Definitions

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=What is Culture?=

A definition
When people study cultures, as with any other subject, they create a system of classification. We group things together based on common denominators, using patterns to help us organize the world around us. [|Anthropologists] are specialists who study culture, among other things. According to [|Professor O'Neil] of Palomar College, California, one definition of culture is "learned human behavior patterns...and [|perceptions]", including knowledge, traditions, beliefs and customs. He says that the things human beings make or create (such as art, language, or buildings), are not culture, they are the //products// of culture.

By classifying and examining these products, we can identify the main characteristics of a specific culture. This is one of the things that we will do in class, to help us understand this concept.

Click  for extended reading.

Societies and culture
Societies create cultures. Because societies are constantly changing, so too does their culture.
 * If you look back at the histories of our world, can you think of some examples of this?**

Sub-cultures
A sub-culture is a group within a culture that has shared patterns of behavior and/or traditions. Schools are often referred to as sub-cultures.
 * Do you agree with that definition? What characteristics does your Grade 8 sub-culture possess?**

Cultural universals
In grade 7, you looked at cultural universals; that is another level of culture. This is what you looked at: Do you remember them? These are human behaviors that everybody has. They are universal, common to all.

=Cultural Universals: Patterns of human behavior=

One way to study culture is to look at areas of **similarity** based on peoples' **needs** and **wants**. We will explore the patterns of human behavior outlined in the section below by investigating the products from different countries or groups. Let us see if the 'cultural universals' theory holds true for our world.

Sources are listed with each pattern of behavior to provide a starting point for our exploration into defining culture.

__**Assignment**__

 * **Choose your home country and pick 1 cultural universal to explore in that country.**
 * **Complete the set task for that cultural universal.**
 * **Requirements [[file:Cultural Univerals assignment.pdf]]**

Instructions are in this word document Check list for the Cultural Universals poster

__**Take some time to look at the links provided. All the links on this page are a starting point for your assignment.**__



Human behavior: a starting point for exploration

 * Useful sites are linked below**
 * The questions with each one simply help to guide your thinking. They are not a task.**

Kinship
What structure do families around the world follow? Are they all like our families? Are we like each other? http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/

Religious
Have a look at Minnesota's State University's [|EMuseum]. Can you find the section on religions?

Educational
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001349.shtml http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/0904/p13s1-lekt.html

Recreation and Play (leisure activities)
http://ezinearticles.com/?Most-Popular-Sports-Around-The-World&id=551180 http://www.geocities.com/childrenfolklore/

To listen to Music of the World, click Check out the podcast of the week below

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Art
A useful site with links to major art museums and galleries around the world. Why not have a look at some:





Body art
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/tattoos/

http://www.amonline.net.au/bodyart/tattooing/



Architecture
Buildings can tell us a lot about the people who built them and what they are like. Go through the Chinese garden below and see what it tells you about the people who designed it.

[|http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/ScholarGarden/tour/index.php3?usr=n5|true|true|eng]

Dance
A site with links to different types of dancing from around the world http://www.sapphireswan.com/dance/ An integration of cultures in Ralph Lemon's //Geography Trilogy// http://channel.creative-capital.org/project_37.html

Clothing
http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/identity_by_design/IdentityByDesign.html

=Extension reading=

Spotlight on....
rss url="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/history.html" link="true" number="4"

rss url="http://www.artculture.com/" link="true" number="3" 