People and Cultures of the World
April 13-17, 2009
During the week of the 13th to the 17th of April, the Undergraduate Academies will be exploring the many different ways people live around the world. Across the globe, there are hundreds of vibrant and interesting cultures that give us a “window” into the lives of others. Studying foreign languages, art, literature, music, or even food can give us a “glimpse” into a culture that may be entirely unlike one’s very own.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WEEKLY THEME
What is culture?
There is no single accepted definition of culture. Each academic discipline that uses the concept defines it differently, and even within one discipline there is no single accepted definition or way of looking at the term. In popular usage, the term takes on even more meanings, as in “high culture” to refer to people who partake of the arts and theatre or “cultured” to refer to people who are educated and well-mannered.
Below are some definitions of culture from anthropology- a discipline that has made “culture” its core concept (from http://www.tamu.edu/classes/cosc/choudhury/culture.html):
“Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of generations through individual and group striving.”
“Culture is the systems of knowledge shared by a relatively large group of people.”
“Culture is the sum of total of the learned behavior of a group of people that are generally considered to be the tradition of that people and are transmitted from generation to generation.”
“Culture is a collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another.”
More definitions and explanations of other terms that pertain to this concept can be found here: http://www.tamu.edu/classes/cosc/choudhury/culture.html
How do you study culture?
There are as many ways of examining culture as there are definitions, but following are some of the most common:
Ethnography
Participant-Observation
Studying a foreign language
Examining art (paintings, photos, movies, etc.)
Historic Texts
International Business – How do foreign businesses interact? What “customs” are appropriate?
Domestic Institutions and International Relations – How do countries interact?
Local Culture
Believe it or not, but even Buffalo can be considered as having a local “culture”! Think about it – what do you call what you’re drinking – pop or soda? Ever think about what Buffalo’s famous for? Chicken Wings, ring a bell?
Believe it or not, people other places eat pizza withOUT having chicken wings!
Our snow fall?? Or ever notice how people local to Buffalo talk about the highways?- “The 90”, “The 290”, etc……in other areas of the country people do not put the in front of road names, it would simply be “90” or “I-90”. On a more significant level- is there something about the Buffalo lifestyle that contributes to the high rate of heart disease found here?
What if this were to be extended and we were to think about “American Culture”? What IS “American” culture? Is it the food we eat? The music we listen to? Our “way of life”?
Culture can be described AND defined by a host of different things –those listed above are only a fraction of the possibilities! Others include, but are not limited to:
· Religion
· Music
· Patterns of speaking
· Class systems
· Food preferences and avoidances
· Economic systems
· Political systems
· Norms about personal space and privacy
· Games
· Jokes/ Humor
· Definitions of Race and Gender
· Symbols/Imagery
· Body decoration/clothing
· Notions of cleanliness
· Definitions of family and kinship…………
· ………….
A Famous Example:
From Horace Miner, "Body Ritual among the Nacirema." Reproduced by permission of the American Anthropological Association from The American Anthropologist, vol. 58 (1956), pp. 503-507.
"Most cultures exhibit a particular configuration or style. A single value or pat- tern of perceiving the world often leaves its stamp on several institutions in the society. Examples are "machismo" in Spanish-influenced cultures, "face" in Japanese culture, and "pollution by females" in some highland New Guinea cultures. Here Horace Miner demonstrates that "attitudes about the body" have a pervasive influence on many institutions in Nacireman society. "
An excerpt:
“ The fundamental belief underlying the whole system appears to be that the human body is ugly and that its natural tendency is to debility and disease. Incarcerated in such a body, man's only hope is to avert these characteristics through the use of the powerful influences of ritual and ceremony. Every household has one or more shrines devoted to this purpose. The more powerful individuals in the society have several shrines in their houses and, in fact, the opulence of a house is often referred to in terms of the number of such ritual centers it possesses. Most houses are of wattle and daub construction, but the shrine rooms of the more wealthy are walled with stone. Poorer families imitate the rich by applying pottery plaques to their shrine walls. While each family has at least one such shrine, the rituals associated with it are not family ceremonies but are private and secret. The rites are normally only discussed with children, and then only during the period when they are being initiated into these mysteries.” Read the rest here: http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~thompsoc/Body.html
Then ask yourself: WHO ARE THE NACIREMA? (answer is at the end of this post)
HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
Offices at UB:
-Global Perspectives Academy (http://academy.buffalo.edu/)
The Global Perspectives Academy is a diverse community of students and faculty committed to exploring international affairs and enhancing campus awareness of the ways in which our global society is truly interdependent. Under the direction of Dr. Claude Welch, Academic Director and Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Political Science; you will learn how to:
v Develop an awareness of yourself as a citizen of a rapidly globalizing world
v Gain an understanding for the processes that connect you with others around the world
v Discover the shared interests of nations and cultures around the globe, while respecting that each has distinct characteristics and histories
v Understand the importance of international cooperation and conflict
v Develop skills that allow you to gain international experiences of your own and prepare yourself for on increasingly global labor market
v Use the opportunities available at UB to immerse yourself in the world outside the United States
-International Student and Scholar Services (http://wings.buffalo.edu/intlservices/events_this_month.html)
The International Student and Scholar Services offers a broad range of services for international students and faculty at UB, including assistance in practical matters such as Visas and tips on adjusting to life in the US and Buffalo. They also offer a large variety of workshops, events, and activities for international students and others who may be interested.
-Study Abroad (http://wings.buffalo.edu/studyabroad/index.html)
This campus office is devoted to assisting UB students who wish to experience another culture by studying abroad. They can help you plan your schedule, find a program that suits you, and offer support while you are overseas. Check out all of the opportunities today!
“There is much more to studying abroad than just taking classes in a foreign country. Nothing will be quite the same after you have studied abroad. Your perspectives will be global, your attitudes will be international, and you will make memories that will last a lifetime. Studying abroad may be that defining moment that will change your life. Your international experience builds a noticeable sense of independence and self-confidence and opens doors to new opportunities, new friends, and new career paths. The benefits of study abroad are endless.” (http://wings.buffalo.edu/studyabroad/pro_why.htm)
-Intercultural Diversity Center (http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/idc/)
A Sampling from the “About Us” page- demonstrating the breadth of programs they offer to connect to other cultures and experience the diversity around us:
“Connect, Create, Act!
Everyday on our campuses and within the community we all have a unique opportunity to interact and learn from other people of very diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. As a model for inclusive excellence and to foster multicultural/global knowledge, awareness and skills each of our programs are concentrated within three core themes for diversity, inclusion and social justice.
Connecting Communities through Cultural Activities (CCCA)
A series of programs designed to increase cultural awareness and appreciation of diversity, understanding of others, and building strong communities. Several opportunities exist for students to become involved and participate in and/or plan cultural events throughout the academic year. The entire UB community is welcome to participate in Intercultural & Diversity Center events.
CCCA Programs
African Bazaar
ALANA Celebration
Asian Bazaar
Latino Bazaar
LGBTQ Bazaar
Native American Bazaar
Student Programming Board
Creating a Climate for Change (CCFC)
A series of educational and certificate programs instilling multicultural knowledge that empowers students as agents for change including developing a greater awareness of how our cultural experiences and perceptions impact interpersonal, professional and identity development.
Our educational programs explore how socially constructed identities may potentially lead to social injustices and encourage students to become involved and work toward inclusive diversity.
CCFC Programs
Diversity Advocates*
Diversity Institutes*
Diversity Trainings
UB101 Workshops
Global Competence Certificate Program*
IDC Workshops
Social Justice in Action (SJA)
A series of programs that empowers students and demonstrates their multicultural appreciation and activist skills by giving back and participating with our University and Western New York community organizations. A variety of opportunities are coordinated for students to participate in projects and events that work toward educating and improving our community on issues related to social justice. All students are strongly encouraged to get involved and our mentoring programs provide academic support and paid internship opportunities for historically underrepresented student populations on campus.
Social Justice in Action Programs
Diversity Conference "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work", Saturday, November 8, 2008
Success, Access, Guidance and Experience (S.A.G.E.) Internship Program
Brother to Brother
NASPA Undergraduate Fellowship Program (NUFP)
Diversity Committee
International Students Committee & Programs”
-English Language Institute (http://wings.buffalo.edu/gse/eli/)
From their site: “The English Language Institute…offers English language instruction, cultural orientation, and pre-academic training to international students, scholars, and professionals on an intensive and per-course basis. The ELI conducts the Intensive English Program (IEP), which specializes in preparing students for university study in the United States; the English as a Second Language Program for undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in academic programs at the university; part-time evening and customized programs for professionals; and overseas programs offering language-learning and teacher-training opportunities both in other countries and in Buffalo.”
Related Majors at UB:
African American Studies: www.africanamericanstudies.buffalo.edu/
American Studies: cas.buffalo.edu/centers/cfta
Anthropology: wings.buffalo.edu/anthropology
Asian Studies: http://www.asianstudies.buffalo.edu/
Classics: http://www.classics.buffalo.edu/
Geography: http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/
History: www.cas.buffalo.edu/depts/history
International Studies (Social Sciences Interdisciplinary): http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/academicprograms/ssc.shtml
Linguistics: linguistics.buffalo.edu
Language Courses
Political Science, Concentration in Comparative Politics or International Politics: http://www.polsci.buffalo.edu/
Sociology: sociology.buffalo.edu
Women’s studies, concentration in Cultures and Identities: womensstudies.buffalo.edu
SA Clubs at UB:
Academic:
Anthropology SA
Geography SA
Political Science SA
International:
Bangladeshi SA
Caribbean SA
Chinese SA
FASA
Indian SA
Indonesian SA
Italian SA
Japanese SA
Korean SA
LASA
Malaysian SA
Organization of Arab Students
Pakistani SA
Polish Student Association
Taiwanese SA
Turkish SA
Ukrainian SA
Vietnamese SA
Other:
Hostelling Travel Club
Jewish Student Union
Korean Folk Art Club
LGBTA
Muslim Student Association
United Nations Association Student Alliance
For more information on these clubs and who to contact please visit: http://clubs.buffalosa.org/default.aspx
(“Nacirema” is American backwards- the author is describing our own bathroom habits from the point of view of someone from another culture…….Even the things we take for granted are not viewed as normal or natural by others)
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