what is culture
what is a cultural hegemony
when the ideas and values of a dominant group in the culture is accepted by all, and thus dominates
describe the difference between signs and gestures
signs are symbols meant to meaningfully represent an idea
gestures are physical signs made w/ the body
which of these statements describes the word more
a) norms that are formalized
b) informal norms that are loosely regulated
c) unspoken norms that govern our daily lives
d) extremely serious norms that, when broken, provoke a feeling of disgust/horror
e) norms that are tied to the core values of a culture
e)
what groups of people set the dominant culture?
the most powerful subgroups in the culture
give some examples of cultural diffusion in America
define ethnocentrism
the belief that only our own culture is "normal"; using our culture as a standard when comparing other cultures
what is the most important aspect of culture? what does it enable us to do?
describe and provide some examples of material culture and nonmaterial culture
material culture are the physical objects that society gives meaning
i.e: buildings, clothes, arts, artifacts
nonmaterial culture are abstract human creations that reflect the ideas/beliefs of a group of people
i.e: values, norms, traditions, language, signs, etc.
what is an example of "ideal" vs. "real" culture in America?
the idea that "all men are created equal" is an ideal value of the United States, but in reality, that is not true at all
cultural leveling happens when previously distinct cultures become more and more similar to each other over time
For example, the distinct local stores and restaurants of different areas being replaced w/ McDonalds and Walmarts
what is cultural relativism?
a way of thinking in which every culture is seen as different, not necessarily right or wrong
describe the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis proposes that language actually structures thought
what is true about both norms and values
a) they are usually written down
b) they are usually formalized in some way
c) they are usually constant and don't change much
d) they are both abstract
e) they change or evolve overtime
e
define subculture
a subculture is a smaller culture within a larger culture w/ its own distinct way of life
in what direction does cultural diffusion usually occur?
from more developed countries to less developed countries?
what are some of the downsides/dangers of ethnocentrism?
can lead to prejudice and hostility
can prevent us from understanding other cultures
can make us fail to appreciate the good in other cultures
What is the difference between norms and values?
values are the shared beliefs that a group of people consider to be desirable/worthwhile in life
norms are the rules and guideline regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable
values are abstract, while norms pertain to certain situations and are more concrete
in what two ways can one be sanctioned? give examples
positive rewards for conformity
i.e: head not, smiles, praise, handshakes
negative punishment for violations
i.e: frowns, fines, looks of disapproval, jail time
what's the difference between a subculture and a counterculture?
A counterculture has norms and values directly opposed to the mainstream culture, while a subculture's norms and values may coexist with those of the larger, mainstream culture
what is the difference between cultural diffusion and cultural imperialism?
in cultural diffusion, cultures share their culture with each other willingly
in cultural imperialism, one culture is imposed over other cultures through media and consumerism
which one of these statements about culture is(are) false?
a) culture is something that we are born with
b) culture is the entire way of life of a group of people
c) culture affects how we view the world
d) there are some cultures inherently better than others
e) all societies form some type of culture
give an example of a folkway
the dressing etiquette/standard that cultures have
what is/are the purpose(s) of sanctions?
to enforce norms, and establish social control and social cohesion
what are culture wars? what are some examples?
culture wars occur when there isn't uniform agreement about what norms and values society should uphold
culture wars often play out on the political stage; i.e liberals vs. conservatives, Antifa vs. QAnon, etc.
what is true about cultural imperialism, cultural leveling, and cultural diffusion?
a) they can all be the products of Westernization and consumerism
b) they usually lead to less diverse material culture and more diverse nonmaterial culture
c) they only happen between subcultures
d) they only happen between larger cultures
e) they have only negative effects on cultures
a