While we may all recognize some commonalities between different cultures, there are also many differences that separate us. A major characteristic of all cultures is language, and the structures of language and conversational etiquette reveal tremendous differences. Middle Eastern countries often maintain a close distance from others during conversation, while North American societies generally keep more distance. Eating habits and drinking habits are also vastly different. While American professors tend to drink coffee, Tibetans tend to drink Yak Butter tea.
Culture is the set of patterns and norms of human activity within a community. It includes symbolic structures, customs, laws, dress, architectural style, social standards, and traditions. According to UNESCO, culture is the Fourth Pillar of Sustainable Development. It is the social unit that is most influenced by culture, whether it is physical or virtual. Cultures vary widely, so different theories will be applicable to the same situation. Cultural norms may differ according to the type of cultural norms, but they are all based on different ideas.
Functionalists, on the other hand, view society as an ordered system in which the parts of society operate efficiently and harmoniously. Culture is necessary for such a society, since cultural norms govern the choices of individuals. This process is facilitated by cultural practices, such as language, which serve as tools for communication and cultural transmission. Cultural values and norms also support the fluid function of a society. A sociological view describes culture as the “latent pattern maintenance” of human interaction.
Comparing cultures helps us understand the commonalities between them. While cultural differences are striking, all human societies share many elements that are universal. One such cultural universal is the family unit. Every human society recognizes the family unit as a basic unit of social life and has a role to play in sexual reproduction and child rearing. While the functions of family units vary from society to society, these structures remain universal. For example, in Asian cultures, family members from all generations usually live together in the same household.
Cultures differ from one another in many ways, including their modes of communication. However, the study of culture differs from the study of science. For example, the field of anthropology has evolved over the centuries. The study of cultures consists of a wide variety of disciplines, such as art, literature, history, and sociology. Its research methods and theoretical frameworks differ from those of the natural sciences, allowing for more accurate comparisons.
In postmodern cultures, the line between high and low is blurred. Serious literature can have zombie themes, while pop music is composed of samples of original hooks. Architecture is inspired by historic styles, while rock and roll music is regarded as high art. In postmodern cultures, common objects of popular culture are transformed into high art. These types of cultures may have different aesthetic and political values, but they are all connected by the fact that they are all cultural.