Global Spectrum of Culture & Diversity (HL IB Geography)
Revision Note
Defining Culture
Culture describes a system of shared meaning
The culture of a place or a person is made up of lots of different parts, including traditions, language, foods, symbols, values, religion and leisure activities
Some cultures can be similar, while others can be very different
Culture is important to all human populations; it is what makes people who they are
Forms of Culture
Cultural traits are distinctive features shared within specific groups and include:
Cultural activities such as
Festivals: celebrations mark significant events or beliefs in a community
Rituals: births, marriages and deaths have particular customs linked with them across different cultures
Behaviours such as greeting other people, dining etiquette, etc.
Symbols and objects such as totem poles for Indigenous communities
Patterns and designs: Arabic calligraphy in Islamic art or Māori moko tattoos in New Zealand
Ethnicity involves cultural practices, views and distinctions
Major groups, such as African, Asian or European, have sub-groups
These sub-groups are further separated by language, regional practices, or even a shared history
Identity is complex and can include:
National identity involves shared symbols such as flags, anthems and history
Religious identity is a shared belief system that can shape lifestyles, moral values and worldviews
Ethnic identity reflects pride in being connected with a particular ethnic group
Subcultural identity has roots in larger cultures, based on shared interests or lifestyles such as hip-hop culture or the vegan community, etc.
Emerging Global Culture
The world is changing faster than ever before
Technologies such as the internet and satellite communications make the world more global and more interconnected
This has increased interactions between economies and cultures, changing everyday lives through cultural diversity or the hybridisation of cultures
This can occur through adoption
The host culture fully adopts the ‘foreign’ culture without modifying it
Or through adaptation
The host culture borrows parts of the 'foreign' culture and modifies it to fit the host society
Adoption and adaptation of cultures have led to the development of a 'global culture'
Apple products have become part of people's lives around the world
This cultural product is designed in the US, manufactured in China and sold across the globe
This globalising of American products is termed Americanisation
Westernisation, on the other hand, is the adoption of British, European and Canadian culture, etc.
Western culture still plays a significant role in shaping the global cultural landscape
However, other non-western cultures are also impacting the cultural landscape
For example, China's flagship phone, Huawei, and South Korea's Samsung are influencing the technological landscape
Japan's car manufacturer, Toyota, can be found in almost every country in the world
The world is becoming more of a single or global culture
Examples of Global Culture
Characteristic | Example |
---|---|
Language | English has become a common language in almost every country in the world |
Dressing/clothing | Many forms of clothing are becoming global, such as jeans being worn by all genders, etc. |
Music | Music genres and individual songs are listened to in different parts of the world |
Movies/television | Bollywood movies are making greater impacts on the movies industry worldwide |
Sport | The English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, NBA, NFL in America, all have a global appeal and watched by millions world wide |
Tourism | A form of cultural exchange that allows people to experience different cultures |
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