The Structure of CultureThe Structure of Culture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk2Cgb__Zo8 v=pk2Cgb__Zo8

Culture complexCulture complex

Individual cultural traits that are Individual cultural traits that are interrelated.interrelated.

Gaming complex:Gaming complex: LanguageLanguage Ownership of particular games, Ownership of particular games,

hardware, peripheralshardware, peripherals Value on new technologyValue on new technology RealismRealism ViolenceViolence

A. Three-Part System of CultureLeslie White’s “cultural

materialist” theory (1971):

I. Ideological subsystem (mentifacts)Ex.: language, religion, thoughts, feelings

II. Technological subsystem (artifacts)Ex.: tools, clothes, housing

III. Sociological subsystem (sociofacts)Ex.: social groups, economic & political systems, religious structures

The Structure of The Structure of CultureCulture

In addition to the traits/complexes model, we can In addition to the traits/complexes model, we can analyze the structure of a culture by looking at the…analyze the structure of a culture by looking at the…

Ideological subsystemIdeological subsystem Ideas, beliefs, knowledge of a cultureIdeas, beliefs, knowledge of a culture Nonmaterial cultureNonmaterial culture Ways of speech and communicationWays of speech and communication MentifactsMentifacts: abstract belief systems that tell us : abstract belief systems that tell us

what we ought to believe/valuewhat we ought to believe/value Basis of socializationBasis of socialization

Technological subsystemTechnological subsystem Material objects & techniques of Material objects & techniques of

their usetheir use ArtifactsArtifacts: objects we use to fill : objects we use to fill

basic needsbasic needs

Sociological subsystemSociological subsystem: patterns of interpersonal : patterns of interpersonal relations in social institutions relations in social institutions

SociofactsSociofacts: define the social organization of a culture: define the social organization of a culture How the individual functions within societal group How the individual functions within societal group

(family, church, state)(family, church, state)

Of course, all of these subsystems are interconnected, Of course, all of these subsystems are interconnected, and one object can be a part of all three (like your and one object can be a part of all three (like your uniform!).uniform!).

1. Material objects placed on the landscape

citiescities farmsfarms roadsroads

2. The Cultural Landscape

housinghousing transportation networkstransportation networks parks, cemeteriesparks, cemeteries

B. Human Impacts on the Environment:

cultural landscape: human made landscape: human made landscape

* structures imposed on the physical * structures imposed on the physical landscape by the activities of humanslandscape by the activities of humans

* every group that occupies & dominates a * every group that occupies & dominates a geographic area leaves its imprint on the geographic area leaves its imprint on the environment environment

Ex: Ex: Balinese templesBalinese temples

Islamic mosquesIslamic mosques

Christian churchesChristian churches

sports stadiumssports stadiums

3. The Destructive Process

deforestation (causes desertification & erosion)deforestation (causes desertification & erosion) hunting animals to extinctionhunting animals to extinction use of fireuse of fire not just a not just a ““modernmodern”” problem problem more industrialized, the more destructive more industrialized, the more destructive

(Monthly electricity bill of our school? A (Monthly electricity bill of our school? A shopping mall?)shopping mall?)

Ancient Pueblo People (Anasazi) at Chaco Canyon:

http://matrix.static.nationalgeographic.com/video/places/culture-places/

historical/us_mesaverde/

Easter Island. What happened?

cultural hearthcultural hearth: point of diffusion of a : point of diffusion of a cultural group (the cultural group (the ““cradlecradle”” of any culture) of any culture)

How Do Cultures Develop?How Do Cultures Develop?

development of a culture as it adapts to a new environmentdevelopment of a culture as it adapts to a new environment

Multilinear EvolutionMultilinear Evolution: : anthropologist Julian Stewardanthropologist Julian Steward

in in Theory of Culture Change Theory of Culture Change described:described:

1. Diffusion1. Diffusion

2. Cultural Convergence 2. Cultural Convergence (increased sharing/similarities)(increased sharing/similarities)

3. Cultural Divergence 3. Cultural Divergence (differences in cultures)(differences in cultures)

““EvolutionEvolution”” of Cultures? of Cultures?

From similar origins, but through separate adaptations and independent innovations, distinctive cultures emerged.

Cultural ChangeCultural Change takes place through… takes place through…

independent inventionindependent invention: innovation,: innovation, ideas ideas created within a social group itselfcreated within a social group itself

expansion diffusionexpansion diffusion: process by which innovation : process by which innovation is transmitted across spaceis transmitted across space

relocation diffusionrelocation diffusion:: spreads culture through a spreads culture through a permanent move from one place to anotherpermanent move from one place to another

Types of expansion diffusion:

contagious diffusioncontagious diffusion:: spreads through direct spreads through direct contactcontacthierarchical diffusionhierarchical diffusion:: spreads through spreads through established structures, established structures, such as from urban such as from urban centers outwardcenters outwardHearthHearth: the point of origin of a cultural trait

Type of diffusion?

stimulus diffusionstimulus diffusion: when a : when a specific trait is rejected, but the specific trait is rejected, but the idea is acceptedidea is accepted

Siberians rejected cattle herding, but adopted reindeer herding

instead.

Factors that affect diffusion?Factors that affect diffusion? distancedistance population densitypopulation density means of communicationmeans of communication

Barriers to diffusion?Barriers to diffusion? physical barriersphysical barriers conflict zones conflict zones

acculturationacculturation: a process in which members of one cultural : a process in which members of one cultural group group adoptadopt the beliefs & behaviors of another the beliefs & behaviors of another

assimilationassimilation: one cultural group dominated by another: one cultural group dominated by another

syncretismsyncretism: the merging of two different cultural forms : the merging of two different cultural forms

ex: ex: SanteriaSanteria

How do cultures interact?How do cultures interact?

Phoenix Indian School, 1900

Pocahontas in England 1616