Culture

• Material culture: physical objects that hold value to an individual or society.

• Non-material culture': beliefs, values, norms, symbols, language, or rituals that hold value to an individual or society.

• Sub-culture: a group of people within a larger culture who share a distinct set of beliefs, values and practices.

Ethnocentrism: using your own beliefs to judge another indivisual.

Cultural relativism: trying to understand someone’s culture from their POV.

Modern Culture and Folk Culture

• Modern culture (Pop Culture) originates in economically developed regions and prioritizes individualism and personal achievement.

  • It is diverse and constantly evolving.

• Folk culture is more homogeneous, emphasizes community and collective experience, and aims to preserve traditional practices.

Indigenous Cultures

• Indigenous cultures are tied to specific geographic regions and often have a strong emphasis on community and traditional values.

  • They may have unique languages, art forms, and spiritual beliefs.

Cultural Interaction

• People tend to adopt either an ethnocentric or cultural relativist perspective when cultures come into contact.

  • Ethnocentrism involves evaluating another culture using one's own cultural standards.

  • Cultural relativism involves viewing and evaluating another culture by that culture's standards.

Cultural Landscape

• The cultural landscape refers to visible human modifications of the natural environment.

  • It includes religious practices, linguistic characteristics, infrastructure designs, agricultural practices, and land use patterns.

Cultural Landscape and Place

• The cultural landscape is shaped by historical events, economic and political systems, and social norms.

  • Different architectural styles and land use patterns reflect cultural values.

• A sense of place refers to a strong emotional connection or perception of a specific geographic area.

  • It is influenced by personal experience, community and cultural identities, and local history.

Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces

• Centripetal forces bring people together and promote unity.

  • They include shared history, common language, and similar cultural values and beliefs.

• Centrifugal forces divide and force people apart, resulting in fragmented communities.

  • These forces may include significant cultural differences and divisions.

Types of Diffusion

• Relocation Diffusion: Physical movement of a culture or group of people from one place to another, resulting in the spread of cultural traits.

  • The Amish migrating from Europe to the United States exemplifies relocation diffusion.

• Expansion Diffusion: Spread of a cultural trait or group of people from one place to another through person-to-person contact.

  • Includes contagious diffusion, hierarchical diffusion, and stimulus diffusion.

Historical Causes of Diffusion

• Colonialism and Imperialism: Increased immigration and interaction between settlers and locals led to the exchange of languages, religions, and customs.

  • English language became a lingua franca due to the influence of the British Empire.

• Triangular Trade: Forced migration of enslaved people and diffusion of different religions, cultures, and languages.

Contemporary Causes of Diffusion

• Advancements in Technology: Social media platforms and the internet allow for the rapid spread of ideas, trends, and cultures globally.

  • Time-space convergence and hierarchical diffusion contribute to the spread of ideas.

• Globalization: Companies like McDonald's, Starbucks, and KFC operate globally, contributing to the diffusion of cultures and ideas.

  • American military bases in various regions also diffuse American culture and language.

Effects of Globalization

• Cultural Divergence: Individuals becoming separated from different aspects of their culture due to various factors.

  • Globalization and modern technology contribute to the gradual disappearance of indigenous and folk languages and cultures.

• Cultural Convergence: Increasing number of people adopting English as a primary or secondary language globally.

Other Effects of Diffusion

• Creolization: Two cultures coming together to create a new third culture, as seen with Spanish settlers in the Caribbean and French settlers in Louisiana.

• Impact of Trade and Commerce: The Colombian Exchange and the Silk Road led to the diffusion of different cultures, ideas, goods, and inventions across regions.

Cultural Diffusion and Convergence

• Geographical isolation or adoption of different cultural practices lead to cultural divergence.

• Cultural convergence occurs when different cultures blend to form a mass culture due to increased communication and interaction.

Universalizing Religions

• Seek to appeal to all people and expand through teachings and beliefs.

  • Examples include Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Sikhism.

• Diffusion occurs through expansion and relocation diffusion, shaping cultural landscapes globally.

Ethnic Religions

• Primarily centered around a specific cultural or ethnic group and diffuse through relocation diffusion.

  • Examples include Hinduism and Judaism.

• Diffusion often involves stimulus diffusion, migration, and shaping cultural landscapes.

Language Families and Dialects

• Language families consist of languages with a common ancestor, with branches and groups within them.

• Dialects are regional variances in language, leading to differences in spelling, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Isoglosses mark distinct dialect boundaries.

Effects of Diffusion

• Assimilation leads to adopting dominant cultural norms, potentially at the expense of the original culture.

• Acculturation involves adopting and adapting certain cultural traits without losing the original culture.

• Syncretism is the blending of cultures while remaining distinct, leading to the evolution of new cultural aspects.

Cultural Resistance to Diffusion

• Cultural barriers and language differences can hinder the diffusion of specific traits.

• Highly religious communities may oppose certain practices, limiting their diffusion.

Cultural Resistance to Diffusion

• Individuals may resist due to fear of losing their way of life

  • Fear of negative stereotypes or prejudices against the incoming culture

• Diffusion was traditionally limited by geographic factors like mountains, rivers, or oceans

  • Advancements in technology and communication have made it easier to connect with people around the world

• Obstacles to diffusion are often political, economic, or cultural

Multiculturalism

• Society with a large diversity of cultures coexisting

  • Aims to create a society where people of different linguistic, religious, and cultural backgrounds can exist together

• Often happens due to immigration

  • Examples of multicultural countries include the United States and Canada