The 5C's include
- Connection
- Communication
- Culture
- Community
- Comparisons
This chapter talks about "culture". As the author states that culture has three components (according to the standards) of products, perception, and practice, I think the 5C's can all fall under Culture too. (In parenthesis, I will list the 5 dimensions of culture based on Morgan.)
- Connection within family (people, perception, practice, community)
- Communication within the same language (why are things spoke in a certain way) (people, perception, practice, community)
- How each community practice their own culture (product, people, perception, practice)
- Comparing between not only cultures of different races and ethnicity, but within communities, families, and even individuals. (people, perception, practice, community, product)
Below, I have two cultures being compared based on the questions from pg. 28 from the book. I am comparing marriage ceremonies. Note: I do not have all elements of both cultures.
- What are the key products?
- What are the essential practices?
- What are the central perspectives?
- What specific communities are involved?
- How do individuals persons respond?
| Traditional Taiwanese Wedding Ceremony | Traditional American Wedding Ceremony |
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With all this, I am sad to say that I did not come to a conclusion of what culture is. It is a very complicated concept that it is not easily said in a sentence or two. It's the air we breathe, food we eat, activities we do, things we say, thoughts we ponder about, and much much more.
Language and Culture can sometimes even be considered almost the same! Some simple examples of how different languages greet each other:
- English and many other European languages simple greets you with "hi" or "hello" to express they notice you and would like you to know.
- In Arabic, people greet each other by saying السلام عليكم (As-salamu alaykum) which means "peace be upon you" to express their good wish for the other person.
- In Filipino/Tagalog, there is no "hi" or "hello"; either you ask "How are you?" which is "Kumusta ka?" or you greet depending what time it is (good morning, good afternoon, good evening); I'm not quiet sure of the reason for this, unfortunately.
- As for Chinese (I'm not sure if all dialects are like this, but at least for Mandarin, Cantonese, and Min Nan), you greet by saying 你好 (nǐhǎo, nei5 hou2, or lí-hó respectively depending on which dialect you speak) and it literally means "you're good/well". It's like saying "you seems like you're doing well and healthy to be here!"
Culture, in my opinion, is definitely not easily taught. It is something that needs to be experienced. Social standards are also part of culture too. The movie Edward Scissorhands had one scene where the father/doctor of the Frankenstein was trying to teach the Frankenstein how to act acceptable in society. That is culture right there!
My one question for this chapter, though, is if each individual have their own culture, how does that different from habit? Is habit culture? Or is habit a part of culture?
旭亨
Very interesting submission! I like you analysis and inclusion of details regarding marriage rites and rituals.
ReplyDeleteThe activity of joining couples in marriage is a custom of most world cultures (all that I know of, but perhaps not all, since I do not know every single group in the entire world). The activities performed, customs held, food eaten, time of day performed, outfits worn, etc. tell a lot about the internal belief structure of the people who participate.
As far as reactions, habits, I believe they grow out of a sense of connection to our cultures. As products of our environments, we act in certain manners because they are expected of us and then become habit.
What do think?
Victoria, I really like your explanation for habit and culture. I agree with you! Habit is probably grown from culture!
DeleteWhat I'm actually trying to ask is probably along the lines of.. If my student never pushes their chair in as we leave the classroom or if they never clean up after themselves, is that habit or part of their culture?