SOC 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Symbolic Interactionism, Viola Desmond, Asteroid Family

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 104
• Professor: Stephen Muzzatti

Document Summary

Culture definition sociologists use this term value-neutrally; not about reproducing a hierarchy. Broad understanding about who we are as a people; beliefs, behaviours, values, pra(cid:272)ti(cid:272)es, artifa(cid:272)ts that defi(cid:374)e a people"s (cid:449)ay of life. Material: physical, tangible things (homes, vehicles, clothes, food, music) Non-material: ideas, beliefs, values, standards that people of a culture hold in common culture does not equal human nature; components of culture might be justified as human nature. A(cid:271)out a people"s shared (cid:449)ay of life; (cid:374)ot the sa(cid:373)e as (cid:374)atio(cid:374)ality society does not equal culture; society is an organizational framework. Symbols things that carry meaning, signify something; core components of culture (shared understanding) language: a system of symbols that a culture shares (all oral, most written) A means by which we communicate with each other; gain understanding of symbols. Major means of cultural transmission; culture can only be reproduced through language. Building block of reality; it"s deter(cid:373)i(cid:374)ed (cid:271)y la(cid:374)guage.