Meaning and Characteristics of culture.
The word culture is derived from the Latin word CULTURA
that is derived from COLERE which means to cultivate.
In the life style
of the members of any society or the way they live their lives
norms,values,beliefs,customs and traditions are called culture. Culture is a
vast meaning term.
It includes all the characteristics that characterize a nation. Culture is a production of man which he learns from generation to generation. Culture not only sustains social life but human society also develops because of it. In other words, the society develops with the people and the culture is the life style of the people of that society people.
Various sociologists have defined the culture in these
words.
1:-Professor
Edward B. Tylor says:
that culture is a
mixture that includes knowledge, beliefs, laws, customs and all other
capacities that an individual possesse.They are found in a person as the
member of a society.
2:-According
to TS Eliot:
culture is the way of life of people who live together in
a particular place or location. Culture is the mirror of the arts, customs,
habits and religious beliefs" of the people of a society.
3:-According
to CC COUN:
It is the collection of human behavior that is
transmitted from generation to generation through the process of learning .
4:-According to Young & Mak:
Culture is the collection of attitudes and behaviours
that are shared by all members of a society and are not simply adopted by
humans.
5:-According to the anthropologist A.L. Krober:
culture is accomplished by the manifestations of human
actions (whether they are internal or external).
Human behavior, actions and ideologies play a key role in
shaping the culture. In this regard, it would be right to say that culture is a
way of living.
The way of life, way of thinking of the people of a
region is called culture, because it becomes
the need of that society over time. Thus, the activities of the society
and their titles, expressions, symbols indicate this culture. It is a pattern
from which the distinctive features of this society including clothing, customs
and beliefs, rules and regulations are clear and different from other societies
of the world. With all this the culture of a region Geographical background, climate and
historical events are also included. And with it, the society
Mind-set is also expressed. In short
The term culture is used in three senses.
(i) Elevation of the taste for humanities, fine arts
Excellence is called High Culture.
(ii) Beliefs, sciences and ethics model which is based on
people's practical expression and exemplary learning (Social Learning) and symbolic
thought.
(iii) There is a common set of attitudes, values, goals
and activities (Practices) included and prevalent in an institution, group or
organization. This is called "culture" of that place or people.
Mc Grew has proposed to define culture that it is useful and better to study a
"primate culture" on
scientific basis. Culture should be considered as a process to learn and
know the culture.
(i)-A new pattern of attitudes should be invented or the
existing one modified.
(ii)- its
Innovator should transfer this pattern
further.
(iii)- The shape of this pattern should remain the same internally and externally or
at least the apparent identity , elements and features should continue.
(iv)- The founder of that model or pattern should be
eligible to claim or to act up on what he has gotten from this pattern.
(v)-This pattern spreads in the entire population in
different Units. This unit actually can be families, tribes, groups and institutions.
(vi)- Pattern continues for generations.
Thus, "Culture refers to the pattern of human
activities and symbols that are the identity of the society.
Thus culture can be seen in art, literature,
dress,customs,language,religion and religious rituals. People and their
specific pattern of life construct the culture of that area where they live.
This is why we find different cultures in different parts of the world. In this
diversity of culture beside the life style of people their religious ideas and
beliefs are also considered.
Elements of Culture
The
elements of every society are following:
(1)- Artefacts:
Every culture is visible pattern, or a symbol. Mystie and universal effects can be
seen on a culture. Some time we think that the present way of life has
developed by itself and we have got everything without any effort. It is
related to religious rites and symbols e.g Mosques, Churches and Temples etc.
(2)-
Stories, Histories, Myths, Legends, Jokes:
Stories, whether historical or mythological and jokes are
the elements of a culture.
What kind of traditions and stories become famous in which culture it depends on the particular
culture of that society.
There are also
true stories and made-up stories. The
reasons for everyone's acceptance are that society has its own characteristics
and needs. Who tells in which way and who accepts it in what way
it depends on the
way of life of the society.
(3)-Rituals,
Rites, Ceremonies and Celebrations:
However, these events of social and historical nature are
celebrated in their own style and culturally. They include outward and inward
forms of worship and social behavior and pretensions are also included . These are
also the element of culture.
(4)-
Heroes:
Personalities are those famous people who are well
recognized in the society and they are examples for the common people to
follow. Their behaviours are idealized. And their ways of life become the
social norms for a society.
(5)-
Symbols and Symbolic Actions:
Like Artifacts, these symbols and actions are something
which reflect a culture . They express the beliefs, laws and culture of the
people. These symbolic patterns show social status. For example, what kind of
people wear what kind of clothes in a society. Their behaviours and their following show the continuation of
the traditions of the society. And such dress and manners force the people who
keep the manners to adhere to the good attitudes and morals and character that
are necessary for this society. The behavior of religious people,
socio-political and administrative people is an example of this.
(6)-
Beliefs, Assumptions and Mental Models:
It is important for every organization to understand the
beliefs and practices of the people of the world. By doing this, there will be
ease in mutual cooperation in common
interests and in communication. But any
kind of negligence can lead to a disaster.
(7)-
Attitudes:
Attitudes are expressed through words, gestures, but also
through physical movements. Different styles are practiced and adopted in
different societies. A society adopts such behavior that speaking loudly is
considered against civilization. To look at someone with crooked eyes or angry
eyes in a society is considered as a threat.
There
are many similar social attitudes. Which are the elements of society.
(8)- Rules, Norms, Ethical Codes, Values:
The rules, regulations and values of a society are the
rules that every member of the society has to follow. Violation of these laws
destroys the society.
These rules and regulations and values consist of
artifactual , stories and attitudes.
3-:Importance
of Culture:
Society gets its identity on the basis of its cultural
values. Society and nations gain respect on the basis of people's personality,
character and identity. There is some social bond and it keeps people united.
Its ways are learned and passed on to the next generations through practice.
Culture is also called a character system or a system of social norms because
it is through culture that social standards are represented through an
organised method. These norms not only
define our role within the society but also guide us, for example, what should
be our behavior on different occasions and how should we dress at home and when
going out of the house. What kind of attitude should we adopt on the occasion
of a wedding ceremony or on a funneral. When people are similar in religion,
family and lifestyle, they are close to each other and feel happy to live
together. Every society educates its people according to the norms of its
culture, for example, in relation to the education of children, they are
encouraged to do certain things while they are forbidden by doing some others
things. It is considered good for the
one who follows the advice and bad for one who does not act upon the advice
while living in society
Thus the concepts
of good and bad are imprinted in the human mind from childhood and he
unconsciously adopts the same principles which have a good effect on his
personality. Language, art and religion form the best symbolic and expressive
systems through which its values are transmitted from generation to
generation.
Harmony in food,
drink, clothing, beliefs and worship is due to culture . In short it can be
said that "Culture is the main force that holds people and their value
systems together.
Every culture has a "Majority" and many
minorities. Culture is a set of standard norms. which are acceptable to this
society. Basic standards of social interaction are found in every culture. For
example, closeness and distance in personal relationships, meeting, interaction style in open society
and methods of dealing etc. It is this diversity that makes our society
interesting and liveable. This diversity provides such strength and power to
the society that the societies can compete better in global economy.
People of mixed cultures (diverse cultures) join in
economic and social activities with so many language skills and different ways
of thinking and perform creative services to solve problems and difficulties.
(i)-Cultural diversity is a great quality of diverse and
different cultures. It is more useful than mono culture. It is A thousand
degrees better than to produce a mono culture.
Because the production of a mono culture in this way is a decay that can destroy
cultures .
(ii)- Cultural diversity can also be understood by the
way that people from different cultures
respect each other's culture.
(iii)- Sometimes the term “cultural diversity” is given a
wrong meaning by considering the culture of a society different variety of
global culture.
(iv)- High cultural globalization often affects cultural
diversity and generally has negative effects.
Different societies came into existence in the world.
There were also differences between them which still exist today. Among these
differences, the differences in dress, language, and traditions are clearly
visible. But despite these differences, societies respect each other and
interact with each other according to their own moral standards. This process
of cultural diversity is defined as "Biodiversity" from "Analogous".
More
than one diversification factor can also be considered.
(i)- Cultural diversity not only provides strength and
energy for social development but also provides mental, emotional, moral and
spiritual guidance. Cultural diversity is thus a capital and force that can
reduce poverty and stabilize social development.
(ii)- The use of media and (ICT) is creating many
innovations and creating mutual understanding between different cultures and
civilizations and involving each other in common development. Thus, people with
cultural diversity, different countries,
beliefs, languages, male and female are seen working together peacefully.
(i)- The term cultural diversity is used either because
there are people of different backgrounds and different cultures in a group or
an area. The region is known as diverse because all the people here are
different and unique people.
Importance
of Cultural Diversity:
(i)-Situational diversity is important because it gives a
society its uniqueness. The beauty of a society is the "Diversity".
Dress beliefs and religion specific style of society are
the beauty of a society.
(ii)-Our country’s business centers and schools are
richly diverse in culture. There are various diverse ethnic groups with their
own unique ways of thinking and preferences and likes and dislikes, and they
respect each other. This cultural diversity serves as a training institution.
People not only ignore but refuse negative thinking and the negative
perceptions. Therefore, the importance of diversity is clear.
(iii)- Diversity is also important because it plays a
role in keeping society and culture resilient. It creates new ideas and
concepts that are beneficial not only to this society but to the entire world.
(iv)- Diversity is also important because it eliminates
narrow-mindedness. It develops the ability to openly accept the customs and
other cultural practices of people from other cultures. Understanding other
cultures and religions increases the ability to tolerate each other and co-exist
that is very important.
(v)-The importance of diversity is undeniable because it
affects every human being and his lifestyle. Guides to improve beliefs and
assumptions about life.
(vi)-Its importance increases further in schools. School students when
attend schools get benefits from this.
(vii)- Giving new ideas and concepts and making the society unique is the work of cultural diversity. Diverse opinions highlight innovative and useful sentiments.
0 Comments