SY101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: William Graham Sumner, Ethnocentrism
8
SY101 Full Course Notes
Verified Note
8 documents
Document Summary
Culture refers to the symbolic and learned aspects of human society. The sum of traditions, practices, languages, symbols, beliefs, values, ideologies, and material objects that create a [sense of similarity for a group of people]. Cultures enable people to adapt to, and thrive in their environments (brym 2017: 78). Commonsense notions of culture in canada: high culture: the sum of traditions, practices, languages, symbols, values, ideologies, and material objects that are associated with the upper class. 3 biases in commonsense notions of culture: culture is relative, culture creates social differences, culture is exclusive -- boundaries between different cultures, outsiders are disadvantaged. Gendered -- teaching women that wealth is very important. How to be a proper" woman -- superficial (makeover) Wasp culture -- old money (film -- country club) Symbols: anything that represents something else, such as a group ritual, a material object, or an immaterial dream. Gnomes (ref. to film) -- aesthetic taste is a class distinction.
