Cultural Diversity

Drill

List 5 examples each of material & non-material culture here in the United States.

Material vs. Nonmaterial Culture Material Culture

The physical objects that people create and use in one’s daily life

Nonmaterial Culture Abstract human

creations ~ beliefs, family patterns, language, rules, etc.

The Components of Culture All Cultures have

certain basic components Technology Symbols Language Values Norms

Technology A society’s culture

consists of physical objects & rules for using those objects What is considered

acceptable behavior when using material culture?

Ex. – “hacking” into a computer

Symbols Through symbols we

create culture & communicate it with future generations A symbol is anything

that represents anything else

Words, gestures, images, sounds, objects, events or element

Language

The organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system Used to express

ideas & needs/wants

Lost in Translation

As the economy has become increasingly more global ~ there have been some funny mistakes General Motors wondered why their Chevy

Nova cars were not selling well in Spanish-speaking countries

No va in Spanish means “it won’t go”

Values

Shared beliefs about what is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable A society that values war

& physical strength will be very different than one that values cooperation & sharing

The Cossacks of Russia The modern descendants of groups of

soldiers for hire from Central Asia Over 5 million Russians identify themselves as

Cossacks, but it is not an identifiable ethnic group They have preserved values from their history as a

race of warriors Revere military service Value extreme order Value harsh punishment for wrong-doings

The Yanomamo Farmers who live in

small villages along the border between Brazil & Venezuela Warfare & feats of male

strength play a very important role in their way of life

Once called “the Fierce People” by anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon

Approximately 30% of all deaths among Yanomamo males result from wounds in battle Conflicts in the village

cause groups to form new settlements & war occurs between villages that were originally part of the same settlement

The San The indigenous people of southern Africa,

whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola Traditionally hunter-gatherer tribes Their way of life is based on cooperation ~ all

members (except for very young, very old and sick) search for food and they share everything with all members

Norms Created to enforce

the cultural values of a group Folkways

Norms that describe socially acceptable behavior but have little moral significance

Mores Norms with great

moral significance attached to them

Examining Culture Features of a culture

are divided into 3 levels 1. Cultural Traits

An individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation or need

Ex. ~Using fork, knife or spoon to eat or specific greetings

2. Culture Complexes A cluster of interrelated

traits Ex. ~ Football combines

material traits, specific acts, beliefs & finance/marketing

3. Culture Patterns The combination of a

number of culture complexes into a whole

Ex. ~ Football, Baseball, Tennis, Golf, Basketball, Swimming, Track, Lacrosse all form the American Athletic Pattern

Homework

Use old magazines & newspapers to create a collage that illustrates each of the five components of culture here in America. Be sure to include culture traits, complexes and patterns as well.