Tasks: Definitions of Culture
Discuss:
Work in pairs or in a group. Discuss the questions.
What is culture?
What is multiculturalism?
Vocabulary:
Look up the words you find in the box below.
Read:
Read the text below before you work on the research tasks.
What do we mean by culture?
In a culture there are beliefs that are shared within a group, and these beliefs lead to shared behaviours. Phenomena such as art, language, religious practice, institutions, family structure, custom, etiquette, norms, values and so forth are an important part of culture. A culture is a shared way of living.
Defining Culture
In dictionaries, encyclopedias and scientific articles you will find many different ways of understanding the word culture. Although they don't necessarily disagree directly, they emphasise different aspects of this multifaceted phenomenon. Some will stress the idea that a culture represents a heritage, while others will be more interested in the set of beliefs a culture is built on.
Here are some definitions:
Culture is the learned system of beliefs, values, customs, and symbols that people use to understand their world and that are passed from generation to generation.
Clifford Geertz, American anthropologist (1973)Culture ... is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.
Edward Burnett Tyler, British anthropologist (1870)Culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another. It is the shared patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that influence how individuals perceive and respond to the world.
Gert Hofstede, Dutch social psychologist (1991)A subculture is a subgroup whose members share patterns of behavior, beliefs, and identity that differ in some way from the dominant culture.
Dick Hebdige, British sociologist (1979)
Research:
Work in pairs and have a look at the definitions of culture. Then follow the four steps below. Remember to jot down notes throughout the process, since each step depends on the previous one.
- Compare the definitions: point out similarities and differences between them.
- Assess them: what are the strengths and weaknesses of each definition?
- Take position: Which definition(s) do you prefer? Explain why.
- Write your own definition of what culture is, using language that is simple and easy to understand.
In larger groups, each pair presents their definition. Choose one definition the whole group can agree on, and give reasons why you have chosen this definition.
Related content
This article presents the benefits and challenges of a multicultural society.