culture

culture

culture = the whole system of behaviour and beliefs of a society - can include language, food, faith, music ...

culture varies across the world :
Mead (1928) study on Samoa and New Guinnea tribes

  • in Samoa, young girls experimented with homo and heterosexual relationships
  • in New Guinea, both men and women were gentle and cooperative
    = shows the social construction of sexuality and gender norms

norms and values

norm = the expected way of behaving, in line with cultural values of the society

in Britain it is the norm to shake hand when you meet someone, in Asian cultures it is the norm to bow

values = beliefs and ideas that the society view as important

in British culture, we value success, family, good health

global culture = cultural products are enjoyed all over there world, becoming 'universal' (McDonald's, cocacola)

  • globalisation, cultures are no longer as distinct from eachother,

norms and values are relative to the situation and change over time

cultural hybridity = the merging of two or more cultures - typically in relation to second / third generation immigrants missing aspects of parents culture with aspect of British culture

  • example = Brasians and henna tattoos

  • globalisation, cultures are no longer as distinct from eachother, becoming a smaller 'global village' (McLuhan , 1964)
  • Giddens (cosmopolitanism) concept

types of culture

high culture = cultural products that have high status and are enjoyed by the elite (opera, polo, ballet, caviar).


high culture is exclusive = not meant to be enjoyed by ordinary people, gatekeeping. Operas are in Italian or German

  • Pierre Bourdieu (1984) cultural capital = knowledge of the high classes, acquired through experience and education

popular culture = cultural products that have lower status and are enjoyed by everyone (pop music, football, pizza)


popular culture is inclusive = can be enjoyed by ordinary people, no entry barriers

consumer culture = cultural products that can be bought and are promoted through advertising (fast fashion brands, fast food chains)


consumer culture can be expensive, making it exclusive

  • Baudrillard (1970) 'you are what you buy' , you acquire your identity and boost status from your purchases

subcultures

smaller subgroup within a society that share norms and values, that typically differ from the mainstream ones of their society

examples = emo, skinhead, chavs, punks

anti-school subculture : Paul Willis found a group of w/c male students who rejected school values due to realising they won't succeed in education