What is culture? What are some cultural differences between China and other countries? What are some cultural differences in Chinese society? What are some cultural differences between your generation and your parents’ generation?

What is culture?

What are some cultural differences between China and other countries?

What are some cultural differences in Chinese society?

What are some cultural differences between your generation and your parents’ generation?

Tylor (1874) “ Culture or civilization … is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” UNESCO (2002) “ [C]ulture should be regarded as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs.”

Tylor (1874)

“ Culture or civilization … is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.”

UNESCO (2002)

“ [C]ulture should be regarded as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs.”

anthropology archaeology linguistics cultural relativism cultural differences cultural products high culture low culture subculture cultural diffusion cross-cultural communication multiculturalism cultural symbol taboo slang generation gap business culture

anthropology

archaeology

linguistics

cultural relativism

cultural differences

cultural products

high culture

low culture

subculture

cultural diffusion

cross-cultural communication

multiculturalism

cultural symbol

taboo

slang

generation gap

business culture

Look at the culture shown in the following pictures. Which one is high culture? Which one is low culture? Why?

Look at the culture shown in the following pictures. Which one is high culture? Which one is low culture? Why?

ONE TWO

ONE

TWO

ONE TWO

ONE

TWO

ONE TWO

ONE

TWO

ONE TWO

ONE

TWO

ONE TWO

ONE

TWO

Chinese artist Liu Yang has created several pictures based on cultural differences between Germany and China. What do you think about them? Are they true?

Chinese artist Liu Yang has created several pictures based on cultural differences between Germany and China. What do you think about them? Are they true?

Look at the following situations. How do you think Chinese would react? How do you think foreigners would react? Thousands of liters of oil are spilled at the beach A man is beating a woman in public Your parents meet your lover for the first time A company makes a dangerous product The trains are late during Spring Festival

Look at the following situations. How do you think Chinese would react? How do you think foreigners would react?

Thousands of liters of oil are spilled at the beach

A man is beating a woman in public

Your parents meet your lover for the first time

A company makes a dangerous product

The trains are late during Spring Festival

Cultural relativism is the idea that we cannot judge another culture by the standards of our own culture For example, if in another culture it’s considered normal to steal, then according to cultural relativism, we cannot say that stealing in that culture is wrong Cultural universalism, one standard for everyone, is the opposite of relativism

Cultural relativism is the idea that we cannot judge another culture by the standards of our own culture

For example, if in another culture it’s considered normal to steal, then according to cultural relativism, we cannot say that stealing in that culture is wrong

Cultural universalism, one standard for everyone, is the opposite of relativism

Before the British ruled India, Indian women burned themselves to death when their husbands died in a practice called sati The British government made sati illegal Were the British right to do this?

Before the British ruled India, Indian women burned themselves to death when their husbands died in a practice called sati

The British government made sati illegal

Were the British right to do this?

In 2001, the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan destroyed some 1500 year old Buddha statues in Bamiyan The world condemned the Taliban for this The Taliban claimed a right to destroy the Buddhas because of their culture Who’s right?

In 2001, the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan destroyed some 1500 year old Buddha statues in Bamiyan

The world condemned the Taliban for this

The Taliban claimed a right to destroy the Buddhas because of their culture

Who’s right?

In China, when a left-handed child is born, he is usually made to use his right hand In the West, a left-handed child can use his left hand freely Are both cultures correct? Why or why not?

In China, when a left-handed child is born, he is usually made to use his right hand

In the West, a left-handed child can use his left hand freely

Are both cultures correct? Why or why not?

Should we judge other cultures? How we can decide on a common standard of right and wrong between countries?

Should we judge other cultures?

How we can decide on a common standard of right and wrong between countries?