Culture and Identity

• Culture


  A way of life for a particular society or part of a society, consisting of beliefs, traditions and other characteristics specific to that group or society
• Cultural diversity


  The idea that there are differences between cultures, and that within one society there exists a wide range of cultural values
• Multiculturalism


  The idea that all cultures, races and ethnicities should have their differences acknowledged and celebrated
• Socialisation


  The learning of a culture's norms and values of the society that you live in
• Types of culture


  • Subculture
  • Mass culture
  • Folk culture
  • High culture
  • Low culture
  • Popular culture
  • Global culture
• Subculture


  A smaller group of people or a breakoff group that shares their own norms, customs and values – these are distinct from the main culture
• Subcultures


  • Goths
  • Emos
  • Chavs
• Mass culture


  Culture for the masses where there is a set of norms and values the majority share – this comes from exposure to the same media, news sources, art and music
• Folk culture


  Created by local communities and is linked to the experiences, customs and beliefs of everyday life for ordinary people
• Folk culture


  • English Morris dancing
  • Scottish bagpipes
• High culture


  The idea that some cultural practices and products are superior to others, involving things of lasting value and part of heritage, mainly aimed at upper-class and middle-class elites
• Low culture


  Popular culture enjoyed by the masses and has mass appeal
• Popular culture


  More polite term for mass or 'low' culture, products such as art, music, fashion, dance, film are consumed by the majority of a society's population
• Global culture


  The idea that there is now a global culture which has been impacted by globalisation – this is more likely to be multicultural and driven by technology
• Dominant culture


  The main culture in a society which is accepted without opposition by most people
• Dominant culture


  • British culture
• Social construction


  The idea that a belief, characteristic, or set of behaviours are produced by society rather than been fact or produced by nature
• Anomie


  A process when the norms and values of a society become too unclear so people do not know what is right or wrong
• Consensus theory


  The idea that society is based on shared norms and values which binds people together
• Social cohesion


  The idea that individuals in a society are bought together by a shared set of ideas and values
• The main role of culture is to promote social cohesion to keep society together –through socialisation
• Evaluation of functionalist views of culture

  • Marxists disagree, saying culture serves the interests of the ruling class
  • Feminists disagree, saying it is based on patriarchal interests
  • Interpretivists say functionalists overstate the influence of institutions
  • Postmodernists disagree, arguing culture is more diverse
• Norms


  The expected forms of behaviour in a particular society
• Norms are not universal but differ from place to place and change over time
• Socialisation


  The process of passing on norms, values and culture of a society onto individuals through social institutions such as the family and education
• Consensus


  Members of a society agree on how to behave and what is important – they share the same interests and concerns
• Ideological State Apparatus


  A social institution whose main role is to pass on the dominant ideology
• Cultural capital


  The idea that certain knowledge, skills and interests enjoyed by the ruling class puts them at an advantage in society
• Commodity fetishism


  False needs can be created throughout mass culture – not just by advertising but by projecting what is normal making some products irresistible
• Hegemony


  Acceptance of the dominant ideology by the rest of society – those in power persuade others to accept and consent to their ideas
• The main role of culture is to serve the interests of the ruling class
• Evaluation of Marxist views of culture

  • Functionalists broadly disagree, believing there is a unifying culture that benefits all
  • Feminists disagree, saying dominant culture benefits men
  • Interpretivists say Marxists overstate the influence of institutions
  • Marx's prediction of capitalism being overthrown has not happened
• Means of production

  Crucial things needed to grow or manufacture products to sell or to provide services such as land, machinery and buildings, owned by one group who can exploit the poor for their labour
• Ruling class


  Culture works on behalf the ruling class – promoting their interests to sustain capitalism
• Dual consciousness


  People in capitalist societies posses a dual consciousness – they partly see the world through the ruling class ideology but also realise society is not fair
• Mass indoctrination


  The Frankfurt School said there was a mass indoctrination of the population into following fascist ideas – leading to a mass culture
• Authoritarian personality


  Adorno believed over strict fathers led to children developing an authoritarian personality – they liked to control others and had little empathy
• One dimensional man


  Marcuse thought mass communication and advertising was 'dumbing down' culture and creating a one dimensional man who only cared for material possessions
• Micro sociology


  An approach that looks at the small scale rather than the macro (big scale approach) to society
• Interactionism


  The idea that culture and human behaviour is shaped by our interactions with others not just structures