How+Do+We+Define+Culture?

Due: 20 September 2010
Some people believe that Duke Ellington summed up the definition of culture best when he said, "If it sounds good, it is good!" The point being, that defining culture is a difficult task, as it quite broad, and encompasses many dimensions. Most cultural theorists agree that it boils down to behaviors and beliefs, but includes a great deal of specifics and sub-contexts. And learning about and trying to gain cultural competence is a process, not an outcome.

In this journey, as your introduction to the foundations of multicultural, culturally relevant education, with particular attention to its implications in the area of Social Studies, we embark on exploring theories about culture and acquiring skills necessary for successful culturally responsive teaching. To meet our objectives, we have to develop the knowledge and understanding of the wide dimensions comprising culture.

How Do We Define Culture?
In this exercise, we are asking students to re-think your assumptions about the meaning of culture, and based on the readings and class discussions, provide your understanding and definition of culture to the wiki. Your entry may be as long or as short as you'd like, just be sure to get your thoughtful message across.

Allegra Culture, though fluid in its meaning and implications, is one of the many ways that we as people define ourselves. We attribute personal taste in clothing, music, etc. to our cultural background. It is a means by which to identify oneself, to find some sense of belonging in a particular group. That being said, as individuals we ascribe ourselves to a multitude of cultures based on where we currently lie on our paths to self discovery. In a more traditional sense, I believe that we often hold onto the culture we were raised in. That becomes our base by which we constantly revert back to as we discover new identities, paths, and experiences that appeal to us.

Natasha Romanoff: To me, culture is a loaded term with no single definition; for each individual defines and illustrates their own culture. We do this through our religious practices, traditions, customs, values, language, location, etc. Throughout our lives, our sense of culture is subject to change, as we are fortunate to have the liberty of changing these such definite traits that encompass //culture// .

Lindsay Girden: Culture is something that is extremely broad and extremely specific at the same time. It is something that tears people apart and brings community together. I think because culture is such a complicated and "large" idea that it has become increasingly hard to teach and to accept in our modern day world. Culture is not only where you come from, but also traditions, background, home life, religion, ancestry- anything that defines you as a human being. It is an instinct of human beings to automatically "other" people who are different from us- or in other words, to categorize people unlike ourselves. Because culture is something to close to every individual heart, it may be difficult find room for a culture that is not your own. Despite this difficulty, it is essential that we start to open our arms and minds to the unfamiliar. If we can do this, then our world will be a much more accepting place.

Cassidy Brody: Culture is such a complex idea, to me, because I believe that it is something that we are born into, but also something that we create for ourselves. On the one hand, I was born into a Jewish culture because my parents chose to raise me in such a way. This culture was given to me and decided upon for me. On the other hand, I create my own culture. I speak the words that I choose, eat the foods that I want, and, though my parents taught me values, I also have my own values, which are part of my personal culture. In this way, I think that culture should be taught and understood and valued at a young age, but it also changes and evolves as we learn new things that may challenge our beliefs. I realize that many people attach strongly to the culture that they grew up with, but I think that maybe if we try to find the commonalities between cultures and try to understand that cultures are personal and can evolve, then maybe we could more willingly and easily accept cultures other than our own.

Lauren Smithson: Culture is can be an idea about a certain group of people based on the region and traditions associated with that area. It can be used to help people feel a sense of community but if overstated can also be used to exclude those who don’t fit the mold. A culture is not limited to ethnicity, age, or religion, it simply takes an agreement of a certain idea or methodology to unite and create it. Classrooms, schools, neighborhoods, and families can have their own specific culture as well. Since this term is so broad and varying from place to place it is a challenge to define it without bias or without reflection of one’s own identity.

Alex Johnson: Culture has become a word that people use without ever actually defining it. It encompasses so much and can be used in the broad sense such as a country's culture or in a much more specific way when talking about my own culture. Culture, to me, is the way in which people live. It can include traditions, religions, foods, and language. Culture can be dependent on variables such as age and location. I think that my culture in New York is much different than my culture in Colorado just as my culture when I was 8 was different than my culture when I was 18 or even now. Different contexts can change a person's culture. A student's classroom culture is different from their home culture. This definition of culture does not even clarify what culture is, except that it is confusing and always changing. It is not something that one can point to or easily explain. It is a very abstract concept, which is what makes it so difficult to define.

Erika Dorbad: In many of my history classes at NYU, we have discussed the meaning of this loaded term, "culture," and how it relates to either a book we were reading or a time period we were studying. This question has also come up numerous times in our literacy education classes when we discussed the idea of multicultural literacy, and becoming more "culturally aware" teachers who are respectful and responsive to different groups of peoples and their customs, language, religions, habits, lifestyle, attitudes, etc. I think that one individual can have many different "cultures" at the same time. Culture can relate to their ethnic background, where they and their family grew up and the type of customs and rituals that defined their daily life. Other cultures could include school communities, where the culture of a school like NYU is vastly different than that of a small school in a secluded area. I agree with Cassidy that people can create their own culture(s) based on their personal preferences and interests. I would say that our childhood education/special education cohorts are a unique culture in that we were brought together because of our interest in education and in children, but we also bring varied viewpoints and personalities into the culture to make it unique. We can join and create as many different culture(s) as we please for ourselves, including those that we were raised in, like an ethnic group or religious group, as well as those which we seek out for ourselves.

Nicole Kumar: In society, we understand culture as encompassing ethnicity, religion, language, traditions, customs, and values. Yet, culture is much more than just that. We can attribute the way we think to our culture. That is why I believe that culture is a lens from which we view the world. Our culture begins developing from the moment we are born, as our parents instill in us their beliefs and values. As we grow up and encounter the world for ourselves, new experiences help us shape our own opinions and values. We decide what ethnic and religious groups we will belong to, as well as what traditions and customs we would like to uphold. We are free to explore and decide these things for ourself. That is why I believe that an individual's culture can always change as the individual continues to grow and change. But, we will always use our culture as the basis for understanding the world around us.

Molly Brown: Culture is everything that goes into making a person who they are. It is not only their religion, traditions, and dress, but is everything from the beliefs of their parents and friends to what they watch on TV, and everything that surrounds them in their community. Culture is what influences a person’s beliefs, feelings, and desires. It is important that we as teachers understand and acknowledge our students cultures. However, it is also important that we do not make assumptions about a student’s culture based on they way they look or where they are from.

Leslie Yam: Culture is ideas that shape our beliefs and views on life and how it should be lived. It is our understanding of the world around us because of our experiences and what has been shown/taught to us. It is the **nurture** aspect of nature vs. nurture.

Laura Rodriguez: Culture is what distinguishes groups of people. Not just racial or ethnic groups, either. I believe culture to be an umbrella under which lies beliefs, practices, and values. I think this is what makes culture not only fascinating, but valuable. An individual's culture helps shape that individual and sets him/her apart from the crowd. Even if any two people share similar backgrounds, their culture will always be different because their experiences have been unique to them.

Johana Talbot: Humans are by nature social beings and culture is the link that gives us an intimate connection with other individuals. Culture define our identities and world views. Our language, traditions, philosophical and/or religious beliefs, our past and future are traits of our Culture. However, I think people do not belong to a single culture. In our daily lives we find ourselves moving between different contexts and groups of people; because of this, we foster different cultures that allow us to relate and interact according to the conditions. some of my personal cultures are, Colombian culture, Hispanic culture, Immigrant culture, student culture, teacher culture, woman culture, etc. All of them make me who I am but they also help me identify to different people. The combination of our cultures is what makes us so unique yet so versatile in life.

Elyssa Alters: Culture is what makes the world such a unique place for rich learning experiences to occur in people of all ages. It is something that is traditional, yet contemporary at the same time. Hundreds of cultures started thousands of years ago and still have the same traditions and customs that have been passed on from generation to generation through various mediums such as written, oral, and technological documentation. But, culture is ever-changing in the sense that new traditions, fads, and leaders are always being introduced - pop culture. Culture is not something that will ever be static and I do not see that as a negative thing. Every generation adds on to pre-existing cultures and creates their own culture(s) full of traditions, fashion, icons, religion, and so much more. Culture is an amazing thing and it makes the world a better and diverse place to live, but there is one thing lacking when it comes to this concept - mutual respect for all other cultures. Many people in this world do have this respect, but there are many other people who do not. We do not have to agree with the customs or traditions of someone else's culture, but it is essential that we always respect them. If we do not make an effort to do this, we are missing out on the amazing world of multiculturalism that I consider a privilege to have available to me.

Rachel Berg: Culture is the ideas, objects, and traditions of a group of people, which result from the group’s shared needs. Culture includes all aspects of someone’s tradition, beliefs, and behaviors. This includes the arts, literature, customs, language, and technology that are determined by a group of people. An individual’s culture is based on learned behaviors, feelings, and thoughts; it is not something biological or genetic. I believe that you can be born into a culture, but you always have the opportunity to embrace that culture or to disregard it. Something that really struck me in the reading about multicultural education, which is important to keep in mind when tying to learn about different cultures is the need to learn about the values that shape a culture and not just the food they eat and their dress. Thus, an important aspect of culture is the value system that forms the basis for the particular group of people.

Alexis Hernandez: Culture is the foundation of our society. It is the base of all human identity, as it shapes us, our beliefs, our appearances, and our overall way of life. I think it is important to note that culture is more than just the food, dress, language, and literature of a society, and instead, the true foundation of a culture is actually its beliefs and history. I believe that to be a part of a culture or to truly learn about a specific culture, we must learn about its history, its challenges and its successes. What I find so interesting about culture is the fact that everyone is born into one, or more than one, yet you can always become a part of a different culture simply by learning about it and truly embracing it. What I think is essential when considering culture, especially in regards to my future as an educator, is that culture is not only learned about, but more importantly, that it is respected. Because culture is something that both brings people together and also tears them apart, it is so important that, as teachers, we teach our students to truly respect one another.

Linda Lee: Culture is a word that is now used in extremely broad terms. Just as our class experienced firsthand the differences in our own personal definitions of this all-encompassing word through an acitivity, there really are so many variations to the meaning and essence of this word. Culture can be defined as anything from the type of clothing worn, to a political viewpoint. Personally, my culture is at the heart of my identity; it makes up the greater portion of how I define myself, and its influence in my life is boundless. Although there are several interpretations to the understanding of this word, I think it’s safe to say that there are a few commonalities among all definitions: culture connects people, shapes our thoughts and values, and is always meaningful.

Julia Tkac: Culture is how we understand who we are and how we fit into the world. It allows us to connect with others by identifying common ground. These identifying features could include religion, gender, economic status, and race. Through these likenesses a community is created that can empower positive change. Defining ones culture should be used as an opportunity for self-reflection. Not only should you understand how you have come to identify with a specific culture, but also how others have come to recognize their own culture. Through this discovery a better understanding yourself and others can be accomplished. If this reflection does not occur than culture can become a source of discrimination and misunderstanding.

Alice Wang: According to the dictionary, culture is defined as " the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of  human beings and transmitted from one generation to another." It is so easy for people to just simply associate themselves with one culture, either their ethnicity or the religion that they practice and accept that is who they are. However, culture undoubtedly encompasses much more than that. A culture is established when we share what we believe as the essence of who we are with those who have similar beliefs. We are all wired differently and that is why we see the world differently. Our views and beliefs change as we see and experience things through our everyday life. That is also why we naturally gravitate toward people who share similar values as us, since by doing so allows us to find the comfort of being with people who we are able to relate to. It is not to say that we should be exclusive and only be with the people who are just like us, but we should be willing to open up our eyes and our hearts to the different "cultures" around us as our thinking is definitely subjected to change. It is also important as future teachers to understand where each student is coming from and try to blend all the cultural beliefs to make our classrooms safe, friendly, and welcoming to all of our students--to create a unique culture that caters to each and every one of our classrooms.

Denise Boneta: Culture isn't something we can sum up in one sentence. Every person has their own individual definition and understanding about what culture is. These understandings usually stem off of the persons own personal relationship with their culture/cultures and what they think embodies it. My own personal understanding of culture is this- Culture makes us who we are, and has an effect on the way we view things/behave. It can be found within Salient identities (race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, ability/disability/, socio-economic status) but also can come from personal identities/environments. Usually people associate culture with being the attitudes and beliefs that are shared amongst the members in that group, but culture can also include food, dance, music, language/accents, values, etc... In the end it's most important to realize that we live in a Multicultural world, and not one person is the same- nor is every person in the same culture the same. We can not assume that a person identifies with one culture based on how they look, act, or anything else. In a classroom, give a student the opportunity to let you know about their culture, before you make any assumptions or offend them in any way.

Grace Roh: Culture is a word used to define one's identity. I believe that every member of this society uses an aspect of their culture -- whether it be religion, customs, or ethnicity -- to convey to oneself, as well as to others, what the one is like. Our personalities are driven from our cultures, meaning the way we were raised in our households and the kinds of people that we choose to surround ourselves with. Though the definition of culture today has changed, I believe that culture originally focused more on historical traditions and customs that have been commemorated throughout generations because it conveys the way of life or how life should be lived through the eyes of a particular culture.

Jennifer Bernardes: As educators we must understand that while culture exists within individuals and among them, it also manifests itself through action and in society (institutions, language, etc.). As many people have stated, part of culture is belief and when out beliefs inform our actions, we have to be conscious of the implications these actions have with respect to the beliefs of others. Sometimes it is too easy to justify a feeling as simply being traditional or part of "my //culture//." As Cassidy said, we are in control of the culture we create and perpetuate. Parts are inherent for some more than others but we cannot forget to emphasize the //my// in "my culture." When we forget that we can choose what to believe (at least in part) and how to act even if we may not fully agree, we are letting culture come between us instead of bringing us together. To me this seems to be part of the impasse that keeps humans from being able to coexist more peacefully. Not identifying one's own culture is just as problematic as being unable to monitor one's own bias. How can you begin to change or grow if you don't know where you stand? This brings to mind Marx's idea of alienation and although it is intended to describe workers in a capitalist society, I think it could connect to how cultures become alienated from each other the same way people are. Differences can be used as shields and in terms of interactions, it can be easier to keep looking until you see your culture reflected and not have to learn to change yours in the process of learning about another. Erica Chiu: Culture is a way of life for people. It is what an individual believes in, how he/she behaves, his/her values. Culture is something that is embedded into how we dress, what we eat, how we speak, and how we live our lives. Usually people are born into a culture as parents pass on their beliefs, knowledge, and behavior to future generations. As someone grows up and starts having his/her own experiences and developing relationships, he/she may start to develop his/her own culture. In our classrooms we must be aware that our students will come from different cultures because they come from different families, neighborhoods, previous classrooms, etc. Teachers need to learn about and care about their students’ cultures and understand how each student’s culture might affect how he/she acts in the classroom.

Carol Ann Longobucco: I think that many people consider culture to be a unifying concept that ties people together through customs, language and a shared system of beliefs. Maintaining one's culture may seem extremely difficult, particularly for immigrant families, who may feel that they are raising their children in two separate worlds. As students in the New York City public school system, children are exposed to different languages and perhaps different customs. At the same time, in their homes, these same children communicate with their families in their native languages and continue to respect the values that their parents have instilled in them. Generations ago, assimilation seemed to be the goal of immigrants who came to this country. I wonder how much they had to give up or leave behind in their efforts to try and fit in with American culture.

Hithia Shibuya: Culture is not an easy term to define. When asked about culture we could state it to be made of ethnic, social, economic factors and can be observed wherever we go. It is constant presence and always changing. In one day I go through my cultures of home, commuters, my student teaching classroom, then onto NYU student culture and finally our own cohort's culture. In each of these cultures can be seen an environment that encompasses rules that are followed, beliefs that are known throughout that community, a common understanding of values, and similarities in etiquette and the economic situations that surround the environment. We have to be mindful that every individual creates their own set of environments that are formed through the influence of so many factors in one's life and by interacting with others, new cultures are formed.

Nikita Penett: The word culture is oftentimes associated with one's race, ethnicity, heritage, or religion. That is, it is typically used to refer to large groups of people that share similar beliefs and traditions. However, as both educators and individuals it is important for us to understand that a person's culture is not only defined in such broad terms. It is also shaped by factors on a much smaller scale, such as family, friends, daily life interactions, personal values, etc. Because culture is easily influenced and molded as a result of these many broad and more specific factors, a person's culture is never static. As we grow and change, so too does the culture that we identify ourselves with. While it may take more drastic changes to shift from one culture to another in the broader sense, our personal culture continues to evolve as we go through life. From an educational standpoint, it is important for us to have our students first consider their own individual cultures before they can begin to comprehend and, more importantly, accept and respect the cultures of others.

Noah Goldstein: Culture is a set of values, beliefs, or attitudes that binds a group of people together. It can arise through a shared history, geographical proximity, religious affiliation, or national identity. Culture can be expressed through customs and art as well as through actions. The most important thing about culture is that it is shared. An individual can not generate his or her own culture, although an individual's identity is often powerfully shaped by one's culture. A person can identify with multiple cultures, that is, cultures can overlap and complement one another. For example, one can simultaneously identify with American culture, New York City culture, Wall Street culture, etc. The word culture can be used to describe various types of groups. A city can have it's own unique culture, as can a corporate environment, a nation, or a religion. An important aspect of culture is heritage. Often a culture will have its own historical pedigree, and is transmitted through communities and the family unit. Whether or not this is the case, culture is generally formed and transmitted to its members through shared experiences.

Maha Husein:

Defining the term culture should be approached with caution. The meaning differs because to some people it could mean a good piece of literature, food, and art. To a biologist it could be the physical world we live in, and to a Social scientist it can mean learned human behavior patterns. When we look at a term through a different lens as Nicole Kumar said, "culture is a lens we view the world from," we learn to appreciate the knowledge we gain from it. Within a culture, there are subcultures which include diverse societies because people do come from different parts of the world. As a person, to understand that people come from different societies drives me to want to learn their way of life. Many have stated that culture can separate societies as well as bring us together, I don't feel that it's culture that does that I feel that it's how some people lack the knowledge of other cultures and their ignorance stands in the way of learning such beauty.

Suhna Pi: Culture embraces many general terms such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, traditions, values, and customs. Therefore, it is evident that culture truly shapes one's identity. Growing up in a caucasian-dominated town, I was never able to relate to my culture or have the chance to share my culture with the people around me. When I was in elementary school, I remember learning about Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, and the other holidays people in the United States celebrated. I learned about the holidays that were celebrated in Korea through my parents, and never had the chance to identify myself with my Korean culture in school. I questioned a lot of the traditions and customs that my family celebrated because they were not familiar to my friends or what I had learned in school. I have learned that culture can influence and be linked with another culture. For example, my father grew up in the United States and my mother grew up in Korea. Although the Korean culture is more emphasized in my family, my sisters and I were raised celebrating both the Korean and American culture. One example is that every year we celebrate two Thanksgivings, one on the day of the American Thanksgiving, and the latter on the day of the Korean Thanksgiving. Perhaps when I was younger, if I had had the chance to explore my Korean culture with the American culture, I would have been able to truly identify myself with both cultures instead of questioning some of the traditions, beliefs and values that actually define who I am today. I believe that when and where one lives in truly influences his/her culture. As an educator, I believe it is important to understand a student's culture (race, traditions, values, beliefs) in order to create an environment where students will be able find a meaningful connection with what they are learning with their lives; also to acknowledge the different cultures that exist in order for students to understand one another.

Katie Kocur: Culture is a word that I feel will always be difficult to define, because it is such a subjective and continuously changing concept. Ultimately, culture embodies all of the ideas and moral values that are believed by a specific group of people, as well as all of the behaviors and practices that express these sacred ideals. Of course, my definition of culture may be quite different compared to a person of completely different origin, as it is, ironically enough, our culture that helps us to define the meaning of this idea. Culture can be found in various different mediums--language, food, music, fashion, religion/spirituality, social interactions--but I believe that the values and beliefs that are held in esteem are always the same, despite the various different ways that they may be expressed. That being said, I feel that culture rests heavily on tradition and a peoples' need to carry out such tradition. However, while culture is rooted in a belief system that was developed by ancestors and forefathers, culture learns to adapt to a world that is forever changing. It is up to the people in a particular society to shape their culture in such a way that reflects both traditional upbringing and modern circumstances. All that being said, it seems that culture is developed through interaction's with one's environment and the people within that environ. Ultimately, I may conclude, culture is the beating heart of all societal groups and families. Stephannie Herran: Culture is a concept that for some people can be difficult and easy at the same time to define because it encompasses so much. Culture is the history and traditions of an individual or of a group of people. For instance, it can be said that as humans we are one culture, but we are all different, thus we create subcultures. Therefore, if can be determined many times to be our ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, lifestyle, food and even our gender or profession as well as our roles in society as a whole, small community and families.

In doing the readings for this week, I have learned that while the dances, the dialects and the foods that a group of people have are important aspects of their culture, there is more to it that we should further explore and learn about to become conscious citizens of the world we live in, which is multicultural world. Some of the other elements that make up the culture of people are ideologies, politics, history, traditions, economy, and religions. Culture also allows us to learn from each other and to be more active and mindful citizens. We might define our own culture as the norm, but if we are open-minded people willing to examine our own culture and that of others, we would come to the realization that there is no such thing as a culture that is said to be the one that's most "normal" since this would indicate that the other cultures that are left are not worthy enough. Similarly, we shouldn't describe any culture as "universal" for this would imply that all cultures have the exact same set of values, beliefs, traditions, histories, language, and religion, which in turn is a disservice to all cultures as it doesn't give them the opportunity to share their uniqueness.

I don't believe that there is only one accurate definition of culture because everyone can define it in different terms and for various purposes just as there are some groups of people for whom culture is an intricate part of who they are, there are also those for whom culture is not that important to their lives. Everyone's culture deserves the respect and appreciation that our own culture deserves because despite the differences, all cultures are valuable to everyone's life experiences and growth, which is also why many of us feel that we belong to multiple cultures. Hae Joo Shon: Culture consists of activities such as the religion, language, foods, beliefs, values, tradition, or music which shape people’s minds. Culture is strongly embedded in our daily life, in other words, it can just mean a way of living. Sharing same culture will most likely bring people together. On the contrary, it will take a long time when accepting different culture. Knowing the facts of certain group of people or an individual is not enough to understand any culture. Socialization with people who you consider different from yourself will make you truly feel/understand where he/she is coming from. Phylicia Johnson: As I read the readings, when I thought about the word "culture", my grandmother's saying "to each is his own," defined the term. Culture is different for each individual. We cannot associate the same "defined beliefs" for everyone, because culture changes with generation and exposure new ideas. Therefore, in order to understands one's culture, you must first understand the person.

Alethea Hampl:
 * Culture** covers an array of areas specific to the ways in which people identify their way of living.
 * Culture** is the beauty in which people connect to one another throughout their lives; through art,music, food & dress, etc.
 * Culture** to me is a broad area that cultivates belief systems and experiences within a specific group of people.
 * Culture** is is continuously expanding & transforming within the lives of "all" people.
 * Culture is BEAUTIFUL!**

I believe culture to be a deposit of experiences, beliefs, values, morals, attitudes, religions, and knowledge, aquired by a group of people over generations. It is all these things, shared by a group of people in a specific time and place. Our world is made up of many cultures, and the differences between them manifest themselves in different ways. Culture makes up our past as humans, our present state, and will continue to change in the future. It conveys the fact that people are what they learn; it puts no limits on human ability. A great quote I found defines culture as follows, “A COLLECTIVE PROGRAMMING OF THE MIND THAT DISTINGUISHES THE MEMBERS OF ONE GROUP OR CATEGORY OF PEOPLE FROM ANOTHER”.
 * Emily Polihrom:**

Adriana Candelas: In my opinion, culture is what bonds groups of people together. Whether it's race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, neighborhood, town, city, etc, our culture is what connects us to others. Without culture the world would be boring because people wouldn't be different. Culture is beautiful, intriguing, and confusing, but it's what makes each of us who we are.