The Concept of Culture
Whether you are looking for a way to honor the beliefs, language and interpersonal styles of people receiving services or a framework to help you build strong, diverse communities, the concept of culture is critical. Culture refers to the behaviors, beliefs and values that a group accepts as their own and which are passed along from one generation to the next through communication and imitation. These cultural elements are based on shared ethnicity, customs, traditions, values, behaviors, artifacts and other characteristics.
While many scholars use the term to describe a particular group, others see culture in broader terms. For example, the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition defines culture as “shared patterns of behavior and interactions, cognitive constructs and understanding that are learned through socialization.” It also describes how a person’s identity is shaped by this cultural fabric, including language, religion, cuisine, clothing and music.
Because it is so central to human experience, the concept of culture has a wide range of definitions. For example, it is used to describe the differences between a sophisticated civilization and less complex societies. It can refer to the arts and intellectual pursuits, or it can be a classification of class-based distinctions between high culture for the elite and popular or folk culture for the masses.
Historically, the notion of culture was closely linked to ideas about nationality and a sense of belonging to a certain place. For example, a painting by an artist might be considered part of a country’s culture, as the art would promote patriotic ideals and encourage people to gather in public events. This connection between culture and nationality has changed, as historians have come to understand that cultures are much more fluid and less distinct than once believed.
A large number of anthropologists now believe that culture is a way for individuals to create themselves and that it is constantly being remade by the members of a society or community. In other words, a culture is never fixed or static; rather, it is a dynamic process of interaction and creation that is often influenced by wider economic, sociopolitical and environmental shifts.
This change in perspective on the role of culture has given rise to a new field of study, known as cultural history. This focuses on the interpretation of cultural activities, such as artistic expression, but it also considers the larger context in which these activities occurred, such as political philosophy and social values. For example, during the Jefferson Era, the arts played an important role in influencing public opinion about politics and government by encouraging patriotism and spreading democratic ideals through songs, dances and other forms of artistic expression. The study of this cultural context is an essential component in the field of cultural history. This is a different approach than the study of history, which has traditionally prioritized the analysis of ruptures, such as major battles and dynastic shifts.
Whether you are looking for a way to honor the beliefs, language and interpersonal styles of people receiving services or a framework to help you build strong, diverse communities, the concept of culture is critical. Culture refers to the behaviors, beliefs and values that a group accepts as their own and which are passed along from one generation to the next through communication and imitation. These cultural elements are based on shared ethnicity, customs, traditions, values, behaviors, artifacts and other characteristics. While many scholars use the term to describe a particular group, others see culture in broader terms. For example, the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition defines culture as “shared patterns of behavior and interactions, cognitive constructs and understanding that are learned through socialization.” It also describes how a person’s identity is shaped by this cultural fabric, including language, religion, cuisine, clothing and music. Because it is so central to human experience, the concept of culture has a wide range of definitions. For example, it is used to describe the differences between a sophisticated civilization and less complex societies. It can refer to the arts and intellectual pursuits, or it can be a classification of class-based distinctions between high culture for the elite and popular or folk culture for the masses. Historically, the notion of culture was closely linked to ideas about nationality and a sense of belonging to a certain place. For example, a painting by an artist might be considered part of a country’s culture, as the art would promote patriotic ideals and encourage people to gather in public events. This connection between culture and nationality has changed, as historians have come to understand that cultures are much more fluid and less distinct than once believed. A large number of anthropologists now believe that culture is a way for individuals to create themselves and that it is constantly being remade by the members of a society or community. In other words, a culture is never fixed or static; rather, it is a dynamic process of interaction and creation that is often influenced by wider economic, sociopolitical and environmental shifts. This change in perspective on the role of culture has given rise to a new field of study, known as cultural history. This focuses on the interpretation of cultural activities, such as artistic expression, but it also considers the larger context in which these activities occurred, such as political philosophy and social values. For example, during the Jefferson Era, the arts played an important role in influencing public opinion about politics and government by encouraging patriotism and spreading democratic ideals through songs, dances and other forms of artistic expression. The study of this cultural context is an essential component in the field of cultural history. This is a different approach than the study of history, which has traditionally prioritized the analysis of ruptures, such as major battles and dynastic shifts.