Culture, Subculture, Counterculture

The many studies on culture that get published today are symptomatic of the growing concern with finding the common ground (at least theoretically) of the numerous ideologies and world views that define people and peoples around the globe, with the probable aim of creating the best possible frame for intercultural communication.

An otherwise problematic notion, culture has been defined in many ways, but the following characteristics seem to converge towards its deeper understanding:

Culture is learned. Two processes are observable in this respect: social situational learning (ritual creating) – specific to all creatures, and cultural learning proper, or the ability to use and decode symbols – specific to hominids.

Culture is symbolic. Semiotic signs, symbols are detectable at all levels: language uses them to escape narrow denotation and allow for plural connotation; non-verbally, they take the form of gestures, objects, places, even people (thus turned into heroes).

Culture seizes nature. The way in which nature is managed is part of the cultural environment; norms and conventions intervene: if a natural tree may be climbed, a cultural tree (inside a building, for instance) may not.

Culture is general and specific. One speaks of Culture as common to all hominids, and of culture as specific to certain societies. Within the latter, one may distinguish between various subcultures, associated with subgroups and originated in region, ethnicity, class, religion or taste.

Culture is all-encompassing. It cannot be resumed to refinement, sophistication, education etc, but needs to be viewed as inclusive of that which sometimes is regarded as vulgar, trivial, unworthy of serious study, popular culture in short.

Culture is shared. It is related to individuals only as members of groups, communities, societies. Differences between people fit perfectly the kaleidoscopic picture under the umbrella of culture.

Culture is patterned. The beliefs, morals, knowledge, art, law, custom that define culture(s) are interrelated, forming an integrated system; changes in one trigger changes in all.

Culture is used creatively. The sets of norms and rules to be observed within a particular cultural context are, at times, overlooked, denied or fought back; such attitudes are generative of countercultural manifestations.

Culture is adaptive/maladaptive. Biological and symbol-based behaviour patterns are subject to change in keeping with environmental issues, and the changes in question may be positive or beneficent for the groups’ continued existence, or they may be negative, endangering future growth.