1
Culture
2
What is Culture
• The customs, traditions, beliefs and values that a group of people share.
• It includes language, what they do, eat, make, believe and how they dress.
• Groups that share these traits are called a cultural group.
3
Buddhist Monks in MyanmarEnglish Punk Rocker
Culturevaries around the world
4
There are two elements of Culture
• Material culture – is tangible – it has a physical reality.
• Non-material culture – are things that don’t have a physical reality, such as values, beliefs and religion.
Cathedral of the Assumption in Ireland
5
Material Culture
• The things that a culture has made.
• They have physical reality – you can touch them.
• What culture is this identified with?
• What does it tell you about the culture
6
Non Material CultureThe products of collective human activity that have
no physical reality
• Beliefs• Customs• language• Symbols• Music• Government.
What does a handshake symbolize?
7
Cultural SymbolsNon-material Culture
• What is this?• What culture is this
part of?• What are some other
cultural symbols?
8
Social Structure
• All cultures have a social structure.
• A way of organizing people into smaller groups.
• Each group has particular tasks.
• Tasks include protection, raising children, food, laws and teaching.
In Medieval Europe the task of Knights was to protect the community.
9
Social Groups
• Social groups are smaller units of a culture.
• They include groups such as the family, military, classes, religions and government. Medieval Social Pyramid
10
Family• The most important
social unit of any culture is the family.
• The task of the family is to teach children culture – the customs, traditions, values and ways of doing things.
11
Two types of families
• Nuclear Family – parents and children, most important in western countries such as Great Britain, Germany and U.S.
• Extended family – generally more important in eastern cultures.
12
Patriarchy and Matriarchy
• Patriarchy – cultures where men make most of the family decisions
• Matriarchy – cultures in which women have more authorities
• Most cultures have been patriarchies
13
Religion in Cultures
• Religion is an organized system of beliefs with specific rituals and practices that includes the super natural.
• Religion can guide people in ethics – standards of accepted behavior.
The Koran – the holy book of Islam.
14
Monotheism
• Every culture we know of had a belief in the super natural.
• Monotheism is a belief in a single God.
• Christianity, Islam and Judaism are all monotheistic religions.
Star of David – symbol of Judaism
15
Amish Culture
• The Amish are a sub-culture in America.
• A cultural group that lives within the existing larger national group.
• The Amish Culture keep to themselves as much as possible.
16
Amish History
• Religious Group.• Roots are in
Anabaptist movement of the 1500’s.
• Ethnically German-Swiss.
• Amish in America dates from 1693.
17
Amish Beliefs
• Very strict – especially the Old Order group
• About 198,000 Old Order Amish in United States.
• The Ordnung is an oral tradition of rules which regulates how the Amish way of life should be conducted
18
Amish Cultural Values
• Family• Humility• Anti-individualism• Calmness &
Composure• Education only to the
8th grade
19
Amish Virtues
• Modesty and purity are important virtues.
• The Amish are pacifists - they reject all forms of violence.
• They do not serve in the military.
• They admire large families.
20
Amish Dress
• Amish wear traditional and plain clothing
• It shows they are not conforming to the world.
• It expresses an obedience to their church.
• It shows their lack of vanity.
21
EducationOne Room School House
Formal education beyond Grade 8 is discouraged.
22
Rejection of Conveniences
• Most Amish reject modern technology such as automobiles.
• They believe it promotes pride or vanity in one’s possessions.
23
Amish farming is often without machines
24
Amish Hand Weaving
25
Hand-made Items