How do you feel about the concept of dominant cultures? Which theoretical perspective discussed in this chapter most represents your perspective on culture? What do you think is the most significant

SOC 101 Chapter 3 Culture

How do we view our culture? How do we view others? How do they view us? Foot binding vs. heels

Culture- is the total way of life shared by members of a community
1. Shared and learned
  1. Not innate
  2. Symbolic—ex. Tattoos, mascots
  3. Varies over time and place
2. Material and non-material
3. Animal culture?
4. Ideology- a system of concepts and relationships, an understanding of cause an effect
5. Cultural scripts-modes of behavior or understanding that are not universal or natural
6. Functionalism- Culture underlies all interaction
7. Conflict- Culture is a social product
  1. Cultural capital
8. Symbolic Interactionist- how do people interpret culture
9. Reflection theory
10. Cultural relativity and ethnocentrism
Language
1. Carrier/embodiment of culture
2. Language as symbol
3. Language as framework
  1. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis- language can affect how people see reality
  2. Inequality in language
Values-are the abstract standards in a society or group that define ideal principles. Values define what is desirable and morally correct, determining what is considered right and wrong, beautiful and ugly, good, bad, etc. Example-freedom, democracy
1. 1. Freedom to do what?
  2. Textbook Jefferson quote "No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms(1st draft) [within his own lands or tenements]"(third draft VA constitution…complete statement removed from final publication)
2. Norms- specific cultural expectations on behavior
  1. Folkways- general/customs
  2. Mores-strict norms
    1. Laws
  3. Sanctions-methods of control that enforce culture
    1. Positive & negative
    2. Taboo-serious violations
    3. Ethnomethodology-(Garfinkel) by violating norms they are revealed
  4. Beliefs-shared ideas held collectively by people within a given culture about what is true
Dominant Culture
1. 1. Subcultures
  2. Counter cultures
  3. Assimilation
  4. Multiculturalism/pluralism
  5. Cultural diffusion
  6. Global Culture
  7. Technology
  8. Media-any formats or vehicles that carry, present or communicate information
    1. Mass media
    2. Pop Culture
    3. High Culture
    4. Digital divide
    5. Reflection Hypothesis
  9. Hegemony- a condition by which the dominant group uses its power to elicit the voluntary ‘consent’ of the masses.
  10. Consumerism-the steady acquisition of material possessions, often with the belief that happiness and fulfillment can thus be achieved.
2. Cultural lag
3. Cultural shock
4. Cultural change
  1. Response to changing conditions
  2. Cultural diffusion
  3. Innovation
  4. Imposition by force