The Culture Collab
An exploration of intercultural and interdisciplinary student exchange experiences through the lens of Learn.On 2023
What is Culture?
Definition
A consensus definition on culture has been debated since the birth of the social sciences in the 19th century (Blumenthal, 1940).
Cambridge University Press & Assessment (2023) defines culture as, “the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time,” but acknowledges that gender identity, age, and preference in art can subscribe us to different cultures.
The definition provided by UNESCO (2001) highlights similar ideas and is widely used throughout literature: “Culture should be regarded as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs” (p. 18).
Figure 5
Person in black long sleeve shirt holding persons hand
Some more definitions:
Beliefs
A belief is something that we see as truthful and important to us. Understanding your own beliefs and their formation helps you to gain greater insight into why you think the way you do, and why others might think differently.
(National Centre for Cultural Competence:
The University of Sydney, personal communication, 2023).
Values
Values are beliefs about what’s important to us and are formed through a cultural lens. They are systems of consistent beliefs that guide or influence the manner in which we think, communicate and (often) behave.
(National Centre for Cultural Competence:
The University of Sydney, personal communication, 2023).
Note. From Person in black long sleeve shirt holding persons hand, by krankenimages, 2020, Unsplash
(https://unsplash.com/photos/person-in-black-long-sleeve-shirt-holding-persons-hand-Y5bvRlcCx8k). Unsplash License.
Culture as an Iceberg
In 1976, Edward T Hall proposed the concept of culture as an iceberg in his book, 'Beyond Culture'. Above the surface is the external or conscious part of culture: 'what we can see'. Below the surface is the internal or subconscious part of culture, which incorporates the beliefs, values, and thought patterns that may underlie the way people behave (Hall, 1976).