The Origin Of Culture, How

Art Started And Why Do

Humans Need Culture
 Origin Of Culture
Culture

(Latin: cultura, lit. “cultivation”) is a modern concept based on a term first used in classical
antiquity by the Roman orator, Cicero: “cultura animi”. The term “culture” appeared first in
its current sense in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, to connote a process of
cultivation or improvement, as in agriculture or horticulture. In the 19th century, the term
developed to refer first to the betterment or refinement of the individual, especially through
education, and then to the fulfillment of national aspirations or ideals. In the mid-
19thcentury, some scientists used the term “culture” to refer to a universal human capacity.
• In the 20th century, “culture” emerged as a central concept in anthropology,
encompassing the range of human phenomena that cannot be attributed
to genetic inheritance. Specifically, the term “culture” in American
anthropology had two meanings:
• (1) the evolved human capacity to classify and represent experiences
with symbols and to act imaginatively and creatively.
• (2) the distinct ways that people living in different parts of the world acted
creatively and classified or represented their experiences. Distinctions are
currently made between the physical artifacts created by a society, its so-
called material culture and everything else, including the intangibles such
as language, customs, etc. that are the main referent of the term “culture.”
 What is Art?
• Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent
expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas.
• Its interpretation has varied greatly throughout history and across cultures. In the Western tradition, the
three classical branches of visual art are painting, sculpture, and architecture. Theatre, dance, and other
performing arts, as well as literature, music, film and other media such as interactive media, are included
in a broader definition of the arts.
• Until the 17th century, art referred to any skill or mastery and was not differentiated from crafts or
sciences. In modern usage after the 17th century, where aesthetic considerations are paramount, the
fine arts are separated and distinguished from acquired skills in general, such as the decorative or
applied arts.
 How Art Started?
Artistic Beginnings
• The scientists determined the age of a cave painting by dating the lumpy mineral
deposits that formed on top of the paintings after they were made. The deposits
contained small amounts of uranium.
• Uranium is an unstable radioactive element. It decays into thorium at a known rate. If
you can measure the ratio of uranium to thorium in the deposits, then it's possible to
calculate their age.
They found they were at least 40,000 years old. That's at least as old as the oldest
known art in Europe. It would mean that humans probably didn't first invent art in Europe.
Our species, Homo sapiens, first appeared in Africa, and then migrated outward into
Europe and Asia. It might mean that art was invented much earlier than we thought, in
Africa, and that humans carried the tradition with them as they spread.
 High Cave Culture

• Seventeen thousand years ago, humans painted realistic images of

bulls, bison, stags, horses, and other animals on the walls of the caves
of Lascaux, in France. They made stencils of their hands, too.
• There's lots of cave art in Europe, but there is also prehistoric cave
art in Indonesia.
• The Indonesian art was discovered in the 1950's in a cave on the
island of Sulawesi. There were paintings of indigenous mammals; a
midget water buffalo, a warty pig, and a pig‑deer, and there were hand
stencils like the ones at Lascaux. In 2014, archeologists reported a
remarkable discovery they made when they measured their age.
Cave Art
 Why do Humans Need Culture?
• Researchers found that culture helps humans adapt to their environment
and overcome challenges better and faster than genetics. Tim Waring and
Zach Wood found that humans are experiencing a 'special evolutionary
transition' in which the importance of culture is surpassing the value of
genes as the primary driver of human evolution. Due to the group-
orientated nature of culture, they also concluded that human evolution
itself is becoming more group-oriented.
 Examples why we need Culture

• Culture Shapes Our Identities

Culture shapes our identities in countless ways. The culture we grow up in
determines the language we speak, the religion we practice, the traditions we observe,
the foods we eat, and the values we uphold. Our cultural background influences our
beliefs and opinions on important issues like politics, race, and gender.
• Culture Gives Us a Sense of Belonging
Humans are social animals and need a sense of belonging to thrive. Culture
provides us with this sense of community by giving us a common identity and shared
values to draw upon.
• Culture Helps Us Connect with Others
• Culture provides us with shared values, beliefs, and traditions that allow us to better
understand and communicate with each other. It can also help us build relationships and
networks with people from different cultures, which can be beneficial for business or
personal purposes.
• Culture Can Bring People Together
• There are countless examples of how culture can bring people together and create a sense
of community. One such example is the annual Diwali festival in India. This festival
celebrates the Hindu New Year when families and friends come together to share food,
prayers, and good cheer. For many Indians, Diwali is the most important vacation of the
year, when people from all walks of life come together to celebrate their shared culture.
• Culture Can Help Us Preserve Our History and Tradition
• Culture is the backbone of a country. It is what preserves our history and
traditions. Our cultures are passed down from generation to generation and teach
us something about our ancestors and their way of life. We learn about our culture
through our families, friends, and the media.
• A culture can preserve its history and traditions through a strong sense of
community. This can mean that everyone in the community takes an interest in
their heritage and works together to pass it on to future generations. It can also
mean that locals come together to celebrate their unique traditions.