Culture and Identity Study Notes

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the meanings of culture and identity.

  • Understand the processes through which culture is learned.

Culture

  • Culture consists of learned customs, behaviors, and communication.

  • Example: Case study of Genie demonstrates the importance of social interaction for language development.

  • 200+ definitions of culture; Bates & Plog (1990) define culture as:

    • A system of shared beliefs, values, customs, and behaviors.

    • Transmitted through generations via learning.

  • Status in society:

    • Achieved: Based on personal skills (e.g., being a teacher).

    • Ascribed: Given at birth (e.g., royal family).

Identity

  • Jary and Jary (1991): Identity is a sense of self emerging from differentiation from parents and society.

  • Significant aspects of identity include gender, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, and social class.

  • Identity can evolve; personal identity may differ from social identity, with potential for change (postmodernist views).

Sub-culture

  • Emergence of sub-cultures, particularly among youth, often distinct from mainstream society.

  • Sub-cultures provide a shared identity for groups, e.g., gangs or ethnic communities.

  • Theorist perspectives vary:

    • Functionalists emphasize commonality across society.

    • Others highlight cultural pluralism and associated societal strains.

Types of Culture

  • Folk Culture:

    • Pre-industrial traditions, local food, festivals, and community-led activities.

    • Gradually replaced by mass culture due to industrialization.

  • Mass Culture:

    • Products aimed at the general market; often lacks longevity of impact.

    • E.g., reality television.

  • High Culture:

    • Considered elite artistic achievements (e.g., classical music, literature, fine arts).

    • Viewed by some as being eroded by mass culture influences.

  • Low Culture:

    • Derogatory term for commercialized popular culture (e.g., popular music, escapist fiction).

  • Postmodern Culture:

    • Blurred distinctions between high and low culture.

    • Utilization of classic literature in contemporary media.

Globalization and Culture

  • Globalization leads to increased interdependence of cultures worldwide.

  • Local cultures impacted by global brands, e.g., food chains and products.

  • Suggests a diversification of culture through blending of local and global elements, e.g., food fusion like curry in Britain.