The Elements of Culture What is Culture You

The Elements of Culture

What is Culture • You culture is basically what is important to you • Or…. . What you take care of.

Elements of Culture • • • Language Religion Beliefs and customs Institutions Technology

Material Culture V. Non Material Culture • Material: Physical evidence of culture in objects or architecture. • Non material: non-physical ideas people have about their culture ex. Religion, language, beliefs, organization etc.

Language • How people communicate

What is this? Why does this matter?

Religion • A set of beliefs about the meaning of life, the nature of the universe, and the existence of the supernatural (God or a Supreme Being)

Customs • Things people usually do – How they dress – What they eat – How they celebrate holidays – Turning points in life

Institutions • Organizations developed by each society to make social roles clear and to take care of social needs – Families: the care of family members, upbringing of the young – Schools: teach the young the values of society and prepare them for the responsibilities of adulthood – Governments: protect us from outsiders, promote social cooperation, and regulate individual behavior

New Technologies • Huge influence in how cultures change. How did new technology, such as the car, change American culture? What technology has change culture in your parents lifetime? How has that affected them?

POPULAR CULTURE

• How do the things that you drew relate to your culture? • Is your culture the same as your families?