essay on what we lost in recent times in our cultural values
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Culture is the common denominator that makes the actions of the individuals understandable to a particular group. That is, the system of shared values, beliefs, behaviours, and artefacts making up a society’s way of life. Culture can either be represented fin form of material or non material culture. The definitions and specific traits of each of them are discussed below.
Material culture is a term representative of the physical creations made, used, or shared by the members of a certain society; it is the society’s buffer against the environment. The components of material culture are all the creations (objects) of the human kind and mind, for example, cars, faucets, computers, trees, minerals just to mention but a few.
The transformation of raw material into useable forms through the employment of knowledge is paramount in the achievement of material culture. For example, we make living abodes to shelter ourselves from the adversities of weather and for our own privacy at the basic level, beyond this we make, use, and share sophisticated, interesting and essential items relaying our cultural orientation.
For instance, the types of clothes one wears reflect so much into the culture we subscribe to like school, religion, or where the last vacation was spent.
Non-material culture on the other hand is the abstract or un-seen human creations by the society fashioned towards the behavioural influence of the said society. The components for the non-material culture include symbols, languages, values, and norms. For instance, the activities a society part takes like cricket in India, social institutions such as churches, schools, family, and so forth.
The use of language, the patterns of behaviour and beliefs, and values to it shape the direction of a society over time. Language in its influence on perception, values guiding what the society should be and norms forming the customs of the society.
Language:
Language in itself is the combination of symbols expressing ideas enabling people to think and communicate amongst each other, either verbally or nonverbally. Language helps in the description of reality, share experiences, feelings, and knowledge with other people.
The use of language enables the creation of visual images, distinction from outsiders thus maintaining societal solidarity and boundaries. It also serves as a unique tool in manipulation of symbols for the expression of abstract concepts and rules therefore creating and transmitting culture between generations.
The aboriginals for instance in their use of language confine to their society describing relationships rather than judging or evaluate. To them language shapes the reality in perception and experience indeed fronting the thought of neglecting some aspects of world traditionally viewed as important. Most of the aboriginal languages do not abhor the use of personal pronouns used to describe gender like he or she, with some amused by the western debate over whether God is a He or a She. For this, language is impact less on the world and reflects at the traditional acceptance of a certain region on the world map.
Language through preconceived ideas may reinforce perceptions about race and ethnicity in advancing the superiority of one a people against another.
The diversity of language in some parts of the world shows how it can influence the culture of the societies in such a country. Canada is one example of the diversities in language today with Aboriginal, French, and English speaking societies.
Language teaches cultural heritage and sense of identity in a culture. It also is a power and social control booster with perpetuation of inequalities between people, groups in that words can be used intentionally or not to gag people. The existence of hate in the Canadian society is one such scenario siring a lot of suffering in the country. The aboriginals lament on the assumption of the English language as a source of power and prestige citing the lack of movies in their language while the former has the lions share in the film business.
Language contributes a great deal in the advancement of the material and both the non-material cultures. Materially in that, the movie business is geared at economically empowering the culture of the English and non-materially in teaching the same on their heritage and identity.
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India is a land of rich culture and traditions, which have been an integral part of every Indian’s life. The entire world shows a lot of curiosity in Indian culture and traditions. However, this culture of ours has been exposed to various influences. Western culture is one of these influences. The western culture has swept over the Indian subcontinent like a tsunami. What is not that has not been affected by it! We have been completely westernized, though we claim we have not been! The two catalysts that have been transforming our culture are IT revolution and media and networking advancement.
Since Western culture is quite open and advanced, there is no restriction on pornographic and obscene channels. However, our culture is based on values of abstinence, self-discipline, and self-control. Such adult channels are really affecting our culture. The westernization process of majority of our youth has already started. Preference for western style of life is visible everywhere. Fast food, western clothes, eating habits, smoking, drinking, going out, pubs, drive-through foods, jeans, etc. all are indicators of the westernization of our culture.
It depends upon us whether we allow ourselves to be influenced by the foreign channels or not. But one thing is sure; if we will be watching foreign channels most of the time every day, it is definitely going to influence our culture. Foreign channels have already influenced our culture a lot. We need to take very careful precautions to preserve our culture in the midst of this onslaught of foreign entertainment and information on the impressionable minds of our children.
The wisest approach should be adopted. We must preserve our rich spiritual culture and allow wise blending of the western culture with it. I think the rich morality taught to us by our traditional oriental culture along with the efficient technological advancement given to us by the occidental culture will produce an ideal new culture whose benefits will be immense for the entire mankind.