"Culture" is a slippery term. We use it to mean many things. Historically in western civilizations there has been a distinction between "high" and "low" culture. "High" culture--represented by phenomena such as operas, symphonies, plays, and art galleries--is believed to uplift individuals by inspiring them with the best that a civilization has to offer. "Low" or popular culture--such as television, folk songs, and popular films—is believed to have just the opposite effect; it encourages mundane, irresponsible, and even immoral responses in individuals. That, at least, is the assumption. The border, however, between high and low culture is not firm; in the early part of this century, jazz was manifestly "low" and base culture whereas it is now considered "high" culture and, in fact, great art.
For the purposes of this course, when we say "culture" we will mean it in the broad sense, perhaps best defined by Richard Hooker as "a shared world view in action." This definition does not make a distinction between "high" and "low" culture. From this perspective, any cultural event provides a window on "a shared world view in action." Given this broad definition, then, any analysis of a cultural event should consider the world view that is expressed in the event and how that world view is shared among people who comprise that culture. We should also consider the dynamic element of culture--how this shared world view shapes individuals and their activities, and how cultures change over time. A cultural event is a snapshot that tells us something about the historical development of a culture, its current manifestations, and its potential future development. Finally, it may tell us about sub-cultures within a larger cultural framework--for example, youth culture, rural culture, or African American culture. These sub-cultures exist in relationship to the larger culture; sometimes that relationship is easy and natural, other times it is tense and strained.
Your Assignment: Attend a cultural event in your community--any event that brings people together--and write about the event. In the first paragraph, describe the event. In the second paragraph, analyze it, based on the discussion in the previous paragraph. Consider these questions:
What kind of event would work well for this assignment? How about a junior high band concert, a Fourth of July parade, Bingo, a girls' high school basketball game, a baby shower? The main consideration is that the event must provide you with the raw material to write your assignment. Be sure to include concrete details in your description of the event.
A reminder: Don’t forget that your Speakeasy submission must include a response to another student’s submission (unless you happen to be the first to submit for a given assignment. For guidance on how to approach your Speakeasy assignments, refer to Unit1, Table 1.
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