AS Sociology- Culture & Identity

Contemporary sociologist use this explanation.

Jencks (1993) distinguished this explanation.

• The whole way of life of a people.

• Linton (1945) 'The culture of a society is the way of life of its members; the collection of ideas and habits which they learn, share and transmit from generation to generation'
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High Culture
Folk Culture
Mass Culture
Popular Culture
Subculture
Global Culture

• High Culture- Refers to cultural creations that have a particularly high status. E.g. opera, classical music and literature. Seen as superior.
• Folk Culture- Refers to culture of ordinary people. E.g. traditional folk songs and stories handed down from generation to generation.
• Mass Culture- Seen as less worthy than high or folk culture. It's a product of mass media including popular feature films, TV soaps and pop music.
• Popular Culture- Similar to mass culture. Features any cultural products appreciated by ordinary people; TV programmes, mass-market films and popular fiction.
• Subculture- Applied to a wide range of groups; those who live close together and have a shared lifestyle, youth groups who share interests and ethnic groups who share the same beliefs.
• Global Culture- Implies an all-embracing culture common to people all over the world.

Giddens (2006)

Handel (2006)

Giddens (2006)- defines socialisation as the process through which culture is passed from generation to generation. It initially takes place in the family; later education, religion, the media and peer groups are important.

Handel (2006)- argues that individuals gain their own unique identity during socialisation

The Definition of Identity;

Personal identity

Social identity

Identity is having a sense of who you are and what is important to you.

Personal Identity- How a person thinks about themselves.

Social Identity- How a person is perceived by others.

According to Postmodernists;

People actively create their own identities.

People have a great deal of choice about what social groups to join.

Through shopping and other forms of consumption people can shape and change their identities.

Functionalism and Marxism

Postmodernism

Identity is closely related to the concept of culture; identities can be formed through the cultures and subcultures to which people belong.

Functionalism & Marxism- Theories see identity as originating in a fairly straightforward way from involvement in particular cultures and subcultures; people living in Britain would be expected to have a strong sense of British identity.

Postmodernist- Theories stress the diversity of factors influencing identity; British people from different ethnic or national origins interpret British identity in different ways.

Marxist Theories

In class-stratified societies, culture can be seen as little more than ruling-class ideology.

The view of the world advanced by the dominant class.

Sees the working class as suffering from false class conciousness.