed crops: beans, bananas, tomatoes).
• Cultural Values Reflected in Landscapes:
  • Western Europe: Churches present (Catholicism significant).
  • Middle East: Mosques prevalent due to Islamic culture.

Global Development Concepts

• Development Terminology:
  • "Developed" vs. "Developing" Countries:
  • Developing implies progress.
  • LDCs (Less Developed Countries): Countries not yet at developed status.
  • Core, Semiperiphery, Peripheral: Classification of countries based on economic standing.

World Systems Theory

• Focus on economic and social frameworks dividing countries into core, semiperiphery, and periphery.
• Emerging economies categorized into BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China).

Cultural Definitions

• Culture:
  • Definition: Set of learned beliefs, values, practices that shape identity. (Fluid concept)
• Cultural Elements:
  • Examples include food, religion, language, dance, music, customs, agricultural practices.

Key Discussion Points on Culture

• Fluidity of Culture:
  • Cultural boundaries are not fixed; individuals can adopt different cultural practices (e.g., changing religions).
• Race vs. Ethnicity:
  • Race: Based on physical phenotypes (skin color, hair type) and often a permanent attribute.
  • Ethnicity: Shared cultural traits among a group, which can refer to religion, language, food, etc.

Exclusion Based on Social Constructs

• Exclusion based on cultural dimensions is fluid; individuals can change religious or cultural practices to gain access to different communities.
• Permanent exclusion often aligns with race, linked to inherent physical traits.

Historical Perspective on Race

• Social Construct of Race: Race classifications historically tied to social narratives, can change based on political and social contexts (e.g., Irish immigrants viewed differently in the past).
• The Dred Scott Case illustrates the complexities of citizenship related to race.

Cultural Dynamics and Authenticity

• Authenticity in culture is often debated as cultures evolve and adapt, blending with others (e.g., reggae influencing reggaeton).

Important Cultural Concepts

• Cultural Systems:
  • Interaction of values, cultural trends, language, and practices.
• Norms: Expectations for behavior, divided into folkways and mores.
• Ethnocentrism: Belief that one’s own cultural group is superior to others.

Global Examples of Cultural Practices

• Indigenous Cultures: Original inhabitants maintain unique cultural practices despite globalization.
• Amish Communities: Example of largely self-sufficient groups resisting modern globalization.

Modern Implications

• Current applications of racial constructs in banking, education, and real estate.
  • Example: Disparity in property appraisals based on race.

Final Thoughts

• Intersection of Culture and Race: How both constructs interact impacts social structures and individual identities.
• Importance of understanding the fluidity of cultural constructs amidst globalization and social narratives.