Thanks for listening! I’m Clifford, the host of Truth or Dare. This week we explore the concept of culture and its effects on people. We discuss why it matters and how it can help us in our everyday lives. We also discuss what cultures are known for, issues around access to culture, and culture as a whole. The topics covered in this episode: Culture is a diverse umbrella term that encompasses a variety of things. Cultural studies and cultural anthropology are two of the main sub-trending subcategories of cultural studies. So is being a global citizen an essential quality for any culture? What does it mean to be culturally mindful? And how can you participate in cultural activities without getting in trouble from your community? Regardless, it was an enjoyable experience listening to this episode and we hope you find value in it! Let us know what you think below! – Clifford
What is culture?
Culture is a blend of cultural and biological factors that shape peoples’ understandings of the world around them. The latter is influenced by cultural factors, including exposure to certain media and products, education, and the like. Culture explains how an individual interprets the world around them and how others understand them. The cultural factors mentioned above are important to understand, but what is actually critical for the study of culture is how it’s practiced. This can be taught, practiced, or otherwise sustained.
Key concepts in culture studies
The cultural components of culture are closely tied to how people typically conceive of the world around them. If culture were a painting, then the colors would be black and white, but the details are bleaching white. The colors in culture are meant to be an indicator of how people perceive the world around them, but they’re also meant to be a disruption. The bleaching white in culture is meant to disrupt the conventional view of the world. If the conventional view of the world is that it is monolithically white, then the culture of the people is bleaching white to create a counterpoint.
Culture as a spectrum
Culture is a spectrum. There are higher and lower levels to culture. The highest level culture is known as ‘original culture’ and is found in a variety of different cultures. The lowest level culture is called ‘preservation culture’ and is found in the cultures that are most heavily influenced by the post-World War II history of their respective countries.
Issues around access to culture
Access to culture is arguably one of the most important questions you can ask when you are considering how to practice (or learn from) culture. The issue of access is closely tied to the issue of ‘symbiosis.’ The idea is that there is a high level of mutual benefit among the cultures that call themselves ‘cities’ and ‘countries.’ The lower-level ‘symbiosis’ notion is that there is somewhat of a loss of cultural heritage for the people of a city or a country if they are excluded from the cultural activities of their cities and their surrounding areas.
Summary
Culture matters. It is the fabric that binds human society together. It can be lost, broken or challenged. Culture can have a major influence on how an individual thinks, feel, and act towards others. Cultures are complex, multi-faceted systems with a rich history, culture anda unique way of being. Cultures are shaped by continued exposure to the same media, ideas, values and other cultural elements over time. This can be very challenging for an individual to shake off. Cultures, like any other systems, can be ‘beat’ or ‘invoke’ culture to change their tune.
When it comes to culture, it’s important to remember that it’s just one part of the cultural makeup of a country or city. The culture that U.S. federal prosecutors target for prosecution this year is not the only culture that is affected by the spread of western culture. Diversity of cultural elements and media availability is a significant factor in determining cultural impact.
Closing thoughts
Culture matters. It is the fabric that binds human society together. It can be lost, broken or challenged. Culture can be a major influence on how an individual thinks, feel, and act towards others. Cultures are complex, multi-faceted systems with a rich history, culture anda unique way of being. Cultures are shaped by continued exposure to the same media, ideas, values and other cultural elements over time. This can be very challenging for an individual to shake off. Cultures, like any other systems, can be ‘beat’ or ‘invoke’ culture to change their tune.
When it comes to culture, it’s important to remember that it’s just one part of the cultural makeup of a country or city. The culture that U.S. federal prosecutors target for prosecution this year is not the only culture that is affected by the spread of western culture. Diversity of cultural elements and media availability is a significant factor in determining cultural impact.
