Features of Culture

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Before you can begin to study another country's culture, it is important to understand what we mean by the word, "culture." We will begin our exploration of this concept by doing the following exercise:

What is Culture?: The Wall

Culture can be compared to a wall. Just as a wall has a visible section that all can see, and a part beyond the wall that isn't easily seen, so culture has some aspects that are observable and others that can only be suspected or imagined.

The items that appear below are all features of culture. Keeping in mind that observable behaviors on the surface of the wall, while the invisible aspects of culture belong beyond the surface, decide for each feature whether it should be "visible" or "beyond".

Facial Expressions	Religious Beliefs
Religious Rituals	Importance of Time
Paintings	Concept of Self
Values	Concept of Leadership
Holiday Customs	Literature
Gestures	Nature of Friendship
Foods	General World View
Concept of Beauty	Work Ethic
Eating Habits	Rules of Social Etiquette
Music	Concept of Personal Space
Concept of Fairness	Styles of Dress
Childraising Beliefs	Notions of Modesty

Understanding of the Natural World

Suggested Answers

Observable Features of Culture (Visible):

facial expressions
religious rituals
paintings
holiday customs
gestures
foods
eating habits
music
literature
styles of dress

Invisible Aspects of Culture (Beyond):

values
concept of beauty
concept of fairness
childraising beliefs
understanding of the natural world
religious beliefs
importance of time
concept of self
concept of leadership
nature of friendship
general world view
work ethic
rules of social etiquette
concept of personal space
notions of modesty

In most cases, the invisible aspects of culture influence or cause the visible ones. Religious beliefs, for example, are clearly manifest in certain holiday customs, and notions of modesty affect styles of dress.

In this exercise, you saw how certain aspects or features of culture are visible-- they show up in people's behavior--while many other aspects of culture are invisible, existing only in the realms of thought, feeling, and belief. The examples in this exercise show how these two realms, the visible and the hidden, are related to each other, how the values and beliefs you cannot see affect behavior.

Exercise adapted from Peace Corps World Wise Schools, http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/culturematters/ch1/iceberg.html