This week we will all be embarking on a new form of jorney--a cultural journey. A cultural journey could be tied to a specific time and space. However it could also have a universal appeal. Some of the readings from this week in English dicusses some timeless journeys including ""Ulysses", "A far cry from Africa".
Think about "Cultural Universals"-practices, beliefs, emotions and ideas that transcend the boundaries of a specific time and locale. What could be one such Cultural Universal? Why do you think all people, and all cultures would follow it? ( e.g. Literature is endemic to all societies, and is thus a cultural universal. When literature becomes popular it is immortalized through translated works. Thus Homer could be a Greek poet, but we all know about the Odyssey)
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One such cultural universal could be cooking and eating food. Everyone must eat to survive, and often food causes people to come together for the same reason. I know all people and all cultures would follow it because if they did not, life would not be possible. Many times, people go out to dinner together because it gives them time to talk and get to know one another better over something they all can agree on without much dispute.
ReplyDeleteOne cultural universal would be sports. Every culture has a sport that it would call their nation's game. America would probably say baseball eventhough it is shifting toward football. The rest of the world woul probably say it is soccer, because everywhere likes soccer... except America
ReplyDeleteOne cultural universal is showing emotions. Today in sociology one of the student talked about in her culture showing emotion like kissing someone on the cheek where as it would be common is not common in her family or culture. Another is hugging. You dont usually see to many guys walking down the street holding hands or having their arms around each other our sociology profesor told us that in her culture its very common. Like lisa said, food is always something that brings family together to talk about things have a good time and laugh or just conversate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Freddy said about sports being a cultural universal. As with food, sports bring people together from all different backgrounds to bond with others who share the same opinions about certain teams. Although sports are very different around the world, they all have the same basic principles. Sports do not have to be played by specific rules every time, often they are played to help people relax and exercise-something everyone in the world could use.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lisa, every culture has a specic way of preparing and serving foods. Some cultures pride themselves on how unique and good their cuisine is. Certain recipes are even passed down from generation to generation and are never shared with anyone outside the family or the village. Food is also a way for someone of another culture to connect with someone of a different culture.
ReplyDeleteI would think language is a cultural universal. Life continues with the practice of speech with one another. It's a way we communicate and connect with each other and learn about different ways of life. Every different culture around the world has a language of some sort or another. And there are also thousands of different types of languages around the world, demonstrating that languages form and they are necessary and a and part of human life.
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