Culture

The picture above is an expample of symbolic culture. There are many symbols that have taken on a common meaning in society. The photo above shows religious candles with Jesus on them. When a person sees Jesus, he or she automatically associates him with religion. It is the same idea with a cross. People make automatic connections in their mind to beliefs, values, interactions, ect. from the symbols they see most often. Symbolic culture allows us to communicate without using words.

 When a person sees a skyscraper, they think New York. They think city life. This is an example of material culture. In addition to buildings, things like food, art, and clothes are also examples of material culture. When a person sees a taco, they think Mexican food. If the same person looks at a picture of the Sistine Chapel, they think of Rome or Michelangelo. Any material object that is associated with a certain culture is an example of material culture.

The middle finger brings some people tears. It causes arguments, fist fights. The gesture of the middle finger has taken on such a strong meaning in society. We are able make signs with our bodies that say more than words are able to. We can speak an entire languages by just moving our hands. The gestures we make are symbols for other things and make a large impact on the rest of society.

Society is filled with signs. Somehow, the picture of two Cs intertwined has taken on the meaning of Chanel. Products and brands use signs and symbolic culture to reach out to society.

When a stranger holds the door open for you, you say thank you and think nothing more about it. But what if the stranger just let the door shut in your face? That kind of behavior is just not tolerated. Sociologists have looked further into this and defined these kinds of actions as folkways. While it is not a law to hold the door for someone, it is a norm that allows members of society to live peacefully among one another.