Professional Courses
Industry-relevant training in Business, Technology, and Design to help professionals and graduates upskill for real-world careers.
Categories
Interactive Games
Fun, engaging games to boost memory, math fluency, typing speed, and English skills—perfect for learners of all ages.
Typing
Memory
Math
English Adventures
Knowledge
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take mock test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
What is Culture?
Unlock Audio Lesson
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
Let's begin our discussion on culture. Culture is defined as the set of shared attitudes, values, practices, and beliefs that characterize a group or society. Can anyone tell me what you think culture includes?
I think it includes things like food and clothing!
Absolutely! Those are aspects of material culture, which is one of the two main types of culture. Material culture refers to physical objects created and used by a society. What's another type of cultural component?
Maybe traditions and beliefs?
Correct! That falls under non-material culture, which includes ideas and beliefs that shape society. Remember, both types are essential in understanding the complete picture of culture.
Characteristics of Culture
Unlock Audio Lesson
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
Now that we understand what culture is, let's look at its characteristics. Culture is learned, shared, dynamic, and symbolic. Can anyone explain what it means for culture to be 'learned'?
Does it mean we aren't born with culture but have to acquire it as we grow?
Exactly! It is taught through social interaction. How about the term 'dynamic'?
I think it means culture changes over time!
Great point! Culture evolves through innovations and interactions with other cultures. Remember the acronym SLED: Shared, Learned, Evolving, and Dynamic to recall these characteristics.
Material and Non-material Culture
Unlock Audio Lesson
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
Let's differentiate the two types of culture further — material and non-material. Who can give examples of material culture?
Cars, buildings, technology, and even food!
Exactly! Material culture includes all the physical artifacts. And what about non-material culture? Can anyone share some examples?
Values, norms, and maybe traditions?
Perfect! Non-material culture is all about those intangible aspects like beliefs and norms that dictate social behavior. It’s important to understand how both types impact our identity.
Introduction & Overview
Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.
Quick Overview
Standard
The section explores the definitions of culture, including its learned, shared, dynamic, and symbolic characteristics, while differentiating between material culture, which consists of physical objects, and non-material culture, which encompasses ideas and beliefs that shape societal behaviors.
Detailed
Detailed Summary
Understanding Culture
Culture is defined as the set of shared attitudes, values, practices, and beliefs that characterize a group. It consists of both tangible elements, such as clothing and technology (material culture), and intangible aspects, such as traditions and values (non-material culture).
Characteristics of Culture
- Learned: Cultural elements are taught through social interactions rather than biologically inherited.
- Shared: Culture is a collective experience among members of society.
- Dynamic: Culture evolves over time with innovation and new experiences.
- Symbolic: Cultural meanings are often conveyed through language, rituals, and customs, which serve as symbols for deeper beliefs and values.
Types of Culture
- Material Culture: Comprises physical objects created and utilized by a society, such as tools, buildings, and technologies.
- Non-material Culture: Refers to the cognitive aspects of culture including ideas, values, norms, and beliefs that influence social behavior.
Overall, this section emphasizes the importance of understanding both types of culture to grasp how they shape individual and group identity in a broader societal context.
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Material Culture
Unlock Audio Book
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
● Material Culture: Physical objects created and used by a society (tools, buildings, technology).
Detailed Explanation
Material culture encompasses the tangible, physical items that people in a society create and utilize. This includes everyday objects like tools, clothing, and buildings. Essentially, it's about the 'stuff' that people make and use in their daily lives. For example, the technology we use, like smartphones or computers, as well as structures like homes and schools, all fall under this category.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a popular restaurant in your town. The physical space, the furniture, the kitchen equipment, and even the menu items reflect the material culture of the community's dining preferences and practices.
Non-material Culture
Unlock Audio Book
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
● Non-material Culture: Ideas, values, norms, and beliefs that shape social behavior.
Detailed Explanation
Non-material culture refers to the intangible elements of a culture, including the beliefs, values, and social norms that influence how people behave and interact. It represents the societal framework that guides people's actions and thoughts, such as what is considered right and wrong, important, or valuable in a particular society. These elements are learned through social interactions and significantly shape group identity.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a festival celebrated in your community. The beliefs about the significance of the festival, the values highlighted during this event, like generosity or gratitude, and the social practices associated with it, such as communal eating or rituals, all exemplify non-material culture.
Definitions & Key Concepts
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
-
Culture: The framework of shared beliefs, values, and behaviors.
-
Material Culture: Tangible elements created and utilized by a society.
-
Non-material Culture: Intangible aspects that influence social behavior.
Examples & Real-Life Applications
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
Examples
-
The architecture of ancient Greece (material culture) reflects the values and beliefs of their society.
-
Folklore and mythology in a culture illustrate shared values and morals (non-material culture).
Memory Aids
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
🎵 Rhymes Time
-
Culture is learned, shared, and bright, dynamic and symbolic, taking flight.
📖 Fascinating Stories
-
Imagine a traveler visiting a new land, observing the unique buildings and customs. The traveler learns that the people share deep values, stories, and traditions that define their identity. This journey teaches the traveler the difference between what can be touched and what is felt.
🧠 Other Memory Gems
-
To remember the characteristics of culture, think: SLED - Shared, Learned, Evolving, and Dynamic.
🎯 Super Acronyms
MLC - Material Culture for tangible, Non-material Culture for intangible.
Flash Cards
Review key concepts with flashcards.
Glossary of Terms
Review the Definitions for terms.
-
Term: Culture
Definition:
A set of shared attitudes, values, practices, and beliefs that characterize a group or society.
-
Term: Material Culture
Definition:
Physical objects created and used by a society, such as tools, buildings, and technologies.
-
Term: Nonmaterial Culture
Definition:
Ideas, values, norms, and beliefs that shape social behavior within a society.
-
Term: Learned
Definition:
Refers to how culture is acquired through social interaction and education, not biologically inherited.
-
Term: Dynamic
Definition:
Indicates that culture evolves over time, influenced by innovation and contact with other cultures.
-
Term: Shared
Definition:
Denotes that culture is a collective phenomenon, experienced by members of a society.
-
Term: Symbolic
Definition:
Describes how cultural meanings are conveyed through language, rituals, and customs.