Chapter One

Understanding Culture: Definitions and Meanings

• Complexity of the Term 'Culture'

  • Considered one of the most complex words in English.

  • Four major interpretations:

    1. Artistic and Intellectual Work: Represents capabilities in creative fields.

    2. Process of Development: Refers to spiritual and intellectual growth over time.

    3. Values and Beliefs: Encompasses the customs, beliefs, and symbolic practices shaping daily life.

    4. Way of Life: A broader term that can refer to all aspects of a community's lifestyle.

• Example: Lappish Culture

  • Artistic aspects: poetry, music, dance.

  • Daily life elements: food, sport, religion.

  • Inclusive of societal structures: laws, transportation.

Artistic vs. Everyday Culture

• Artistic Culture: Often innovative, avant-garde; involves new creations (e.g., a concerto, journal).

• Culture as Habit: Linked to customs and traditions; more about habitual practices than innovation.

  • This culture reflects continuity with ancestral practices.

• Accumulation of Cultural Capital:

  • The notion that anyone can attain cultural sophistication over time through effort.

  • Suggestive of an egalitarian view where culture can be cultivated.

Distinctions in Meaning

• The first three senses of culture are generally more practical than the fourth.

• Raymond Williams' Observation:

  • The concept of culture can become overly broad, diminishing its usefulness.

• Culture vs. Civilisation: A distinction exists where:

  • Culture can include symbolic practices, while civilisation denotes material and institutional structures.

  • Example: British working-class culture involves institutions like trade unions.

The Ambiguities of Culture

• T.S. Eliot's Definition: Culture includes the characteristic activities of a people (perhaps a narrow focus).

• Raymond Williams Critique: Suggests that Eliot's view limits culture to symbolic practices instead of acknowledging practical activities.

Culture and Civilisation: Historical Context

• Historically, 'culture' and 'civilisation' were synonymous but now often viewed oppositely:

  • Germans symbolize the cultural aspects (art, philosophy); French represent civilisation (sophistication, material advancement).

• Civilisation: Seen as material and pragmatic, encompassing urban life and technologies.

  • For instance, functional aspects like mailboxes or traffic lights versus cultural practices.

The Role of Culture in Identity

• Societal Identity: Culture often aims to delineate group identity, which can lead to exclusionary practices.

• Important to note that perceptions of culture vary widely based on perspectives, and collective identities often involve excluding others.

Modern vs. Premodern Perspectives

• Modern Societies:

  • Tend to separate economic and practical from cultural pursuits.

  • Work is often driven by economic necessity rather than community or traditional ties.

• Premodern Cultures:

  • Intertwined with spirituality and practical life, making distinctions more opaque.

  • Labor and commerce seen in conjunction with cultural and spiritual duties.

The Evolution of Culture and Civilisation

• Industrial Revolution's Impact:

  • Marked the rise of a discernible divide between cultural ideal and civil reality.

  • Cultural critique emerged alongside material advancements, questioning the moral state of civilised life.

• Crisis of Civilisation: Philosophers like D.H. Lawrence expressed disillusionment with industrial civilization.

  • Culture positioned as a counterpoint to material existence, considered a reflection of deeper values.

Culture's Self-Referential Nature

• Defining Culture:

  • Beyond a collection of artistic works, culture embodies societal values and communal life styles.

  • The term can encapsulate both value-laden and neutral descriptors.

Art vs. Life: Cultural Significance

• Artistic pursuits may often serve as a critique or reflection of broader societal norms.

• While economic pursuits are often looked at as mere survival, cultural achievements involve deeper engagements with life.

Conclusion: The Nature of Culture and Its Future

• Culture continues to evolve, intersecting with and reflecting upon aspects of civility, identity, and material existence.

• The search for meaning, beauty, and identity remains core to human experience and cultural legacy.