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.