What is Culture? - Online Article

Culture encompasses the characteristics and knowledge of a group of people, including language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and arts.
The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition defines culture as shared patterns of behaviors, interactions, cognitive constructs, and understandings learned through socialization.
Culture fosters group identity through unique social patterns.
Cristina De Rossi (anthropologist): Culture includes religion, food, clothing, language, marriage, music, beliefs about right and wrong, table manners, greetings, and behavior with loved ones.
Countries like France, Italy, Germany, the US, India, Russia, and China are known for rich cultures that attract tourists.
The word "culture" comes from the French term, derived from the Latin "colere," meaning to cultivate and nurture.

Western culture defines the culture of European countries and those influenced by European immigration (e.g., the United States), according to Khan University.
Roots in the Greco-Roman era (4th-5th centuries B.C.) and the rise of Christianity in the 14th century.
Influenced by Latin, Celtic, Germanic, and Hellenic ethnic and linguistic groups.
Historical events shaping Western culture include:
- The fall of Rome (A.D. 476) led to warring states in Europe.
- The Black Death (1300s) reduced Europe's population by one-third to one-half.
  - Christianity strengthened with focus on apocalyptic themes.
  - The working class gained power due to labor shortages.
  - Disrupted trade led to European exploration of the Americas.

Eastern culture includes societal norms of Far East Asia (China, Japan, Vietnam, North Korea, South Korea) and the Indian subcontinent.
Influenced by religion and rice cultivation.
Less distinction between secular society and religious philosophy compared to the West.
Buddhism originated in India but declined after the 12th century, overtaken by Hinduism.
Buddhism remains significant in some Eastern cultures.

Latin America includes parts of Central America, South America, and Mexico where Spanish or Portuguese are dominant.
Colonized by Spain or Portugal starting in the 1400s.
Centuries of interactions led to cultural exchange.
Japan controlled or occupied Korea (1876-1945), leading to forced name changes.
Latin cultures blend Indigenous traditions with Spanish language and Catholicism.
Influenced by African cultures due to enslaved Africans from the 1600s, especially in Brazil and Caribbean nations.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) dates back to before Christopher Columbus, merged with Catholic All Saints Day by Spanish colonizers, and popularized in the United States by Mexican immigrants.
Michael Gobat disputes simple definitions.

The Middle East includes the Arabian Peninsula and eastern Mediterranean; North African countries (Libya, Egypt, Sudan) are sometimes included.
Diverse cultural practices, religious beliefs, and daily habits.
Birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, with many languages spoken.
Islam is the predominant religion and has significantly shaped the region's cultural development.
Islam originated in Saudi Arabia in the early 7th century.
A schism occurred after Muhammad's death in 632 between Shia and Sunni Muslims.
- Shia Muslims believed leadership should pass through Muhammad's bloodline.
- Sunni Muslims believed leadership should not be based on bloodline.
- $85\%$ of Muslims today are Sunni.
- Divisions between the two groups often cause conflict.
The Ottoman Empire (14th - early 20th centuries) shaped Middle Eastern culture with distinctive architecture derived from Persian and Islamic influences.

Africa has the longest history of human habitation; humans originated there and migrated to other areas $400,000$ years ago.
Tom White and his team discovered this by studying Africa's ancient lakes and the animals that lived in them.
Northwest Africa has ties to the Middle East; Sub-Saharan Africa has different characteristics from North Africa.
Cultural variations exist within national boundaries.
Nigeria has more than $300$ tribes.
East African trading ports linked East and West from the 7th century.
Sub-Saharan African cultures include the Maasai of Tanzania and Kenya, the Zulu of South Africa, and the Batwa of Central Africa.
The Batwa are foragers in the rainforest, while the Maasai herd sheep and goats.

Cultural appropriation is the taking over of creative or artistic forms, themes, or practices by one cultural group from another.
Example: A non-Native American wearing a Native American headdress.
Victoria's Secret faced criticism in 2012 for a model wearing a Lakota war bonnet-like headdress.
- Headdresses symbolize bravery and are earned by chieftains or warriors.
- The model wore turquoise jewelry inspired by Zuni, Navajo, and Hopi tribes.
In 2019, Gucci faced backlash for selling a turban, causing anger from the Sikh community.
Harjinder Singh Kukreja stated that the Sikh Turban is an article of faith, not a fashion accessory.

Cultures are fluid and constantly changing.
Culture is key in our interconnected world, which is made up of so many ethnically diverse societies, but also riddled by conflicts associated with religion, ethnicity, ethical beliefs.
Respecting and preserving the past is valuable.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) identifies, conserves, and protects cultural and natural heritage.
The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted by UNESCO in 1972.