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.Definition of culture :The shared beliefs,values,behaviours, and material objects that guide human life.

.Material vs. Non material culture:

.Material-Physical objects that can be touched(clothing,table).

.Nonmaterial → ideas, values, symbols, norms, language.

• Symbols & Language: Symbols carry meaning; language is the foundation of culture and shapes how we think.

• Norms: Rules that guide behavior.

• Folkways → informal norms (e.g., table manners).

• Mores → norms with moral significance (e.g., laws against theft).

• Taboos → behaviors strongly prohibited (e.g., incest).

• Values & Beliefs: Culturally shared ideas of what is good, right, or desirable.

• Subculture vs. Counterculture:

• Subculture → group with distinct cultural patterns within a larger society (e.g., gamers, hip-hop culture).

• Counterculture → group that rejects dominant cultural values (e.g., anarchist movements).

• Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism:

• Ethnocentrism → judging another culture by one’s own standards.

• Cultural Relativism → understanding another culture by its own standards.

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• Purpose: A satirical article showing how cultural practices can seem “strange” when described from an outsider’s perspective.

• Main Idea: Miner describes American hygiene rituals (especially around the body and health) as if they belonged to a bizarre, primitive tribe called the “Nacirema.”

• Examples:

• Daily mouth rituals → brushing teeth.

• Visits to “holy-mouth men” → dentists.

• Rituals at “latipsoh” → hospitals.

• Sociological Insight:

• Challenges ethnocentrism by showing how any culture’s habits can sound odd when taken out of context.

• Encourages cultural relativism — understanding practices within their cultural framework.

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Main Idea: Focuses on nonverbal communication as a crucial part of culture.

• Key Points:

• Silence, pauses, and body language carry meaning just like words do.

• Different cultures have different norms for personal space, eye contact, and silence.

• Misunderstandings can happen in cross-cultural communication (e.g., what seems respectful silence in one culture might feel uncomfortable or rude in another).

• Sociological Insight:

• Nonverbal communication is a cultural code.

• Reminds us that culture isn’t just about language or objects, but also about how we relate physically and emotionally to others.

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• Main Idea: Explores how sympathy is structured by cultural rules.

• Key Points:

• Sympathy is not just a personal emotion; it follows “feeling rules” (socially expected ways of expressing care).

• Society has norms for when we should feel and show sympathy (e.g., illness, death, personal struggles).

• Sometimes sympathy can be withheld if someone is seen as responsible for their own misfortune.

• Sympathy Etiquette:

• Rules about who deserves sympathy.

• How much sympathy to give and when to withdraw it.

• Sociological Insight:

• Sympathy is a social resource.

• It reinforces social bonds but also reflects power and judgment in relationships.

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For this assignment, I watched the short documentary Can Tattoos Be Taboo? . The video explored how tattoos are perceived differently across societies and how they often spark debates about culture, identity, and social acceptance. It showed that while tattoos are now widely accepted in pop culture and even embraced by celebrities, they are still stigmatized in some workplaces and judged negatively by older generations or in more conservative community.

1. Are tattoos still considered taboo in modern society, or have they become fully accepted?

• The video asks whether tattoos are mainstream now that celebrities, athletes, and professionals have them, or if stigma still exists.

2. How do cultural traditions shape the meaning of tattoos?

• It explores tattoos in Indigenous, Polynesian, and Japanese traditions, asking how cultural context changes their meaning.

3. What role does stigma play in how tattoos are perceived?

• The video raises issues of workplace discrimination, family disapproval, and generational divides over tattoos.

4. How does tattooing relate to identity and self-expression?

• It looks at why people get tattoos (personal stories, identity, belonging) and whether society respects those choices.

5. What about cultural appropriation?

• It questions whether adopting tattoo styles from other cultures without understanding their meaning is disrespectful or harmful.

6. Have tattoos shifted from subculture to pop culture?

• The video asks how tattoos moved from being seen as rebellious or criminal to trendy and mainstream.

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1. Tattoos and Social Norms:

Tattoos often challenge informal norms about appearance and professionalism. In some workplaces, visible tattoos are still considered inappropriate, violating expectations of “formal” presentation. At the same time, tattoos can also confirm norms within certain groups, such as bikers, athletes, or artists, where body art is a symbol of belonging.

2. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism:

Some styles of tattoos, such as Polynesian tribal designs or Japanese irezumi, carry deep cultural and historical significance. When people outside those cultures adopt the designs without understanding their meaning, ethnocentrism can lead to misjudgment—viewing the practice as “strange” or dismissing its value. Cultural relativism, on the other hand, reminds us to understand tattoos in the cultural context in which they originate, rather than judging them by our own standards.

3. Tattoos as Subculture and Pop Culture:

Tattoos were once associated mostly with subcultures—such as sailors, prisoners, or punk communities—and carried a countercultural identity. Today, they have been absorbed into mainstream pop culture, seen on celebrities, influencers, and professionals. This shift shows how cultural views of tattooing have changed over time, moving from stigma to acceptance (though stigma still exists in some settings).

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What’s at stake? Who is affected?

At stake in the cultural context of tattooing is the tension between individuality and social conformity. People use tattoos as a way to express identity, tell personal stories, or honor traditions, but they risk being judged by broader society. Those most affected are individuals seeking jobs in conservative fields, people from cultures whose sacred tattoo traditions are appropriated, and younger generations negotiating acceptance from older family members. Society as a whole is also affected because tattooing raises larger questions about diversity, freedom of expression, and respect for cultural traditions.