Culture is a set of norms that is shared by groups of people. It can include things like beliefs, customs, objects and values. It is often based on ethnicity or society. People can feel a sense of belonging to a particular culture even though they may not be from the same ethnicity or society. It is possible to have a culture that is not related to an ethnicity or society, such as internet culture.
Culture can be based on a group of people, an area or the entire world. It can also vary within a single person, as in how they act and think, and between different individuals. Culture can be expressed in many ways, from music and art to social behaviors and cuisine. It can be influenced by the environment, by other cultures and by the way that the past is remembered. It is also shaped by events, such as war and technological advancements.
Some cultures evolve rapidly. For example, the Black Death of the 1300s caused Europe to change dramatically and created new states with distinct cultures. Others grow more slowly, as in the case of agriculture. People adapt to their environments, and the way that they use and create tools helps them develop a unique culture. They may make their own weapons or build igloos to live in, for instance.
All human cultures share some behaviors, such as dealing with relatives, telling right from wrong and making art. Scientists who study human culture, called anthropologists, have found that these types of behaviors are universal. Then, there are cultural differences, such as how a culture deals with money, its views on religion and the ways that families raise their children.
While all cultures change over time, some remain the same for generations. For example, a family might pass down the same beliefs and traditions to the next generation. This can be done through education and other methods, such as observing how adults behave.
As a person changes, however, they may begin to change their culture. A major factor is the influence of other cultures, which can happen through immigration, war or technological exchanges. A person may begin to adopt the habits of their new home and let go of some of their own. This process is known as acculturation.
As the world becomes more connected, cultures are mixing and changing more than ever before. It is important to recognize and appreciate the diversity of the world’s cultures, and to understand how one can learn from them. This can help prevent prejudice, which is when someone has unfair opinions about a certain group of people or judges them based on their race, gender or religion. The more that we understand other cultures, the better we can work together and make the world a better place. This issue of the journal celebrates and explores the richness and diversity of cultural expressions. The editors of this volume have sought papers that offer diverse theoretical perspectives and are innovative in form and content.