CultureCulture

A Matter of PerspectiveA Matter of Perspective

What is Culture?What is Culture?

Music?Music?

Food?Food?

Clothing?Clothing?

Race?Race?

Material CultureMaterial Culture

Many times, what is thought of as culture is Many times, what is thought of as culture is only its outward manifestation.only its outward manifestation.

Music, food, race and clothing are material Music, food, race and clothing are material culture. culture.

They are things that we can see, touch or They are things that we can see, touch or taste.taste.

Non-material cultureNon-material culture

Non-material Non-material cultural is ideas, cultural is ideas, beliefs and values beliefs and values that influence that influence material culture.material culture.

Religion and language Religion and language are examples are examples

of non-material cultureof non-material culture

Cultural RootsCultural Roots

Our collective Our collective opinions, attitudes, opinions, attitudes, values and beliefs values and beliefs influence such things influence such things as laws, customs and as laws, customs and holidays.holidays.

Culture as a LensCulture as a Lens

Culture is like a Culture is like a distorted lens that we distorted lens that we see the world through.see the world through.

Everyone’s lens is Everyone’s lens is distorted to some distorted to some extent.extent.

Not Me?Not Me?

Chances are, you have an Chances are, you have an opinion about this guy. Your opinion about this guy. Your opinion reveals the distortion opinion reveals the distortion of your cultural lens.of your cultural lens.

U.S. Culture : local (national) scaleU.S. Culture : local (national) scaleAll people have a tendency to reinforcetheir own values and beiefs. Culture is often dictated by the characteristics and values of the dominant group. What are the characteristics and values of America?

White, White, male, attractive, rich, athletic, educatedEnglish languageProtestant

NameName GenderGender EthnicityEthnicity religionreligion

WashingtonWashington MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

AdamsAdams MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

JeffersonJefferson MaleMale WelshWelsh ProtestantProtestant

MadisonMadison MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

MonroeMonroe MaleMale ScotchScotch ProtestantProtestant

AdamsAdams MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

JacksonJackson MaleMale Scotch-IrishScotch-Irish ProtestantProtestant

Van BurenVan Buren MaleMale DutchDutch ProtestantProtestant

HenryHenry MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

TylerTyler MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

Polk Polk MaleMale Scotch-IrishScotch-Irish ProtestantProtestant

NameName GenderGender EthnicityEthnicity ReligionReligion

TaylorTaylor MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

FillmoreFillmore Male Male EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

Pierce Pierce MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

BuchananBuchanan MaleMale Scotch-IrishScotch-Irish ProtestantProtestant

LincolnLincoln MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

JohnsonJohnson Male Male EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

GrantGrant MaleMale Scotch-IrishScotch-Irish ProtestantProtestant

HayesHayes MaleMale ScotchScotch ProtestantProtestant

GarfieldGarfield MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

ArthurArthur MaleMale Scotch-IrishScotch-Irish ProtestantProtestant

ClevelandCleveland MaleMale English, IrishEnglish, Irish ProtestantProtestant

NameName GenderGender EthnicityEthnicity ReligionReligion

HarrisonHarrison MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

MckinleyMckinley Male Male Scotch-IrishScotch-Irish ProtestantProtestant

RooseveltRoosevelt MaleMale DutchDutch ProtestantProtestant

TaftTaft Male Male EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

WilsonWilson MaleMale Scotch-IrishScotch-Irish ProtestantProtestant

HardingHarding MaleMale English-DutchEnglish-Dutch ProtestantProtestant

CollidgeCollidge MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

HooverHoover MaleMale Swiss-GermanSwiss-German ProtestantProtestant

RooseveltRoosevelt MaleMale DutchDutch ProtestantProtestant

TrumanTruman MaleMale English, ScotchEnglish, Scotch ProtestantProtestant

EisenhowerEisenhower MaleMale Swiss-GermanSwiss-German ProtestantProtestant

KennedyKennedy Male Male IrishIrish Roman CatholicRoman Catholic

NameName GenderGender EthnicityEthnicity ReligionReligion

JohnsonJohnson MaleMale English, English, Scotch-IrishScotch-Irish

ProtestantProtestant

NixonNixon MaleMale English English Scotch-IrishScotch-Irish

ProtestantProtestant

FordFord MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

CarterCarter MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

ReaganReagan MaleMale English IrishEnglish Irish ProtestantProtestant

BushBush MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

ClintonClinton Male Male English IrishEnglish Irish ProtestantProtestant

BushBush MaleMale EnglishEnglish ProtestantProtestant

Total maleTotal male Northern Northern EuropeEurope

ProtestantProtestant

4343 4343 4242

Hegemony and MarginalizationHegemony and Marginalization

Unfortunately, those Unfortunately, those who do not share the who do not share the characteristics of the characteristics of the dominant group often dominant group often feel that they don’t fit feel that they don’t fit in. in.

They are pushed away They are pushed away from the center of from the center of power into the power into the margins. This is called margins. This is called marginalization.marginalization.

Hegemony and LanguageHegemony and Language

If language were a If language were a truck, then culture truck, then culture would be it’s cargo.would be it’s cargo.

Languages are Languages are embedded with all embedded with all kinds of culture.kinds of culture.

Japanese Language and CultureJapanese Language and Culture

Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan was a feudal society. They had a caste was a feudal society. They had a caste system that held each social class in system that held each social class in it’s place.it’s place.

The Japanese have several different The Japanese have several different levels of speech depending on who levels of speech depending on who they are talking to.they are talking to.

When meeting someone for the first When meeting someone for the first time, it is custom to present someone time, it is custom to present someone with a business card that has your with a business card that has your name, company name and rank in the name, company name and rank in the company so that they know what level company so that they know what level of speech to use.of speech to use.

Feudal LordFeudal Lord

SamuraiSamurai

ArtisansArtisans

Merchants Merchants

PeasantsPeasants

UntouchablesUntouchables

Marginalization and Martial ArtsMarginalization and Martial Arts

Martial Arts is fighting Martial Arts is fighting without traditional without traditional weapons. In most feudal weapons. In most feudal societies, the only class societies, the only class that was allowed to own a that was allowed to own a weapon was the warrior weapon was the warrior class. Because they often class. Because they often abused their power, the abused their power, the peasants created forms of peasants created forms of fighting to protect fighting to protect themselves. They adapted themselves. They adapted weapons from farm tools.weapons from farm tools.

Extreme DistortionExtreme Distortion

At its worst, At its worst, marginalizaiton takes marginalizaiton takes the form of hatred, the form of hatred, racism, chauvenism, racism, chauvenism, homophobia, sizeism, homophobia, sizeism, religious persecution religious persecution and any other act by and any other act by those with distorted those with distorted lenses to reinforce lenses to reinforce their own valuestheir own values

Core Periphery ModelCore Periphery Model: Global Scale: Global ScaleThe core periphery model explains how some countries are more powerful than others. Specifically, countries north and south of 30 degrees latitude are at the core, while those between the equator to 30 degrees north and south are on the periphery. In other words, those at the core are hegemonic and exploit/marginalize those on the periphery.

CORE

Anglo-AmericaWestern Europe, Japan

Australia, South Korea

China

Middle East

South Asia

S. EastAsia

Sub-Saharan Africa

Latin America

See also: World Systems Analysis

Core-Periphery ModelCore-Periphery Model

Genocide Genocide

At it’s worst, an entire cultureCan have a distorted view ofAnother race, religion or genderThis was the case with the Holocaust, Genocide in Rwanda,Darfur, Palestinian conflict and many other atrocities.

World Conflict ZonesWorld Conflict Zones

Dark Blue=1000+ deaths per yearDark Blue=1000+ deaths per year Light Blue=10-1000 deaths per yearLight Blue=10-1000 deaths per year

Looking at the LensLooking at the Lens If our values and beliefs distort our view of If our values and beliefs distort our view of

reality, what are we to do? reality, what are we to do? Instead of always looking through the lens, Instead of always looking through the lens,

we should look at the lens from time to time. we should look at the lens from time to time. We should examine the way that our beliefs, We should examine the way that our beliefs,

attitudes, behavior and language affect other attitudes, behavior and language affect other people. If our examination reveals people. If our examination reveals something hurtful, we should make amends something hurtful, we should make amends and make a changeand make a change..

Response FormatResponse Format

Use the following format Use the following format to write what you learned to write what you learned from this lesson:from this lesson:

1.1. Summarize the main idea Summarize the main idea of the lesson.of the lesson.

2.2. Text to world: How does Text to world: How does this idea relate to the this idea relate to the world around you.world around you.

3.3. Text to self: Write your Text to self: Write your attitudes, opinions, attitudes, opinions, experiences about this experiences about this idea.idea.

Excerpts from reflection papersExcerpts from reflection papers

The culture goggles had the biggest impact on my life. The culture goggles had the biggest impact on my life. That lesson has completely changed the way I view the That lesson has completely changed the way I view the world. It really connected and hit home. I understand world. It really connected and hit home. I understand things about other cultures that I never would have before. things about other cultures that I never would have before. I really liked how you had something that was physical and I really liked how you had something that was physical and visual. It helps you remember things better when you use visual. It helps you remember things better when you use kinesthetic learning techniques. This lesson will definitely kinesthetic learning techniques. This lesson will definitely change my future outlook on other countries, religion and change my future outlook on other countries, religion and races. It gives me an understanding that I have never had races. It gives me an understanding that I have never had before.I always thought of how weird and different other before.I always thought of how weird and different other places are. However, I never stopped to think about how places are. However, I never stopped to think about how they viewed me. They probably think I’m weird! they viewed me. They probably think I’m weird!

Another excerptAnother excerpt

While learning about the earth’s structure is all well and While learning about the earth’s structure is all well and good, it’s not something that particularly captivated me. I, good, it’s not something that particularly captivated me. I, instead, was drawn to the political and social power aspect instead, was drawn to the political and social power aspect of our world. Power is what our world is based on today. of our world. Power is what our world is based on today. One group of people becomes dominant, and then their One group of people becomes dominant, and then their values and beliefs are reinforced by their power. If you do values and beliefs are reinforced by their power. If you do not possess the same values or standards as this group, not possess the same values or standards as this group, you are less influential, less important and less powerful. you are less influential, less important and less powerful. Many times, the classifications to be in the “group” are Many times, the classifications to be in the “group” are impossible to achieve. You cannot change who you are or impossible to achieve. You cannot change who you are or what you look like. If being white is what is “in,” being what you look like. If being white is what is “in,” being black is not something you change. We have to learn to black is not something you change. We have to learn to work with what we have and to love who we are.work with what we have and to love who we are.