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Chapter 2, Culture and Its Complexities
Author: B. KumaravadiveluSummarized by: Carmella E. Covell
English 625: Seloni
My definition of Culture: Culture is the way of being. It defines who we are and what we try to be around us.
The real definition for culture is hard to sum up.
This does not however stop scientists from giving their definition of culture.
This presentation will cover four areas of culture:
1. The Idea of Culture2. Culture and Community3. Culture and Language4. Culture and Language Education
Clifford Geertz says that culture is the symbol of the way people communicate and create information from what they feel in life.
Brian Street says that culture should be seen as a verb not a noun.
THE IDEA OF CULTURE
Culture is closely linked with civilization. There is no mono-cultural community.
THE IDEA OF CULTURE CONT…
Kuma states that, “change in culture is a result of cooperation between the individual, the community he or she belongs to, and the larger society of which the community is a part.”
I will explain to you that although the community and society do play a role in cultural change, it is in fact individuals such as you and I that develop and change the culture that goes on in our lives.
CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
Culture has an affect in people’s community. The people who are affected by this culture can also transform their culture.
CULTURE AND COMMUNITYCONT…
1. Discussion Question:
Do you think though that even after an individual shares a huge bond with its community, they will follow the same beliefs the community has? Why yes and why not?
CULTURE AND COMMUNITY CONT…
Despite an individual’s close relationship with its community, an individual will always present a case of non conformity in its communities and society due to its own beliefs.
This in turn leads to cultural change.
A great example the book showed was the refusal of individuals in the 1960’s to conform to the society that followed before them.
CULTURE AND COMMUNITYCONT…
Individual and Society—Studied by Pierre Bourdie
Habitus- Individuals acquire a set of durable dispositions
Cultural capital- Economic counterpart
CULTURE AND COMMUNITY CONT…
Scientists question to what degree individuals share basic values of a given culture.
-- Individualism: Independent and follow their own goals.
--Collectivism: Dependent and follow the collectives goals.
Culture and Community cont…
Individualistic group or a collective group of individuals have a self.
Self and Society: characterizations of self and society have led to stereotypical representations of the Self and Other.
CULTURE AND COMMUNITYCONT…
Stereotypical representations of self and society:
Otherization- others are inferior to self--EX: colonizer vs. the colonized.
Orientalism- The West’s views of the East.
CULTURE AND COMMUNITYCONT…
1. The Idea of Culture2. Culture and Community3. Culture and Language4. Culture and Language Education
Culture and Language
Is there a connection between language and culture.
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: language has an influence in culture and thought process.
Linguistic Relativity: culture of different languages lead to thinking differently.
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE
Some critics though have argued against the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
--Steven Pinker
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE CONT…
Followers of the Sapair-Whorf Hypothesis: ----Anna Wierzbicka.
She brought up the idea of “Cultural-specific words,” such as: friendship, freedom, etc..
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE CONT…
The pronoun, you in culture.
For example: In people’s cultures you is used differently when speaking to certain people.
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE CONT…
2. Discussion Question:
Do you believe though that the formal and informal usage of the pronoun you has something to do with someone’s culture?
Why or Why not?
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE CONT…
American and European school systems begin teaching Culture in Foreign Language Education.
American school project in teaching culture.
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE EDUCATION
The American school system felt culture was an integral part of language education.
The European System also had a similar concept.
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE EDUCATION CONT…
3. Discussion Question:
Do you as future educators feel that culture differences in the world should be taught in schools? Why or Why not?
CULTURE AND LANGUAGE EDUCATION
Teaching culture in may still have problems.
Just as the British cultural critic Stuart Hall says, “There is not much point in trying to define culture.”
MY FINAL WORDS:
