What is Culture and Why is it Important?
Culture it is our way of life. It includes our values, beliefs, customs, languages and traditions.
Culture it is reflected in our history, in our heritage and in the way we express ideas and creativity.
Likewise, culture is defined as the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions. Cognitive constructions and affective understanding that are learned through a process of socialization.
These shared patterns identify members of one cultural group at the same time that they distinguish members of another group.
What is culture, exactly?
Culture is a term that refers to a broad and diverse set of aspects, mostly intangible, of social life.
According to sociologists, culture consists of values, beliefs, language and communication systems.
Practices that people share in common and that can be used to define them as a collective.
Material objects that are common to that group or society are also included.
Culture is distinct from the social, structural and economic aspects of society. But it’s connected to them.
Culture is the characteristic and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and the arts.
The word «culture» derives from a French term, which in turn derives from the Latin «colere», which means to care for the earth and grow, or cultivate and nurture.
«It shares its etymology with other words related to the active promotion of growth.»
The term «culture» is widely used, and there is often a lack of understanding of the many elements it encompasses.
There are many layers associated with the word culture. Therefore it is often subdivided into categories with more precise definitions that allow the various elements of culture to be identified.
One of those classifications could be material and non-material culture. The first of which would include the arts, architecture, etc. The second, belief systems, myths, legends, etc.
Some Definitions
Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experiences, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relationships, concepts of the universe.
Material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people over the course of generations through individual and group effort.
In its broadest sense it is cultivated behavior.
That is, the totality of the learned and accumulated experience of a person that is transmitted socially.
More briefly, behavior through social learning.
Lifestyle
A culture is the way of life of a group of people: the behaviors, beliefs, values and symbols that they accept. Generally without thinking about them and that are transmitted through communication and imitation from one generation to another.
Culture is symbolic communication. Some of its symbols include the skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, and motives of a group.
Symbol meanings are deliberately learned and perpetuated in a society through its institutions.
Our culture measures our quality of life, our vitality and the health of our society.
Through our culture we develop a sense of belonging, personal and cognitive growth, and the ability to identify and relate to each other.
The direct benefits of a strong and vibrant culture include health and well-being, self-esteem, skills development, social capital, and economic performance.
Culture in our daily life
Whether it’s attending a free concert in the park, visiting a museum, attending a school play, or singing in a choir. Culture is present in many aspects of our daily lives.
Culture is a key part of well-being and learning, and can play a role in healing and social development.
The arts
Artists and arts organizations are central to the creation of works of art, cultural events and festivals, products, and industries.
Authors, theater companies, dancers, musicians, filmmakers, businesses or teachers, artists and arts organizations are at the heart of many of the cultural creations we enjoy.
Our Collective Heritage
Our historical and contemporary buildings, museums, monuments, libraries, cemeteries and sacred places. Archaeology, artifacts, and archives are critical aspects of our culture and heritage.
Our living heritage together with our natural heritage, add to the legacy of our ancestors that are part of the identity and cultural life that we share.
culture and economy
Creative industries and businesses are extremely significant aspects of our provincial and national economy.
Wealth is generated by cultural workers, small businesses, sole proprietors, non-profit organizations, media and marketing companies, and cultural tourism industries.
The creative economy depends on skilled cultural workers to create new ideas, companies and industries.
It also helps attract new immigrants and retain our current citizens.
The word «culture» derives from a French term, which in turn derives from the Latin «colere», which means to care for the earth and grow, or cultivate and nurture.
Western culture
The term «Western culture» has come to define the culture of European countries. As well as those that have been heavily influenced by European immigration, such as the United States, according to Khan University.
Western culture has its roots in the classical period of the Greco-Roman era and the rise of Christianity in the 14th century.
Other drivers of Western culture are the Latin, Celtic, Germanic, and Hellenic ethnic and linguistic groups.
Today, the influences of Western culture can be seen in almost every country in the world.
Oriental culture
Oriental culture generally refers to the social norms of the countries of Far East Asia (including China, Japan, Vietnam, North Korea, and South Korea) and the Indian subcontinent.
Like the West, Eastern culture was heavily influenced by religion during its early development, but it was also heavily influenced by growing and harvesting rice, according to the book «Pathways to Asian Civilizations»: Tracing the Origins and Spread of Rice and Rice Cultures» by Dorian Q. Fuller.
In general, in Eastern culture there is less of a distinction between secular society and religious philosophy than in the West.
latino culture
Many of the Spanish-speaking nations are considered part of the Latino culture, while the geographic region is widespread.
Latin America is typically defined as those parts of Central America, South America, and Mexico where Spanish or Portuguese are the dominant languages.
Originally, the term «Latin America» was used by French geographers to differentiate between Anglo-Saxon and Romance (Latin-based) languages, according to the University of Texas.
While Spain and Portugal are located on the European continent, they are considered the main influencers of what is known as Latino culture, which denotes the use of languages derived from Latin, also known as Romance languages.
Middle Eastern culture
Middle Eastern countries have some things in common, but not all.
This is not a surprise, since the area consists of approximately 20 countries, according to PBS.
The Arabic language is one thing that is common throughout the region; however, the wide variety of dialects can sometimes make communication difficult.
Religion is another cultural area that Middle Eastern countries have in common. The Middle East is the cradle of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
African culture
The African continent is essential to all cultures.
Human life originated on this continent and began migrating to other areas of the world around 60,000 years ago, according to London’s Natural History Museum.
Other researchers, such as those from the Estonian Tartu Biocentre, believe that the first migration could have been much earlier, 120,000 years ago.
Researchers reach these conclusions by studying human genomes from various cultures to trace their DNA back to common ancestors.
Fossil records also influence some of these theories.
Africa is home to various tribes, ethnic and social groups. One of the key features of this culture is the large number of ethnic groups in the 54 countries of the continent. In Nigeria alone there are more than 300 tribes, for example.
Currently, Africa is divided into two cultural groups: North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
This is because Northwest Africa has strong ties to the Middle East, while Sub-Saharan Africa shares very different historical, physical and social features from North Africa, according to the University of Colorado.
The harshness of the environment has been an important factor in the development of sub-Saharan African culture. Numerous languages, cuisines, art, and musical styles have emerged among the most remote populations.
Constant change
No matter what culture a people is a part of, one thing is certain: it will change.
It is essentially fluid and is in constant motion. This makes it difficult to define any culture in just one way.
While change is inevitable, the past must also be respected and preserved.
The United Nations has created a group called the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to identify cultural and natural heritage and conserve and protect it.
Monuments, buildings and sites are covered by group protection, in accordance with the international treaty, the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
This treaty was adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
Layers of Culture
There are most likely three layers or levels of culture that are part of your learned behavior patterns and perceptions.
The most obvious is the set of cultural traditions that distinguish your specific society.
When people talk about Italian, Samoan, or Japanese culture, they are referring to the language, traditions, and shared beliefs that distinguish each of these peoples from the others.
In most cases, those who share your culture do so because they acquired it because they were raised by their parents and other family members who have it.
Subculture
The second layer of culture that can be part of your identity is a subculture, click on this icon to hear the above term pronounced.
In complex and diverse societies where people come from many different parts of the world, they often retain much of their original cultural traditions.
As a result, they are likely to be part of an identifiable subculture in their new society.
Shared cultural traits of…