Everything you always wanted to know about culture | Saba Safdar | TEDxGuelphU

Summary

In this insightful talk, the speaker explores the nuances of culture through the lens of communication, focusing on insults and humor. They highlight the contrast between individualistic and collectivistic societies, using insults to illustrate how cultures value or devalue different aspects of identity. The speaker also delves into the complexities of humor, showing how it can be culturally bound and challenging to translate. By examining these elements, the talk provides a fascinating look at how our cultural backgrounds shape our interactions and perceptions.

Takeaways

• 🇬🇧 The speaker humorously highlights cultural differences by starting with an exaggerated claim, reflecting his Iranian Canadian identity.
• 🌐 Culture is described as a complex and pervasive concept, akin to water to fish, difficult to define especially one's own.
• 🏗️ Culture encompasses both tangible elements like infrastructure and intangible aspects such as social norms and values.
• 👶 Culture is learned through socialization from an early age, shaping our behaviors and perceptions.
• 🗣️ Communication styles, including insults and humor, vary significantly across cultures and reflect underlying cultural values.
• 🏛️ Individualistic societies emphasize the 'I' and tend to use insults targeting the individual's attributes, whereas collectivistic societies may extend insults to family or group.
• 🌏 Regional studies show that insults in collectivistic regions of Italy are more relational and directed towards the family unit.
• 🤔 The perception of insults can differ; what is considered offensive in one culture may not be in another.
• 😂 Humor is challenging to translate across cultures due to its reliance on shared cultural assumptions and context.
• 🍕 A joke's humor can be lost in translation because it relies on specific cultural scripts that may not align with those of another culture.
• 🌟 The importance of understanding cultural diversity is highlighted, as it is a constant that will require ongoing exploration and appreciation.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the talk?

The main topic of the talk is the manifestation of culture in everyday life through communication, specifically focusing on insult and humor.

What does the speaker mean by 'culture is like water to fish'?

The speaker implies that culture is so pervasive and integral to our lives that it is difficult to define or even recognize, much like how fish are immersed in water and may not be aware of it.

According to the speaker, who is Henry Triandis and what does he define culture as?

Henry Triandis is a pioneer in cross-cultural psychology. He defines culture as the human-made part of the environment, which includes both tangible aspects like infrastructure and intangible aspects like social norms and values.

What is the concept of individualism and collectivism as discussed in the talk?

Individualism refers to a cultural orientation where the 'I' is emphasized, valuing personal autonomy and uniqueness. Collectivism, on the other hand, emphasizes the 'we', focusing on group cohesion, family obligations, and tight social frameworks.

How does the speaker illustrate the difference between individualistic and collectivistic insults?

The speaker illustrates the difference by providing examples of insults from Canadian culture, which are individualistic, focusing on personal attributes. In contrast, collectivistic insults often target family or group connections, as seen in the Italian study where insults were extended to family members.

What is the significance of the study conducted in different regions of Italy regarding insults?

The study in Italy shows how cultural values influence the type of insults used. In individualistic regions, insults were more personal, while in collectivistic regions, insults targeted family and group connections.

Why do jokes often not translate well across cultures?

Jokes often do not translate well across cultures because humor depends on shared cultural assumptions and references, which can vary significantly between cultures.

What is the key characteristic of humor according to the speaker?

The key characteristic of humor is the presence of incongruent elements that go against our expectations, creating a surprise that we find funny.

How does the speaker use a Far Side cartoon to explain the cultural dependence of humor?

The speaker uses a Far Side cartoon where scientists are depicted as nerds and celebrate a breakthrough by drinking out of test tubes. This humor relies on cultural assumptions about scientists and celebrations that might not be shared in other cultures.

What is the role of language in humor as discussed in the talk?

Language plays a significant role in humor as it can be bound to specific cultural contexts and references. The speaker uses a joke about language and how it...