LESSON 2 superior compared to another society.

A good example is
the Chinese people's feeling of superiority anchored on
DEFINING CULTURE AND SOCIETY the so-called "middle kingdom complex." Such mentality
is based on the popular belief in ancient China that they
lived at the center or middle of the world and those
In this chapter, we will look closely at the nature outside of their domains are barbarians (Perkins: 324).
of culture and society primarily from the vantage point of Cultures that are viewed as different and strange
anthropology and sociology. are compounded by ethnocentrism-the tendency to
Society refers to a group of people sharing a evaluate other cultures in terms of one's own and to
common culture. It may also be defined as an organized conclude that other cultures are inferior, barbaric, or
group or groups of people who generally share a common immoral (OU: 13).
territory, language, culture, and who act together for
collective survival and well-being.
Ethnocentrism is a by-product of day-to-day
Human society is characterized by a socialization. School groups, occupational groups,
territorially localized population; the members of which recreational groups, social groups, civic groups, regional
interact in a network of relationships, which are and ethnic groups unconsciously and unwittingly develop
distinctive, culturally defined and limited, and affectively the ethnocentric tendencies towards its members. While
bonded by common linguistic patterns and other forms of ethnocentrism may develop solidarity of the group, it also
symbolic representations (Dash:42). restricts interaction between groups and when
Culture is "the complex whole which accompanied by antagonism and hostility, may lead to
encompasses beliefs, practices, values, attitudes, laws, conflict (Panopio: 38-39).
norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge, and everything that
a person learns and shares as a member of society" (Tylor
1920 [1871]). Cultural relativity or relativism assert that cultures
must be viewed and analyzed on their own terms, in the
context of their own societal setting. No culture should be
According to Taylor, culture is learned, shared, considered better than another; different cultures should
and symbolic. It is learned from parents, peers, teachers, be accepted, tolerated, and appreciated rather than
leaders, and others. Culture is not biological or genetic; condemned. No society has the right to use its own values
any person can acquire any person's culture (Kelly and and norms as yardsticks to view the traits of another
Thomas:19). society.

ASPECTS OF CULTURE Cultural relativism states that there are no universal

norms or moral absolutes; in specific circumstances, any
➢ Culture is dynamic, flexible, and adaptive act can appear either good or bad (OU: 13).
➢ Shared and Contested
➢ Learning through Socialization or Enculturation
➢ Patterned Social Interaction This approach proposes that one must suspend
➢ Integrated and at times Unstable judgment on other people's practices in order to better
➢ Transmitted through Socialization or understand them in their own cultural terms. Through
Enculturation cultural relativism, one can gain a meaningful view of the
➢ Requires Language and Other Forms of values and beliefs that underlie the behaviors and
Communication institutions of other people and societies. (Haviland, et al:
323).

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Each culture differs from another as each defines CULTURAL FORMS AND THREATS
reality differently. As a result, some people find it difficult In studying culture, it is important to determine
to get along with or understand other people's ways of its forms. A good portion of culture is visible and tangible
thinking and doing. since it consists of a huge number of products conceived
Members of a particular society have the and manufactured by people. The diversity of culture is a
tendency to regard its culture as the best and more source of creativity, innovation, and renewal, and is vital
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS
MR. JAY-AR M. DOLOT, LPT – TEACHER
for the continuity of human development (Engelhardt: Furthermore, this non-material form of cultural heritage
57). is also community-based. Intangible forms of culture
become heritage only when it is recognized as such by the
communities, groups or individuals that create, maintain,
Tangible cultural heritage includes all material and transmit it (UNESCO: 3-4).
objects, such as artifacts, buildings or landscapes, tools,
furniture, bridges, and any physical substance which has
been changed and used by people. In fact, tangible Preserving intangible cultural heritage and passing it on
heritage provides the physical space for the non-physical to future generations strengthens and keeps it alive while
expressions of culture. simultaneously allowing it to evolve and adapt. In order
to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, it must remain
relevant to a culture and be regularly practiced and
The other form of culture is non-material or learned within communities and between generations. By
intangible. It consists of abstractions that include doing so, both tangible and intangible cultural heritage
knowledge, beliefs, values, rules for behavior, traditional will survive. It should be noted that some, if not all, forms
skills and technologies, religious ceremonies, performing of cultural heritage developed along with the biological
arts, and storytelling. and cultural evolution of early humans until the modern
period.

Both the tangible and intangible forms of culture,

according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), are considered as
"cultural heritage." Cultural heritage does not end at sites,
landmarks, monuments, and collections of objects. It also
includes traditions or living expressions inherited from
our ancestors and passed on to the next generation, such
as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices,
rituals, festive events, knowledge, and practices
concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and
skills to produce traditional crafts (UNESCO:3).

Intangible cultural heritage has been passed from one

generation to another It has evolved in response to the
changes in the community that it belongs to. It gives a
sense of identity and continuity to people and his or her
community. As such, intangible cultural heritage provides
a link from mankind's past through the present and into
the future.

Intangible cultural heritage is shared and contributes

to social cohesion. It helps individuals have a sense of
identity and responsibility. It also gives a sense of
belongingness, making individuals feel part of different
communities or society at large.

Intangible cultural heritage is not merely valued as a

cultural good, on a comparative basis, for its exclusivity or
its exceptional value, which qualifies it as representative
heritage. It thrives on its basis in communities and
depends on those whose knowledge of traditions, skills,
and customs are passed on to the rest of the community,
from generation to generation, or to other communities
UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS
MR. JAY-AR M. DOLOT, LPT – TEACHER