6th May 2012, 5:13 PM
Sacred Jellybean Wrote:Maybe I'm being pedantic about the usage of the word, but it seems to take on a vague meaning, or used rhetorically in a way that isn't always appropriate. You could describe, say, the tech culture, as a bunch of people getting together on web forums to discuss the latest gadgets, with hundreds of journalists and websites devoted to the topic. Could you rightfully call that a culture in the same way you could as tribes in Uganda? In the same way you could the way of life observed in Toyko, Paris, or Brazil?[/quote]
Culture is more expansive than one or two traits that link people together. Not that designating "this is a culture, this isn't" takes away the strong principles behind advocating for gay equality and common sense drug policy.
It takes on a vague meaning because "culture" is a vague thing. The "culture" of a place like London consists of countless smaller elements, many of which are subcultures which extend beyond the aegis of London culture. And, a lot of those exist, nominally, on the basis of a small number of shared traits. You can't point to one element and say "this is London culture".
What is "American" culture? At its heart, we're all part of it because we all live here. American culture is whatever we are. A lot of what makes up "American" culture has nothing to do with anything specifically American.
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