As we observe the diverse societies across the globe, it becomes apparent that cultural differences exist between them. For instance, a young woman from a rural Kenyan community may have a vastly different worldview compared to an elderly man living in Mumbai, one of the world’s most populous cities. These differences can be attributed to the elements of variant cultures, including cultural norms, values, beliefs, and traditions that each society holds.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that the idea of variant cultures is a broad idea, and cultural differences are not limited to those between societies. They can also exist within cultures themselves. Different regions, subcultures, and even individuals within a culture may have unique customs and behaviors that set them apart from others in their own society.
These cultural differences have significant implications for intercultural communication and understanding. Sociologists have explored the ways in which cultural differences shape our perceptions of the world, our interactions with others, and our behaviors. By recognizing and understanding these differences, we can develop greater empathy and appreciation for others’ perspectives.
Cultural differences are prevalent both between societies and within them. They reflect several aspects of the idea of variant cultures, including the unique norms, values, beliefs, and traditions that each culture holds. Acknowledging these differences is essential for developing cross-cultural competence and creating a more inclusive and understanding society.
High Culture vs. Popular Culture: What’s the Difference?
Understanding Culture in Our Lives
Ever wondered why some things, like going to an opera, are seen as fancy and others, like jamming to your favorite pop song, are just everyday fun? This is all about different types of culture in our society. Let’s dive into what makes them different.
High Culture: The Fancy Stuff
When we talk about High Culture, we’re looking at stuff that’s often seen in the most fancy parts of society (Lamont & Molnár, 2002). Think of it like the VIP section of culture. It’s about intellectual stuff, power, and prestige. In America, high culture usually involves things linked to wealth, like dressing up for a ballet or going to a live symphony. But here’s the thing, it’s not for everyone. Only a small group of people usually get to experience this kind of culture.
Popular Culture: For Everyone!
On the flip side, there’s Popular Culture (Storey, 2006). This is the culture that’s all around us in everyday life. We’re talking sports, TV shows, music, and movies. You see it everywhere, from radio to TV, movies, and even on websites run by big companies. Unlike high culture, popular culture is something most people know and can be a part of. Ever watched the Super Bowl, caught the finale of a hit TV series, or listened to the latest hits on the radio? That’s popular culture in action!
Things Change Over Time
Now, here’s an interesting twist. What’s seen as high culture or popular culture can change with time and place. A cool example is Shakespeare’s plays. Back in his day, they were popular culture, but now they’re seen as high culture. Who knows, maybe in the future, shows like “Breaking Bad” will be seen as super fancy and part of high culture!
Recap: High Culture vs. Popular Culture
So, in a nutshell, high culture is like the exclusive, fancy part of culture, often linked to deep thinking, power, and being high-class. Popular culture, however, is the culture we all know and love, accessible and everywhere in our daily lives. But remember, what’s considered high or popular culture can shift over time.
Reflective Question: Can you think of a current popular culture item (like a song, movie, or TV show) that might be viewed as high culture in the future? Why do you think it could make that shift?
Understanding Subcultures and Countercultures
Subcultures: The Mini-Cultures Within Our Society
Imagine our society as a big painting. Subcultures are like the unique, smaller patterns within that painting. They are mini-cultures within our larger culture. Giddens (2018) explains that these subcultures are where people share a specific identity within a smaller group but still belong to the larger society.
Variety in Subcultures
Subcultures can be based on all sorts of things. For example:
- Ethnic and Racial Groups: These subcultures share the language, food, and customs of their heritage.
- Biker Culture: As Bourdieu (1998) notes, this revolves around a passion for motorcycles.
- Body Modification Community: Here, people embrace tattoos, piercings, and certain forms of plastic surgery, as Eco (1979) points out.
Subcultures and the Larger Society
Subcultures aren’t isolated. They exist alongside the larger culture. For instance, Merton (1957) highlights that adolescents often form subcultures to develop a shared youth identity. Similarly, Alcoholics Anonymous, as Becker (1963) mentions, is a subculture offering support for alcoholism recovery. Members of subcultures still identify with and participate in the larger society.
Countercultures: Challenging the Norms
Now, let’s talk about Countercultures. These are different from subcultures. Hannerz (1992) describes countercultures as groups that reject some of the larger culture’s norms and values. They don’t just exist within society; they actively defy it.
Examples of Countercultures
- Cults: Like the sect “Yearning for Zion” in Eldorado, Texas, which Hassan (1990) describes as existing outside the mainstream.
- Hippie Movement of the 1960s: As Roszak (1969) notes, this movement rejected materialism and consumerism and embraced environmentalism and anti-war activism.
- Punk Subculture of the 1970s: Hebdige (1979) points out that this subculture emerged as a response to political and economic instability, embracing anti-establishment views.
Countercultures and Society
Countercultures often face conflict with the larger society. They can sometimes engage in controversial or even illegal activities. For instance, Pezzullo (2015) mentions the eco-anarchist movement’s involvement in vandalism or sabotage. However, not all countercultures are oppositional. Echols (1989) highlights the feminist movement, which aimed to challenge gender inequalities but didn’t reject the larger society’s norms and values.
The Impact of Studying Variant Cultures
Studying these variant cultures, both subcultures and countercultures, helps us understand how cultural norms and values are created, challenged, and changed over time. They show us the dynamics of our society and how groups can influence the broader societal values and norms.
Reflective Question: Can you think of a subculture you are a part of or know about? How does it fit within the larger society? And can you identify any counterculture movements today? What norms are they challenging?
Culture and Power: A Dynamic Relationship
How Culture Shapes and Is Shaped by Power
Think of culture as the heartbeat of society. It’s made up of beliefs, values, and practices passed down through generations. But culture is more than just traditions; it’s also a tool for power and influence. The dominant culture in a society often reflects the views of its most powerful groups and can sometimes leave others feeling left out.
Culture as a Form of Power
Cultural power is like a megaphone. It allows dominant groups to amplify their values and beliefs, shaping how people see themselves and the world. As Hall (1997) explains, this power can sway public opinion, influence laws, and even push those who are different to the margins of society.
Cultural Resistance: Standing Up to Power
But what happens when people don’t agree with the dominant culture? That’s where cultural resistance comes in.
Forms of Resistance
- Artistic Expression: Art, music, and literature can be powerful tools for challenging the status quo.
- Social Movements: Groups coming together to demand change.
- Everyday Acts: Even small things, like the clothes you wear or the slang you use, can be a form of resistance.
The Power of Hybridity
One fascinating form of resistance is hybridity. It’s like a cultural smoothie, blending different traditions to create something new and unique. Hybrid cultures break the idea of “pure” culture and let marginalized groups celebrate their identity in diverse ways.
The Impact of Studying Culture and Power
Studying how culture and power interact helps us understand things like social inequality and how change happens. By looking at cultural power, we get why some groups might feel left out. And by exploring resistance and hybridity, we see how people can push back and make their voices heard.
Reflective Question: Can you think of an example of cultural resistance or hybridity in your community or in the media? How does it challenge or change the dominant culture’s norms?
Culture Intersecting with Other Social Categories
Culture, a complex tapestry of beliefs, values, and practices, often intertwines with other aspects of social identity such as race, class, gender, and sexuality. These intersections are crucial in shaping individuals’ experiences, identities, and life chances.
Culture and Race
The interplay between culture and race can deeply impact experiences of discrimination and prejudice. Racial and ethnic minorities often grapple with stereotypes and stigmatization rooted in cultural differences. These stereotypes can hinder access to opportunities and resources. Furthermore, cultural disparities between racial groups can fuel conflicts and tensions, particularly when such differences are exploited to justify discriminatory practices (Bonilla-Silva, 2001).
Culture and Class
Class and culture are also intertwined. Working-class individuals may encounter cultural barriers to social mobility. This includes limited access to “high culture” or challenges in adapting to middle-class cultural norms. The dominant culture, often reflecting the values of the most powerful groups, can sideline and exclude those from lower-class backgrounds (Bourdieu, 1984).
Culture, Gender, and Sexuality
Gender and sexuality further complicate the cultural landscape. Cultural norms and expectations around masculinity and femininity can perpetuate gender inequalities. Those who defy traditional gender roles often face discrimination and oppression (Connell, 1987). Similarly, cultural norms favoring heterosexuality can marginalize LGBTQ+ individuals, affecting their experiences and acceptance in society (Foucault, 1978).
Intersectionality: A Lens for Understanding
To unpack these complex interactions, sociologists employ intersectionality theory. This framework recognizes that individuals hold multiple, interacting identities, influencing their experiences of privilege and oppression (Crenshaw, 1989). Understanding the intersection of culture with other social categories is crucial in tackling social inequalities and advocating for social justice.
Summary
Cultural differences are found within and between societies due to diverse norms, values, and traditions. Understanding these differences is important for better communication and creating a more inclusive society.
High culture is linked to society’s elite, involving intellectualism and prestige, while popular culture is common in mainstream society, often spread through media like TV and music. What’s considered high or popular culture can change over time and place.
Subcultures are smaller groups within a larger culture, formed around things like ethnicity or shared interests. Countercultures, on the other hand, go against mainstream culture and can even create their own norms. These groups can conflict with mainstream society but also drive cultural change.
Culture can reflect society but also hold power, with dominant cultures sometimes marginalizing others. Cultural resistance, including hybrid forms blending different traditions, can challenge this dominance. Studying culture and power helps understand social inequalities and change, and needs ongoing exploration.
Culture intersects with race, class, gender, and sexuality, shaping people’s experiences and identities. These intersections can lead to discrimination and marginalization. Understanding these complex relationships is key to promoting social justice and tackling inequalities.
Word Count: 2074
Key Terms
Cultural differences, high culture, popular culture, subcultures, countercultures, cultural resistance, hybridity, culture and power, intersectionality
References and Further Reading
- Bhabha, H. K. (1994). The location of culture. Routledge.
- Denny, K., & Zeedyk, S. (2019). Subcultures. In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood Studies. SAGE Publications Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483392271.n601
- Echols, A. (1989). Daring to be bad: Radical feminism in America, 1967-1975. Univ of Minnesota Press.
- Gans, H. J. (1979). Symbolic ethnicity: The future of ethnic groups and cultures in America. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.1979.9993242
- Hall, S. (1997). Representation: Cultural representations and signifying practices. Sage.
- Hebdige, D. (1979). Subculture: The meaning of style. Routledge.
- Lamont, M., & Molnár, V. (2002). The study of boundaries in the social sciences. Annual Review of Sociology, 28(1), 167-195.
- Pezzullo, P. C. (2015). Eco-anarchism and the risks of risk communication. Communication Theory, 25(4), 363-383.
- oszak, T. (1969). The making of a counter culture: Reflections on the technocratic society and its youthful opposition. Anchor Books.
- Ruggiero, V. R. (2000). The art of being a chameleon: Cultural identity and subculture membership in the formation of the self. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 29(4), 392–428. https://doi.org/10.1177/089124100129023984
- Storey, J. (2006). Cultural theory and popular culture: An introduction. Pearson Education.
- Sumner, W. G. (1906). Folkways: A study of the sociological importance of usages, manners, customs, mores, and morals. Ginn and Company.
- Thornton, S. (1995). Club cultures: Music, media and subcultural capital. John Wiley & Sons.
- West, C., & Zimmerman, D. H. (1987). Doing gender. Gender & Society, 1(2), 125-151.
- Henslin, J. M. (2021). Essentials of sociology: A down-to-earth approach (14th ed.). Pearson.
Modification History File Created: 05/07/2023 Last Modified: 10/27/2023
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