What is Culture Adapted for Geog 1001 1002

What is Culture? Adapted for Geog 1001, 1002, & 2001 By Joe Naumann, UMSL

Culture and Learning Goals Objective: To explore and clarify what culture is and what it means to different people CULTURE: The values, traditions, worldview, and social and political relationships that are created, shared, and transformed by a group of people bound together by a common history, geographic location, language, social class, and/or religion. (adapted from Sonia Nieto)

Culture and Learning Goals Objective: To explore and clarify what culture is and what it means to different people CULTURE: The learned, generally accepted, and ever changing way of life of a group of people that is shaped by the attitudes, objectives, technical skills, and world view of the group. (adapted from Preston E. James)

1. Culture is a dynamic, constantly changing process that is shaped by the attitudes, objectives, technical skills, knowledge and world view of the society and the consensus perception of political, social and economic conditions.

2. People share a myriad of different group identities based on a complex interaction of factors including racial identity, ethnicity, language, gender, socio-economic status (class), age, physical ability, religion, political ideology, interests and experiences.

3. Although general knowledge of the cultures represented in our classrooms is useful, authentic cultural knowledge is gained one person at a time and requires long exposure to that culture. Adapted from Eugene García

What Culture Is (the social framework for living) ü Dynamic, neither fixed nor static ü A continuous and cumulative process ü Learned and shared by a people ü Behavior and values exhibited by a people ü Symbolically represented through language and interactions ü That which guides people in their thinking, feeling and acting

What Culture Is Not (small parts of the picture) ü Mere artifacts of material used by a people ü A ‘laundry list’ of traits and facts ü Biological traits such as race ü The idealized and romantic heritage of a people as seen with music, holidays, etc. ü Higher class status derived from a knowledge of the arts, manners, literature, etc. ü Something to be bought, sold, or passed out

Culture Exists on 3 Levels The Symbolic: (Deep Culture) Our values and beliefs The Behavioral: (Part deep & surface) What we do and how we communicate The Concrete: (Surface Culture) Artifacts, music, foods, tools, artistic works, etc.

What is done? What is good/best? What is true? What is real? Surface Culture Artifacts & Behavior Values Deep Culture Beliefs World View

“Perceptions depend on our life experiences and cultural orientation. ”

Ha! And you were worried they wouldn’t like Americans…Why, these people just lit up when I explained we were Virginians!

Social Class Geographic Region Physical Differences Gender Age THE INDIVIDUAL Race/Ethnic Group Nationality Sexual Orientation Religion Adapted from J. A. Banks, Multiethnic Education: Theory and Practice, 2 nd ed. (Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1988), p. 79.

These group affiliations provide you with your sense of identity and a certain security in the world. When they become dangerous and damaging to others, is when they become discriminatory. Racism Age-ism Sexism Able-ism Class-ism Heterosexism

Culture and Learning Goals To explore and clarify what culture is and what it means to different people To examine some of the obstacles that culturally diverse people face in group situations.

How can these group identifiers be obstacles that culturally diverse persons face in social (group) situations? Social Class Geographic Region Physical Differences Gender Age THE INDIVIDUAL Nationality Sexual Orientation Race/Ethnic Group Religion Adapted from J. A. Banks, Multiethnic Education: Theory and Practice, 2 nd ed. (Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1988), p. 79.

Culture and Learning Goals To explore and clarify what culture is and what it means to different people. To examine some of the obstacles that culturally diverse people face in group situations. To reflect on how the decisions one makes are guided by one’s perspectives about who one is, who your other persons are, and how to best facilitate positive interaction.

Is there such a thing as campus culture? l Think about it – do different university or college campuses have different cultures? – UMSL – St. Louis U. – Harvard – Washington U. – Fontbonne U. – Harris-Stowe U.

Identify your own cultural orientation. Nationality… Ethnicity… Race… Gender… Economic status… Age… Geographic region… Urban-suburban-rural… Other…

Culture and Learning Goals To explore and clarify what culture is and what it means to different people To examine some of the obstacles that culturally diverse people face in group situations. To reflect on how the decisions one makes are guided by one’s perspectives about who one is, who your other persons are, and how to best facilitate positive interaction. To examine how your own beliefs and practices are shaped by your socio-cultural context

Our Approach in Geog 1001, Geog 1002, and Geog 2001 View other cultures with an open mind View other cultures non-judgmentally Attempt to view other cultures through their perceptions rather than those of our culture Seek to better understand the actions of others who have been shaped by a different culture