Culture encompasses many aspects of a group, whether it be cuisine, language, music or art. However, it also includes non-physical features such as beliefs and values that define a group. Culture is not static; it constantly evolves through use and the influence of outside forces, including global dynamics that can impact societal roles and traditions.
The term cultural refers to the unique way that a people organize their daily lives and perceive reality. A culture is often defined by its attitudes, beliefs and values, but it can also include specific traditions, rituals and rites. For example, a group’s beliefs might be reflected in the fact that one may choose to bury the dead rather than cremate them or that a certain food is considered taboo because it was once eaten by the mother-in-law.
For the human species, culture represents a major advance in biological evolution toward the security and continuity of life. Infants enter the world completely cultureless, but as they grow up their behaviour is shaped by the cultural patterns that surround them on all sides. It can hold their sex urge in check, for instance, and help them achieve premarital chastity or even lifelong vows of celibacy. Likewise, it can drive them to work long hours to feed their families, or push them to starve themselves by refusing to eat certain foods that are deemed unclean.
Different cultures can differ dramatically from each other in terms of the things that are deemed important and how they are viewed. For instance, some cultures have a strong sense of religion while others do not. Cultural differences can also be seen in political cultures, where some are liberal and some conservative. These differences can sometimes cause conflict and disagreements.
A common debate over the concept of culture revolves around whether it is real or an abstraction. Kroeber and Kluckhohn used the term to describe concrete behaviour, but some critics believe they went too far, claiming that it is not possible to judge cultures as higher or lower, superior or inferior. This view is known as cultural relativism.
There are some who believe that a society that hosts a variety of different cultures is better than a society that supports only one culture. They argue that different cultural norms can be more humane and inspiring, as well as more interesting and diverse than the monotonous uniformity of a monoculture.
This type of multiculture is a feature of Africa, which is home to 54 countries with numerous ethnic groups. The continent’s many cultures offer a wealth of diversity in cuisine, languages and music. It can also be seen in the number of people from various backgrounds who live in a given area, as well as the amount of multiculturalism present in some organizations and schools. This trend is fueled by the growth of online media and the increasing number of people who travel widely. This enables them to learn about different cultures and gain new perspectives on their own.