Did you know that you can become an Anthropologist by just sitting inside the coffee shop?
Culture
System of learned and shared beliefs, language, norms, values, and symbols that groups use to identify themselves and provide a framework within which to live and work
Stories as a Reflection of Culture
Part of traditions, help to preserve ways of life, explain mysteries
For entertainment or to discuss problems encountered in life
Form of cultural preservation - a way to communicate morals or values to the next generation
Form of social control- over certain activities or customs that are not allowed in a society
Common themes in stories across cultures
Battle between good and evil
The quest
The Other
A term that has been used to describe people whose customs, beliefs, or behaviors are "different" from one's own
Jonathan Swift ft. Lemuel Gulliver
Gulliver's Travels
Lessons about culture from Gulliver's Travels
Cultural differences
Conflicts occurring in human society
The balance of power
The Other is a matter of perspective in this story: Gulliver thinks the Lilliputians are strange and unusual; (vice versa)
Stories are an important part of culture, and when used to pass on traditions or cultural values, they can connect people to the past
Stories are a way to validate religious, social, political, and economic practices from one generation to another
Stories are used in some societies to apply social pressure, to keep people in line, and are part of shaping the way that people think and behave
