What is culture? There are a few basic definitions of culture and all are similar to each other in meaning. The definitions are the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively; the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group; and the attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group. Let’s look at some of the things that are used to define culture.
ART AND OTHER MANIFESTATIONS
According to the Republic of South Africa’s Arts and Culture Department, art refers to individually or collectively created products of value, the expression or application of creative skill and imagination in the various branches of creative activity such as painting, sculptures, music, dance, theatre, film, graphic arts, etc. The ten most famous paintings in the world are listed and displayed on worldatlas.com. When we look at the paintings, we see many different styles from different regions of the world. Vincent Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands in 1853. Many of Van Gogh’s paintings almost display a kind of motion within them. The Starry Night, one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, emanates rolling wind, hills, and trees in the painting. A person can almost see the wind blowing.
Another famous painter; Leonardo da Vinci was born in Italy in 1452. His most famous painting, The Mona Lisa, is probably the most famous painting in the world. If a person looks at the painting closely, the background is desolate, hopeless, shadowed, lonely, and wasteful. Mona Lisa sat in the middle of it, on a chair, with almost a calm and playful smirk on her face. Her presence is dominate, her demeanor is hopeful, her aura is glowing, her expression is attentive, and every hint of her stature and poise is meaningful. Ultimately; da Vinci may have wanted to display that without a woman’s love, life is desolate, hopeless, dark, lonely and wasteful. And that with a woman’s love, the unbearable becomes a distant memory. This is what art means; it is the emotion and/or the message behind the work. How was the artist feeling when they created the work? Does the work express who the artist is? Is there a message behind the art?
CUSTOMS
According to Google, a custom or tradition is a common way of doing things. It is something that many people do, and have done for a long time. Usually, the people come from the same country, culture, or religion. An example would be ceremonies of some kind like a wedding or graduation. Another example would be bowing out of respect in some countries or in martial arts. A religious example includes holiday’s like Christmas or Hanukkah. Or custom could be celebrating a national holiday like Day of the Dead. Customs could include behaviors, clothing, and norms of social interactions like shaking hands, showing a courtesy, or saying please and thank you. Think of some things that occur on a regular basis in either your family or community.
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
According to yourdictionary.com, a social institution consists of a group of people who have come together for a common purpose. These institutions are a part of the social order of society and they govern behavior and expectations of individuals. A common social institution is a school. Schools mold children using knowledge, learning rules, and learning how to display appropriate behavior. A social institution could be a club of some kind like a book or golf club. If a person belongs to a dance group or a theatre group, those are also social institutions. They could also be government organizations or even the organization that a person is employed at.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Cultural achievements are of or relating to artistic or social pursuits or events considered to be valuable or enlightened; of or relating to a culture or civilization. One of the first examples that comes to mind are the pyramids. There is still some debate about exactly who built the pyramids, but it was a vision of the Egyptians. While the pyramids are deteriorating and have been vandalized or robbed throughout the years, millions of people visit the pyramids every year.
ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS
In countries like Japan it is customary to bow when greeting or departing. A cultural behavior might include traditions that are displayed or celebrated. In countries like India, arranged marriages are common. Most cultural attitudes and behaviors are brought by social norms. If society shuns certain behaviors and accepts others, the behaviors eventually become molded through the expectations of others. This process is otherwise known socialization and is typically achieved using the positive or negative responses from others as a way to establish acceptable behavior. An example of this would be a “class clown”. It can be awkward learning that class time is for learning and not making others laugh. How is this achieved? If the class and the teacher laugh, the “class clown” learns that the behavior is positive and will likely continue. If the class and the teacher don’t laugh and respond in scolding and irritation, the “class clown” learns that the behavior is negative and will likely stop. Depending on where a person grows up, the social norms, or the attitudes and behavioral characteristics, will likely be different than in other places.
ART AND OTHER MANIFESTATIONS
According to the Republic of South Africa’s Arts and Culture Department, art refers to individually or collectively created products of value, the expression or application of creative skill and imagination in the various branches of creative activity such as painting, sculptures, music, dance, theatre, film, graphic arts, etc. The ten most famous paintings in the world are listed and displayed on worldatlas.com. When we look at the paintings, we see many different styles from different regions of the world. Vincent Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands in 1853. Many of Van Gogh’s paintings almost display a kind of motion within them. The Starry Night, one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, emanates rolling wind, hills, and trees in the painting. A person can almost see the wind blowing.
Another famous painter; Leonardo da Vinci was born in Italy in 1452. His most famous painting, The Mona Lisa, is probably the most famous painting in the world. If a person looks at the painting closely, the background is desolate, hopeless, shadowed, lonely, and wasteful. Mona Lisa sat in the middle of it, on a chair, with almost a calm and playful smirk on her face. Her presence is dominate, her demeanor is hopeful, her aura is glowing, her expression is attentive, and every hint of her stature and poise is meaningful. Ultimately; da Vinci may have wanted to display that without a woman’s love, life is desolate, hopeless, dark, lonely and wasteful. And that with a woman’s love, the unbearable becomes a distant memory. This is what art means; it is the emotion and/or the message behind the work. How was the artist feeling when they created the work? Does the work express who the artist is? Is there a message behind the art?
CUSTOMS
According to Google, a custom or tradition is a common way of doing things. It is something that many people do, and have done for a long time. Usually, the people come from the same country, culture, or religion. An example would be ceremonies of some kind like a wedding or graduation. Another example would be bowing out of respect in some countries or in martial arts. A religious example includes holiday’s like Christmas or Hanukkah. Or custom could be celebrating a national holiday like Day of the Dead. Customs could include behaviors, clothing, and norms of social interactions like shaking hands, showing a courtesy, or saying please and thank you. Think of some things that occur on a regular basis in either your family or community.
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
According to yourdictionary.com, a social institution consists of a group of people who have come together for a common purpose. These institutions are a part of the social order of society and they govern behavior and expectations of individuals. A common social institution is a school. Schools mold children using knowledge, learning rules, and learning how to display appropriate behavior. A social institution could be a club of some kind like a book or golf club. If a person belongs to a dance group or a theatre group, those are also social institutions. They could also be government organizations or even the organization that a person is employed at.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Cultural achievements are of or relating to artistic or social pursuits or events considered to be valuable or enlightened; of or relating to a culture or civilization. One of the first examples that comes to mind are the pyramids. There is still some debate about exactly who built the pyramids, but it was a vision of the Egyptians. While the pyramids are deteriorating and have been vandalized or robbed throughout the years, millions of people visit the pyramids every year.
ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS
In countries like Japan it is customary to bow when greeting or departing. A cultural behavior might include traditions that are displayed or celebrated. In countries like India, arranged marriages are common. Most cultural attitudes and behaviors are brought by social norms. If society shuns certain behaviors and accepts others, the behaviors eventually become molded through the expectations of others. This process is otherwise known socialization and is typically achieved using the positive or negative responses from others as a way to establish acceptable behavior. An example of this would be a “class clown”. It can be awkward learning that class time is for learning and not making others laugh. How is this achieved? If the class and the teacher laugh, the “class clown” learns that the behavior is positive and will likely continue. If the class and the teacher don’t laugh and respond in scolding and irritation, the “class clown” learns that the behavior is negative and will likely stop. Depending on where a person grows up, the social norms, or the attitudes and behavioral characteristics, will likely be different than in other places.
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