o week

• What is culture?

Culture refers to the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes a group of people. It includes elements such as language, customs, traditions, art, beliefs, and social habits, which are passed down from generation to generation. Culture influences how individuals perceive the world, interact with others, and express themselves.

• How do individuals and societies make meaning?

Individuals and societies make meaning through various processes, including cultural practices, language, social interactions, beliefs, and shared values. These elements shape how people interpret their experiences and understand the world around them. Culture plays a crucial role by providing a framework through which individuals and communities derive significance from events, traditions, and relationships. Meaning-making is also influenced by historical contexts, personal experiences, and collective narratives that evolve over time.

• Does culture shape social life or does social life shape culture?

The relationship between culture and social life is reciprocal; culture shapes social life while social life also influences culture. Culture provides the foundational beliefs, values, and practices that guide how individuals interact with each other and understand their social environment. In turn, social interactions and experiences can lead to adaptations or changes in cultural norms and practices over time. This dynamic interplay allows both elements to evolve and contribute to the overall shaping of societies.

Through close up study of a range of topics, such as happiness, trauma, memory and love, we look at meaning as the central driving force for individuals and for societies more broadly.