Post on 25-Dec-2015
Sociology 101Sociology 101
Chapter 2
Culture
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CultureCulture The sum total of human creations Two Types
– Material Culture– Non-material Culture
Language Symbols Customs Norms: Specific rules for governing behavior Roles: Collections of norms associated with
particular positions in a group or society Values: The ultimate aims and most general
standards for assessing good and bad
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Core American ValuesCore American Values
Racism and GroupSuperiority
Racism and GroupSuperiority
Freedomand LibertyFreedom
and Liberty
Morality andHumanitarianism
Morality andHumanitarianism
EqualityEquality
Efficiency andPracticality
Efficiency andPracticality
Progress and Material ComfortProgress and
Material Comfort
Science andTechnology
Science andTechnology
Activity andWork
Activity andWork
Achievementand Success
Achievementand Success
IndividualismIndividualism
10Core
AmericanValues
10Core
AmericanValues
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Multiculturalism And Multiculturalism And SubculturesSubcultures
A society may have several cultures (Multiculturalism)
Subcultures are cultures within cultures– These cultures often have a distinctive set of
beliefs, morals, customs, etc.
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Advantages And DisadvantagesAdvantages And DisadvantagesAdvantages...
– Subcultures contribute to the overall American Mosaic
African American contributions to art as an example
Disadvantages– Tensions may occur when some subcultures
attempt to impose their values and beliefs on others
Fundamentalist religious groups or strident atheist groups as example
– Often serves as the basis for ascribed status, prejudice and discrimination
Ethnocentrism:
Judging other cultures as being inferior because you
compare them to your own.
Ethnocentrism:
Judging other cultures as being inferior because you
compare them to your own.
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Strategies...Strategies...
What strategies might subcultures have in response to prejudice and discrimination?– Assimilation
Irish-Americans
– Accommodation Catholics and Protestants
– Resistance The Amish
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High & Popular CultureHigh & Popular Culture
High Culture – Consists of classical music, opera, ballet, live theater, and other
activities usually patronized by elite audiences Popular Culture
– Consists of activities, products, and services that are assumed to appeal primarily to members of the middle and working classes.
Questions:– Is popular culture merely entertainment?– Can popular culture be used as a form of accommodation,
assimilation, or resistance toward a dominant culture? An Example… Christian Popular Culture
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The Christian Popular Culture The Christian Popular Culture IndustryIndustry
An industry that has emerged to produce “Christian” popular culture for mostly evangelical Christian consumption
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Industry FactsIndustry Facts
Somewhere between a 4-5 billion dollar per year industry
Around 900 producers/suppliersAround 7,000 Christian retailers
around the country
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An evangelical ideology provides the foundation for the industry– The inerrancy of Scripture– The Deity of Christ– The importance of Christ for salvation– The importance of evangelism
Individuals in this industry feel they should evangelize and minister as well as entertain and make a profit
"For those musicians and for the people at Myrrh, music isn't just a business--it's a ministry whereby the good news of Christ can be shared over and over. Myrrh: where the music is today and the message is forever." (Myrrh records slogan in 1977)
"There's a difference between a man's vocation or skill and his ministry gift. If I was (sic) just an entertainer, I'd have no problem charging for concerts--but ministry is different." (Keith Green, musician)
Veggie TalesVeggie Tales 2002 2002
21 million copies sold since 1994
Left Behind Series of NovelsLeft Behind Series of Novels
Has sold around 32 million copies since 1995
TestamintsTestamints
BibleManBibleMan
Amy Grant CD Cover – 1982Amy Grant CD Cover – 1982
P.O.DP.O.D
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How would each of the theoretical perspectives analyze/view culture?
How would each view Christian popular culture?