This chapter discusses tensions between ideal culture and real culture.docx
1. This chapter discusses tensions between ideal culture and real culture
This chapter discusses tensions between ideal culture and real culture in attitudes and
practices in society. Things like conventional attractiveness and honesty are often at odds
with each other. Can you think of other cases where ideal and real cultures collide in your
culture? (Give 5 examples)2. What is cultural capital? What, according to Bourdieu, is its
significance in society? How does one acquire cultural capital and how is it linked to the
reproduction of social class? How have you accumulated cultural capital in your life and
how have you exchanged it for other forms of capital? 3. Think of a subculture to which you
belong. Remember that subcultures include things like hobbies, religious groups, online
groups, ethnic groups, etc. What are the norms, values, and material artifacts that
distinguish members of your subculture from those who do not belong to it? Now apply the
sapir-whorf hypothesis to your subculture; that is, what language is used in your subculture
that is unique to this subculture and how does it shape the way you view/perceive the
world. For example, I am part of the vinyl collecting subculture (I started collecting before it
was the ‘cool’ thing to do =)) and language is a major part of this subculture in shaping my
perceptions of the record itself. We use terminology such as Mint, Near Mint, VG+, dead-
wax, ’45’s’, needle, etc. to describe different aspects of records, from the quality to the size
and shape. 4. For this question you are to watch the following video of the practice of
‘Takanakuy’ in Peru. Link (Links to an external site.After watch the video, you should
identify the following cultural elements apparent in this practice and the people of Peru:
norms, values/beliefs, language, material culture and symbols. You should identify as many
as possible for each (organizing your information in a table would be nice, but not
mandatory). After identifying these elements, apply one of the three major sociological
paradigms (Functionalism, Symbolic Interaction, Conflict) to this practice; that is, what
would one of these theories say about this social phenomenon and it’s purpose and
significance?
