Culture

Buildings

Dams

Bridges

Machines

Roads

Vehicles

Values

Rituals

Practices

Beliefs

Festivals

Language

Cultural Contents

Material Culture

Consists of tangible or man made

objects

They are the external and utilitarian

objects.

Non Material Culture

Non tangible, internal

Reflects the nature of man

It is that complex whole which

includes any materials, knowledge,

beliefs, art, law, custom and any other

capabilities and habits acquired by

man as a member of the society.

Culture is the way of life of

the people

Characteristics

Learnt..

Not inherited biologically nor instinct

nor inborn

Learned ways of behavior

Social

Does not exist in isolation

It is a pdt of society

It orginates, acquired and developed

through social interaction

It is shared by members of society

Shared

It is not something which a single

individual cannot possess

It is something adopted, used,

believed, practiced or possessed by a

number of people

Eg Values, Norms, Inventions, artistic

works

Transmissive

Transmitted from one genaration to

another

Language in its different form is the

medium of transmission

It may also take place by instruction

and imitation

Continuous and Cumulative

It continues from one generation to

another

Hence it accumulates and becomes

cumulative

Dynamic and Intergrated

It is subject to slow and constant

change

At the same time the various parts of

culture are inter connected

Change in one part affects change in

another

Change in material aspect is followed

by change in non material aspects

Varies from society to another

Every society has its own culture

It is unique to each society

Cultural Change

Diffussion

Borrowing of cultural elements from

one group to another. In India it

happens through two process known

as -

Westrernization- Imitating the west

Sanskritization- The lower caste

people imitating the upper caste

people in order to move up the caste

hierarchy

Inventions Finding out something

Cultural Lag

When one aspect of culture develops

rapidly and the other cannot keep

pace with the former.