Culture and its Characteristics

Summary

This video script explores the multifaceted nature of culture, defined by Edward B. Tylor as a complex whole encompassing knowledge, beliefs, arts, and customs. It distinguishes between material and non-material culture, emphasizing that culture is learned through processes like enculturation and acculturation. The script highlights culture's adaptability, its variation across societies, and its role as a survival tool. It concludes by noting culture's continuous evolution, reflecting the dynamic needs of humans in their environment.

Takeaways

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Humans share cultural similarities such as rituals for marriages and greetings, which are part of our collective way of life.
• 📚 Edward B. Tylor defined culture as a complex whole encompassing knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, customs, and other capabilities acquired by man in society.
• 🌐 Culture is the design for living and includes attitudes, beliefs, language, customs, rituals, behavior, faith, religion, food, art, music, and drama.
• 🔍 Culture has both material and non-material aspects; material culture includes tangible items like clothes and buildings, while non-material culture consists of intangible elements like values and knowledge.
• 👶 Culture is learned, with processes such as enculturation, where individuals learn the norms and values of their society, and acculturation, where they adopt traits from other cultures.
• 🔄 Acculturation is the process of adapting to a new culture by integrating desirable traits from it, which can lead to cultural change and growth.
• 🗑️ Culturation refers to the potential loss of cultural traits or the process of being forgotten, indicating that culture is not static and can be influenced by various factors.
• 🤝 Culture is shared among members of a society, implying that individual behaviors alone do not constitute culture unless they are part of a collective practice.
• 🌏 Culture varies from society to society, with each having its unique set of customs and practices that distinguish it from others.
• 🛡 Culture serves as a tool for survival, helping humans adapt to their environment and cope with its pressures, as exemplified by different cultural practices across the world.
• 🔄 Culture is dynamic and cumulative, constantly evolving in response to changing human needs and interpretations of their environment.

Q & A

What is the definition of culture according to Edward B. Tylor?

Culture is defined as a complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, moral customs, and other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.

What does the term 'material culture' refer to?

Material culture includes all tangible and visible parts of culture, such as clothes, food, and buildings.

What is meant by 'non-material culture'?

Non-material culture consists of all intangible parts of culture, which includes values, ideas, knowledge, methods, and strategies.

How is culture characterized in terms of what a person has, does, and thinks?

Culture is everything that a person has, does, and thinks as part of society, encompassing various aspects of life.

What is the process of enculturation?

Enculturation is the process by which an individual learns the beliefs, attitudes, and practices of their culture.

Can you explain the concept of acculturation?

Acculturation is the process of accommodating desirable traits from another culture into one's own.

What does it mean when culture is described as 'shared'?

Culture is shared, implying that behavior cannot be considered cultural if it is practiced by only one person in society.

How does culture vary from one society to another?

Culture varies from society to society, with each having its own unique set of beliefs, customs, and practices that distinguish it from others.

In what way is culture considered a tool for survival?

Culture is a tool for survival as it helps humans respond to the pressures of their environment and adapt to their surroundings.

How can culture cause problems for the people who subscribe to it?

Culture can cause problems when the environment changes and the culture remains static, leading to potential conflicts and challenges for its subscribers.

What does it mean for culture to be continuous and cumulative?

Culture is continuous and cumulative, meaning it is never static and evolves over time due to changing human needs and interpretations of their environment.