Sunday, September 2, 2012

Week 5: Are we loosing what makes us....us?




Culture can be defined as a state of belonging to a collective that embodies certain qualities that are usually self appointed which distinguish it from the masses. ( Jenks, 1993) The most fascinating thing about culture is it is constantly changing and evolving due to communication and globalisation.  It is only in places that remain untouched by technology that have a constant state of culture.  Many African tribes that are cut off from the rest of the world still live by their traditions and beliefs.    Some countries have slower changing cultures because of strong ties to heritage and certain ways of thinking.  For example in Japan people have adopted many western values yet respect and politeness are still regarded very highly. (Jensen 2011)

Culture in Australia goes beyond football beer and the beach which is because we are such individualistic human beings.    It is my belief that because relative to other countries Australia is so young (being colonised in 1788) our culture is still developing dramatically,  adopt different cultures blending them together to make them our own.  When I look at the music on my computer there are songs from so many international artists, not just Australia.  My friends on facebook come from all over the world and I love Mexican and Asian food!  In piecing together my life these things are not foreign but instead a part of me and my culture.

While culture changes due to outside influences the changes only come about because people are willing to take them on.  This is why facebook has become such a widely used medium and has quickly become a part of many cultures.  There was a need for greater communication and sharing in many countries and people responded to it.



Reference List:
Jenks, C., 1993, ‘Culture’, Routledge, USA, p. 7
Jensen, L. 2011, ’Bridging Cultural and Developmental Approaches to Psychology: New Syntheses’, Oxford University Press, New York. 


8 comments:

  1. Great post Madeline! I really enjoy reading your post. I can find many examples and your own experiences to proof the cultural differences and culture changes in nowadays. The AUSSIE SHEILA picture is very powerful which tells a lot about the Australian daily conversation culture. I agree that culture changes are hugely due to people’s willingness and acceptance. I guess it might change more frequently when people know and touch on more different cultures through global media.

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  2. A great post and nice read you use a lot of examples and personal experiences this really backs up your arguments. The Aussie Shila picture was the first thing that came to mind when we were given this task and when i wrote my block i even used the aussie bloke image haha great mind. I tend to very much agree with your last statement and personally think it would be a great area to explore as 200words doesn't really give it justice.

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  3. Madeline, I thought you brilliantly illustrated the concept of culture,both literally and figuratively. I found your post flowed freely and it was exceptionally engaging throughout, as you analysed the various types of existing protected cultures and how they are becoming more and more modernised as civilisation progresses. I do wholeheartedly agree with your argument that people have to be willing to accept change in cultural ideologies, otherwise they will not be enforced.

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  4. I think this is definitely the article you should do for your extended piece, it was excellently written and nicely constructed. You arguments are clear and I agree that there must be a willingness for change in culture, as much as some people do not wish to admit it.
    Your writing style is really flowy and fresh. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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  5. Nice job! really liked how easy this was to read, very coherent. without reading your other blogs i think this could be elaborated much more on and i'd be equally interested as i agree that changes to culture come about through a 'market' for it as such. not sure about some of those 'aussie' phrases though!

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  6. I though this was really well done and thought out. It's very easy to understand and would be a good option for your extended piece. Just be careful with some of your phrasing and grammer. The word limit unfortunately is not enough to extend on the arguments you make, which i agree with. In your extended piece i think it would be good if you explained more about the asian cultures, your example of Japan is a good one and how they have embrace the western culture again with their strong cultural values. Good Work!!

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  7. The way in which you approach this blog is great. You have grasped the concept really well and it is a thoroughly interesting read. Furthermore, the way in which you promote the topic via different graphics and hyperlinks shows that you are experienced in the field of blogging. Your referencing is immaculate and additionally by using the personal anecdotes you are creating a bond with the reader that is particularly special and hard to achieve, so well done on that front. It was easy to read and decipher and heavy on references and academic sources. A fun and intriguing experience that had we captivated to the end.

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  8. Loved the point you made regarding ‘culture’ as a ‘…constantly changing and evolving’ concept. This is absolutely accurate in my experience, especially with the introduction and development of various technologies and conventions. Holding on to certain traditions as a beneficial idea is a nice sentiment too. Although they are seen to play a large role in our society, it’s true that Australians aren’t just about beer and footy. Your choice in pictures did a good job in supporting your stance.

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