So what is culture after all? Does Hall tell us?

Culture Defined by Samovar, et al:

Culture is a set of human-made objective and subjective elements that, in the past, have increased the probability of survival and resulted in satisfaction for the participants in an ecological niche, and thus became shared among those who could communicate with each other because they had a common language and they lived in the same time and place. (p. 23)

Human-made= non-biological functions, (in that we already know how to eat, sleep, cry, etc.)

Elements of Culture:

History

"All cultures believe in the ideas that history is a diagram that offers direction about how to live in the present." History provides identity to a cultural group. How? What are some examples of historical information that informs your daily life and views?

Religion

All cultures feature a religion or religious views. Cultures possess "a dominant, organized religion within which salient beliefs and activites can be given meaning and legitimacy." (p.25)

Religion is pervasive in culture as it applies to basic functions of societies, including social control, conflict resolution, supports solidarity, and explains the unknowable, and provides emotional support."

Religions impact business practices: (i.e. Puritan work ethic)

Religions impact politics: (homeland sovereignty, usary laws)

Religions impact individual behavior: (personal codes of ethics, chivalry)

Values

Values are "critical to the maintenance of culture because they represent the qualities that people believe are essential to continuing their way of life"

Values = standards of desirability, goodness, beauty

Can values be changed by an individual? Is greed good? Does American favor or value individual achievement, the elderly, or the weak?

Social Organizations

Social Organizations help an individual give order to his or her life. Governments of all types, schools, tribes, the family and other groupings "establish networks of support and communication and regulate norms of social, familial, and personal conduct"

Language

Common to all cultures is a language. A group bifurcated in language is divided culturally along the same lines.