Analyzing Culture

CWC
 What is Culture?
• Entire way of life within a society
• Two important aspects
1) Culture is a pattern of living that
people are expected to follow
2) Every person is born into a culture
a) Culture must be learned
b) Culture shapes one’ life
 Society VS Culture
• Society
People interacting in the many tasks
necessary for survival

• Culture
Way of life a society creates to satisfy its
basic needs
 The Language of Cultural Study

• Norms
Rules and expectations for how people should
act.
Based on
Beliefs
Values
Customs
 Beliefs and Values
• Belief
“There is one God and Allah is His Name.
• Value
“All people should believe in the same God.”
• Belief
“All men arce created equal.”
• Value
“It is good to treat people fairly.”
 Beliefs
• Ideas about
Reality
What is true and not true
Past events
Future events
Based on faith-does not need proof
 Values
• Ideas about what is
Good—bad
Right—wrong
Beautiful-ugly
Just—unjust
Important-unimportant
 Customs
• A Kind of norm that usually came about as solutions to human
problems
Classifications
Folkways
- Ordinary and socially accepted rules of daily behavior
- Violations lead to mild criticism or laughter
Mores
-Required behavior.
-Violations will be punished.
-Taboo-something forbidden by law or culture
Law
- Rules and regulations made and enforced by government
 Examples of Customs in American
Society of the 21st Century

Folkways Mores Laws

Rules of dress Respecting Prohibiting theft

others property
Eating Taboo against Against Murder
preferences cannibalism
Courtesy Only permitted Bigamy
behaviors one spouse prohibited
The End Of The Snazzy
PowerPoint Presention