Understanding Culture Society and Politics Week 2

UCSP Week2

1. Concepts, aspects, & changes of culture and society Teacher: MELFA B. LAJERA

2. Society It refers to the group of people sharing a common culture within a defined territorial boundary. Every human society is organized in such a way that there are rules of conduct, customs, traditions, folkways and mores, and expectations that ensure appropriate behaviour among members.

3. Culture It came from the Latin word “ cultura ” which means “to cultivate”. It is a complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by people. It is a way of life, a national identity, an attitude, and consolidated beliefs and a complex system of shared social elements within a particular society.

4. According to Thomas Carlyle, “Culture is the process by which a person becomes all that they were created capable of being.” According to Joseph H. Fichter , “A person may escape society for a while, but he can never escape culture.” According to Mahatma Gandhi, “No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.”

5. Importance of Culture: Design for living or a blue-print for social behavior Provides people with ready-made solutions to common social problems Ensures the survival of the heritage of humankind Develops one’s attitudes and values Maintains biological functioning of the group

6. Types of Culture: Material culture- food, technological tools, architectural structures, fashion and accessories. Non-material culture- ideas, behaviour , gesture, habits, religion, language and symbols.

7. ELEMENTS OF CULTURE • KNOWLEDGE- it refers to any information received and perceived to be true. • BELIEFS- the perception of accepted reality. Reality refers to the existence of things whether material or nonmaterial. • SOCIAL NORMS- these are established expectations of society as to how a person is supposed to act depending on the requirements of the time, place or situation.

8. Forms of Social Norms: a. Folkways- the patterns of repetitive behaviour which becomes habitual and conventional part of living. b. Mores- the set of ethical standards and moral obligations as dictates of reason that distinguishes human acts as right or wrong or good or bad. c. Values- anything held to be relatively worthy, important, desirable, or valuable. d. Technology the practical application of knowledge in converting raw materials into finished products.

9. e. Language- a system of symbols with specific meanings in a given society that allows people to communicate with one another. f. Symbol- refers to objects, gestures, words or images that convey a certain idea or belief. g. Laws- sometimes based on mores or enacted to protect the people from bad effects of outdated mores.

10. Since culture is complex, there are important aspects of culture that contribute to the development of man’s social interaction.

11. The aspects of culture: a. Dynamic, flexible, and adaptive b. Shared and contested c. Learned through socialization d. Patterned social interactions

12. e. Integrated and at times unstable f. Transmitted through socialization g. Requires language and other forms of communication

13. The functions of culture: a. Culture defines situations b. Culture defines attitudes, values, and goals c. Culture defines myths, legends, and the supernatural d. Culture provides behaviour patterns

14. The Characteristics of culture: a. A product of human interaction b. A social heritage that is complex and socially transmitted c. Provides socially acceptable patterns for meeting biological and social needs d. A distinguishing factor

15. The Characteristics of culture e. An established pattern of behaviour f. Cumulative g. Meaningful to human beings

16. The Characteristics of culture 1. Culture is social because it is the product of behavior.

17. 2. Culture varies from society to society.

18. 3. Culture is shared.

19. 4. Culture is learned

20. Culture is transmitted among members of society.

21. 6. Culture is continuous and cumulative.

22. 7. Culture is gratifying and idealistic.

23. • Society refers to the group of people sharing a common culture within a defined territorial boundary. • Culture is a way of life, a national identity, an attitude, and consolidated beliefs and a complex system of shared social elements within a particular society. • To understand culture, it is necessary to understand its different elements such as knowledge, beliefs, and social norms. • Since culture is complex, it is also important to understand its aspects, functions, and characteristics that contribute to the development of man’s social interaction.

24. Cultural show and tell Preparation: Ask students to bring an item from home that represents their culture or a culture they are interested in. This could be a piece of clothing, a traditional object, a photo, or even a recipe. Research: Have students prepare a short presentation about their item, including its significance and how it relates to the characteristics of culture (e.g., language, traditions, food). Presentation Day: Each student presents their item to the class, explaining its cultural significance and any personal connections they have to it. Class Discussion: After each presentation, encourage classmates to ask questions and share their thoughts. This can lead to a broader discussion on cultural diversity and similarities. Reflection: Conclude with a reflection activity where students write about what they learned from their classmates' presentations and how it broadened their understanding of culture.

25. ACTIVITY Explain the following concepts thoroughly in 4-5 sentences only using the given criteria below: Content - 10 Organization - 5 Neatness - 5 Total - 20 points each 1. According to Joseph H. Fichter , “A person may escape society for a while, but he can never escape culture.” 2. According to Mahatma Gandhi, “No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.” 3. According to Stephen R. Covey, “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”

26. Multiple choice questions

27. A W B H2O C CELL D PROTON What is the chemical symbol for water?​