Culture

• Culture


  The way of life for a social group (Williams) which has been socially constructed- it is expressed through traditions, food, clothing etc and is often passed through generations.
• Subculture


  A culture within a culture- a small group within a larger culture that share alternate norms and values.
• Examples of subcultures

  • Hippies
  • Goths
  • Emos
• Subculture- Hebidge

  • States they are a subversion to normalcy
• Cultural diversity

  Refers to the differences and variety of cultures in society
• Intercultural diverstiy

  • The differences in norms and values between cultures
  • Eg: what is normal in one culture isn't in another
• Intracultural diversity

  • The differences in norms and values within cultures
  • Eg: class, ethnic and religious differences
• Cultural hybridity


  A mix of two or more cultures
• Cultural hybridity- Johal


  Created the term blasion and brasion to demonstrate cultural hybridity
• Cultural hybridity- Nayak

  • White wannabes- refers to white British youths who are adopting characteristics from black hip hop culture
• High culture


  The products and activities that are seen as high-status and are associated with the upper class.
• Examples of high culture

  • Opera
  • Classical music
  • Ballet
  • Plays
  • Red carpet events
• High culture- Leavis

  • Seen to be 'cultured' and superior
• Popular culture


  The products and activities enjoyed by the majority of society.
• Examples of popular culture

  • Watching TV
  • Watching football
  • Going shopping
  • Going to the cinema
  • Playing video games
• Popular culture- Bourdieu

  • Some view popular culture as inferior to high because its activities are shallow so dumb down and brainwash the consumers
  • However, Bourdieu argues that high culture is simply just a culture of a higher class and is not necessarily superior
  • Bourdieu also argued high and popular culture are now merging as the working class go to plays and the higher class enjoy football
• Consumer culture


  A lifestyle that is hyperfocused on the consumption of products and activities, due to them becoming more easily available and accessible.
• Conspicuous consumption

  • People consume branded goods as a way of forming their identities to gain status- reinforced by advertising and celebrity culture
  • Examples are buying the latest clothing or phone
• Excessive consumption

  • Describes how individuals are overconsuming products and activities as they buy things they can't realistically afford
  • This normalises debt
• Consumer culture- Young

  • Bulimic society- describes the constant desire to binge on the latest goods
• Global culture


  The growing trend of cultural products and activities becoming universal- means national cultures are losing their distinctiveness
• Examples of global culture

  • Brands- like Apple and Nike
  • Food chains- like McDonald's
  • Streaming sites- like Netflix
• How does global culture link to globalisation?

  • It links to globalisation as the world is becoming more interconnected
  • Therefore, it is sharing product and activities
• Global culture- Rizter

  • McDonaldization- the process by which principles of fast food restaurants have come to dominate virtually every aspect of society
  • Describes how the principles that make McDonald's a hugely successful business model are being applied to the rest of American life and the world at large- the process is onset by technological advances and the ever-quickening pace of life
• Global culture- Giddens

  • The intensification of worldwide social relations, linking distant localities together
  • This means local happenings are shaped by events occurring miles away and visa versa
• Global culture- Robertson

  • Glocalisation- the hybridisation of global and local cultures has led to homogenous cultures having aspects of heterogeneity which differ from place to pace
  • Like the menu in Mc Donald's differing depending on the country (Mc Baguettes only in France)
• Culture as a social construct- Mead

  • Studied several tribes in Samoa and New Guinea and examined the gender roles
  • Found they were mostly opposite to gender roles of US- women were dominant and aggressive and not very involved in childrearing whereas men were timid and emotionally dependent- aggressive men were considered 'abnormal'
• Global culture- McLuhan

  • Global village- compares the world to a small village, where fast and modern communication allows news to reach quickly