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1. What is Culture?What is Culture?
Adapted for Geog 1001, 1002, & 2001
By Joe Naumann, UMSL

2. Objective: To explore and clarify what culture is
and what it means to different people
Culture and Learning Goals
CULTURE: The values, traditions,
worldview, and social and political
relationships that are created, shared, and
transformed by a group of people bound
together by a common history, geographic
location, language, social class, and/or
religion.
(adapted from Sonia Nieto)

3. Objective: To explore and clarify what culture is
and what it means to different people
Culture and Learning Goals
CULTURE: The learned, generally accepted,
and ever changing way of life of a group of
people that is shaped by the attitudes,
objectives, technical skills, and world view
of the group.(adapted from Preston E. James)

4. 1. Culture is a dynamic, constantly
changing process that is shaped by
the attitudes, objectives, technical
skills, knowledge and world view of
the society and the consensus
perception of political, social and
economic conditions.

5. 2. People share a myriad of different
group identities based on a complex
interaction of factors including racial
identity, ethnicity, language, gender,
socio-economic status (class), age,
physical ability, religion, political
ideology, interests and experiences.

6. 3. Although general knowledge of
the cultures represented in our
classrooms is useful, authentic
cultural knowledge is gained one
person at a time and requires long
exposure to that culture.
Adapted from Eugene García

7. What Culture Is What Culture Is (the social
framework for living)
 Dynamic, neither fixed nor staticDynamic, neither fixed nor static
 A continuous and cumulative processA continuous and cumulative process
 Learned and shared by a peopleLearned and shared by a people
 Behavior and values exhibited by a peopleBehavior and values exhibited by a people
 Symbolically represented through language Symbolically represented through language
and interactionsand interactions

That which guides people in their thinking, That which guides people in their thinking,
feeling and actingfeeling and acting

8. What Culture Is What Culture Is Not Not (small
parts of the picture)
Mere artifacts of material used by a peopleMere artifacts of material used by a people
 A ‘laundry list’ of traits and factsA ‘laundry list’ of traits and facts
 Biological traits such as raceBiological traits such as race
 The idealized and romantic heritage of a The idealized and romantic heritage of a
people as seen with music, holidays, etc.people as seen with music, holidays, etc.
 Higher class status derived from a know-Higher class status derived from a know-
ledge of the arts, manners, literature, etc.ledge of the arts, manners, literature, etc.
 Something to be bought, sold, or passed outSomething to be bought, sold, or passed out

9. Culture Exists on 3 LevelsCulture Exists on 3 Levels
The Symbolic: (Deep Culture)

Our values and
beliefs
The Behavioral: (Part
deep & surface)
What we do and how
we communicate
The Concrete:
(Surface Culture)
Artifacts, music,
foods, tools, artistic
works, etc.

10. What is done?
What is
good/best?
What is true?
What is real?
Artifacts &
Behavior
Values
Beliefs
World View
Surface
Culture
Deep
Culture

11. “Perceptions
depend on
our life
experiences
and cultural
orientation.”

12. Ha! And you were worried they wouldn’t like Americans…
Why, these people just lit up when I explained we were
Virginians!

13. Adapted from J.A.Banks, Multiethnic Education: Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. (Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1988), p. 79.
THE INDIVIDUAL
Social ClassSocial Class
ReligionReligion
Physical Physical
DifferencesDifferences
Race/Ethnic GroupRace/Ethnic Group
NationalityNationality
Sexual OrientationSexual Orientation
GenderGender
Geographic Geographic
RegionRegion
AgeAge

14. These group affiliations provide you with
your sense of identity and a certain
security in the world.
When they become dangerous and
damaging to others, is when they become
discriminatory.
Racism
Sexism
Class-ism
Age-ism
Able-ism
Heterosexism

15. To explore and clarify what culture is and what it
means to different people
Culture and Learning Goals
To examine some of the obstacles that culturally
diverse people face in group situations.

16. Adapted from J.A.Banks, Multiethnic Education: Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. (Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1988), p. 79.
THE INDIVIDUAL
Social Class
Religion
Physical
Differences
Race/Ethnic Group
Nationality
Sexual Orientation
Gender
Geographic
Region
Age
How can these group identifiers be
obstacles that culturally diverse persons
face in social (group) situations?

17. To explore and clarify what culture is and what it
means to different people.
Culture and Learning Goals
To examine some of the obstacles that culturally
diverse people face in group situations.
To reflect on how the decisions one makes are
guided by one’s perspectives about who one is,
who your other persons are, and how to best
facilitate positive interaction.

18. Is there such a thing as
campus culture?
Think about it – do different
university or college
campuses have different
cultures?
–UMSL
–St. Louis U.
–Harvard
–Washington U.
–Fontbonne U.
–Harris-Stowe U.

19. Identify your own cultural orientation.Identify your own cultural orientation.
Nationality…Nationality…
Age…Age…
Ethnicity…Ethnicity…
Economic status…Economic status…
Gender…Gender…
Race…Race…
Other…Other…
Urban-suburban-rural…Urban-suburban-rural…
Geographic region…Geographic region…

20. To explore and clarify what culture is and what it
means to different people
Culture and Learning Goals
To examine some of the obstacles that culturally
diverse people face in group situations.
To reflect on how the decisions one makes are
guided by one’s perspectives about who one is,
who your other persons are, and how to best
facilitate positive interaction.
To examine how your own beliefs and practices
are shaped by your socio-cultural context

21. Our Approach in Geog 1001, Our Approach in Geog 1001,
Geog 1002, and Geog 2001Geog 1002, and Geog 2001
View other cultures with an open mindView other cultures with an open mind
View other cultures non-judgmentallyView other cultures non-judgmentally
Attempt to view other cultures through Attempt to view other cultures through
their perceptions rather than those of their perceptions rather than those of
our cultureour culture
Seek to better understand the actions of Seek to better understand the actions of
others who have been shaped by a others who have been shaped by a
different culturedifferent culture