Important Terms of Culture

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In this sections several important terms as mentioned in the syllabus shall be defined and explained. All these terms are somehow related to the subject of culture.

1. Transmission of Culture
Transmission of culture means moving of cultural traits from one generation to another generation or from one culture into another culture.

Transmission is in the shape of ideas if they are norms and values. And if the culture is material then this transmission could be seen in actions as well as material objects.

Causes
Cultural transmission occurs because;

  • It’s a characteristic of culture
  • It’s result of socialization
  • It’s a product of individual interaction

Necessity
Cultural transmission is an inevitable and natural process that lays positive impact on the social setup. It is one of the means of spreading the culture among the young people as well as the people of other cultures.

2. Cultural Relativism
People either like their culture very much or abhor it. In between the two kinds of people, a third category exists inspired by cultural relativism. This aspect teaches to respect the cultural differences instead of condemning them. This concept is contrary to both ethnocentrism and Xenocentrism. It amounts for;

  • Appreciation of cultural diversity
  • Logical understanding of all cultures
  • Respect for all cultures

3. Sub-Cultures
A sub-culture can be defined as a cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of the larger culture but still a part of it in the broader understanding. Sub-cultures are formed as a result when a major culture begins to host people of diverse thoughts and also when the larger culture fails to agree with the new social practices of a group of people living in it.

4. Ethnocentrism
It accounts for two things;

  • Taking one’s culture superior to others
  • Taking other cultures as inferior to one’s own

Ethnocentrism is based on the perceptions of the people who do not like change. They think what they have been practicing in their culture is the only right way and others are wrong.

5. Xenocentrism
Xenocentrism contrary to the ethnocentrism advocates the superiority of other cultures on one’s own culture. People under this idea are inspired by the other cultures. For instance, it is common in the youth of South Asian cultures to get inspired by the Western cultures and abhor their own.

6. Cultural Lag
When the material conditions change but these changes in the adaptive culture do not synchronize exactly with the change in the material culture, this delay is the culture lag. In easy words, the culture often takes its time to catch up with the material advancement which is rapid in the modern societies. Contrary to that the norms and customs lag behind the development in materialism.

7. Cultural Lead
This concept is opposite to that of cultural lag. In here, the non-material culture leads and the material culture lags behind. This happens in the developing countries where the societies are mostly rich in culture but they are not developed materially.

8. High Culture
High culture refers to a culture which is comparatively rich than the rest of the cultures. It is most of the times taken in terms of richness in arts and literature produced by a culture. In sociology, High Culture accounts for richness in customs and cultural norms most of the times. Usually the Western countries which hosted ancient civilization have comparatively high cultures and centuries old traditions.

9. Popular Culture
Popular culture is defined as the culture that is “left over” when we have decided what high culture is. It is modern term originated with the rise of mediums like sports, music, politics, fashion etc. The role of internet and media is enormous in coining the term of popular culture. It is also called ‘Pop Culture’.

10. Multiculturalism
It is an association of several cultures in one society. This normally happens when a society begins to welcome the aliens to live in it. They bring with them their own cultures which usually grow on the sidelines of the main culture. Its example come from the US, Canada and India which are the giant centers of multiple cultures.

11. Assimilation
Cultural assimilation refers to the process of gradual adaptation of a culture by a minority group living under it and which was aboriginally not a part of it. This assimilation enhances the circle of a culture bringing new people into it. This assimilation is common to be seen when migrants move to live abroad and gradually adapt themselves to the new cultural norms.

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