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