Bell Work

What is culture? What are its different parts? How can you recognize one culture from another?

“The Sacred Rac”

Read the article and answer the questions on the overhead in

your notebook on pg 1.

Culture is…

…the language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and material objects that are passed from one generation to the next

Characteristics of CultureCulture adapts to environmentsCulture is learned Culture can changeCulture influences our behaviorWe are not aware of culture or know all of itCultures do not exist in isolation

Six Aspects of CultureGovernment and International RelationsResources and EconomicsReligion and Spiritual BeliefsLearning and TechnologyFamily Life, Community, and SocietyArts and Crafts

Government and International RelationsHow would you define

our political culture?

What role does America play globally?

Resources and EconomicsWhat natural resources

are available?What goods are

produced?What type of monetary

system is used?How do people acquire

goods and services?

Religion and Spiritual BeliefsWhat do people believe in?How and whom do they worship?Is practicing religion mandatory?How are those whose beliefs differ from the

majority treated?How do beliefs affect everyday life?

Learning and TechnologyHow are people educated?Who attends school, and what is taught?Who determines what is taught and who

teaches it?What technologies are available both at

school and in the home?

Family, Life, Community, and SocietyHow are people arranged in groups?Who lives together, under what conditions?Are family, race, religion, ethnicity, or other

factors of high importance?Do these issues divide people?What are their daily customs?Do they celebrate any special days?

Arts and CraftsWhat types of paintings, sculptures, music,

and architecture do the people create?What type of handmade goods do they

possess?What types of written creative works are

being bought and sold?

Identifying Aspects of Culture

Bell WorkHow would you describe the pictures of the

women below? Are they beautiful? What sets our ideas of beauty apart from these ideals of beauty?

How would you describe American Culture?

Attitudes about CultureCulture Shock: confusion/disorientation

people feel when they come into contact with a different culture

Cultural Relativism: not judging a culture, but trying to understand it on its own terms

Ethnocentrism: using one’s own culture to judge the ways of other individuals or societies

**Usually leads to negative evaluations of other cultures**

Material CultureThe things we acquire in

life

Artifacts

Items that define us as individuals

Homework:For Friday, bring in an

object from home that is a part of your material culture. The item must be small enough to fit into a paper bag.

Material CultureTime to take out your

brown bag object!

Get into a group of three.

Share what you brought

Ask other members of your group to try and determine meaning