This document discusses key concepts of culture and history from a sociological perspective. It defines culture as the non-physical products of a society, including knowledge, beliefs, customs and values that are shared and shape social order. Material culture includes artifacts and objects that reflect a society. Subcultures exist within larger cultures. Globalization has increased cultural exchange worldwide. Cultural norms create expectations that maintain social institutions and constrain behavior. Recognition of illness and gender norms vary between cultures due to cultural relativism.

1. SOC 208
Sociology of Everyday Life
CULTURE&HISTORY

2. Culture
• The legitimacy of certain practices and ideas
can be understood only within the unique
context of the group or society in which they
occur.
• It takes a sociological imagination to see that
time and place have a great influence on what
people consider normal.
• Culture and History in creating social order.

3. Dimensions of Culture
• Culture is one of the key elements that shape the
structure of a society.
• We are products of the culture and historical
epoch in which we live.
• Non-material culture: all the nonphysical
products of society that are created over time
and shared: knowledge, beliefs, customs, values,
morals, and so on. It also includes common
patterns of behavior and the forms of interaction
appropriate in a particular society.
• It is a ‘design for living’ that distinguishes one
society from another.

4. Dimensions of Culture
• Material Culture: the physical artifacts and
objects that shape or reflect the lives of members
of a particular society: distinctive clothing and
architecture, inventions, food, artwork, music and
so on.
• Some of the most important elements of material
culture are technological achievements. By
applying knowledge to adapt to changing social,
economic and environmental conditions.

5. Global Culture
• Global communication, international media,
transportation systems and migration have
contributed to a worldwide exchange of
cultural elements.
• The increasing influence of US culture on
other countries.
• The dominance of English language.

6. Subcultures
• A subculture consists of the values, behaviors
and physical artifacts of a group that
distinguish it from a larger culture.
• Religions, age groups, ethnic groups, racial
groups can be considered as subcultures.

7. History
• As culture, history has pervasive influence on
today’s society.
• Culture and history provide people with a
common bond- a sense of shared personal
experiences.

8. Cultural Expectations and Social Order
• Heteronormative culture: A culture where
heterosexuality is accepted as normal mode of
sexual expression.
• In heteronormative cultures, heterosexuals
are socially privileged because their
relationships and lifestyles are affirmed in
society.

9. Cultural Expectations and Social Order
• The accomodation of new technologies lead
to changes in cultural norms.
• The usage of cell phones.

10. Social Institutions and Cultural Norms
• Institutions are also strongly supported by
cultural norms.
• Institutionalized norm: a pattern of behavior
becomes widely accepted within a particular
social institution and is taken for granted in a
society.
• Institutionalized norms constrain people’s
behavior by making some lines of action
unthinkable. Ex: military duty.

11. Culture
• Norm: A general framework of expectations
• Sanction: A direct social response to some
behavior.
• Cultural Relativism: The principle that people’s
beliefs and activities should be interpreted in
terms of their own culture.
• Ethnocentrism: The tendency of people to
compare their own culture with other cultures.
• Cultural loyalty supports ethnocentrism and
encouraged by institutional ritual and symbolism.

12. Cultural Variation
• The people of the world become linked by
globalization, commerce, communications and
individuals from different cultures are more recently
living together.
• An awareness of cultural differences is crucial for a
multicultural society.
• Recognition of a disease differs culturally.
• Culture shapes everyday notions of health and illness.
• Sexual dichotomy: The belief that there are two sex
categories and these are determined, permanent and
universal.
• Sexual dichotomy is challenged depending on the
culture.

13. CRITICAL THINKING
• Ethnocentrism issue in Global World