What is Culture?
Let's define culture. What is culture? In your own words, describe this term. Share your response with a partner. In your notes/journal, brainstorm some cultural groups you belong to. What cultural groups (hegemonies) do you belong to? You will need this list a little later today. Brainstorming is the first step in the creative process. Brainstorm now!
Now, let's read. I'll ask you to respond to what you're reading throughout this course. What sticks out for you as important or interesting in this article? Take 2 minutes and respond (in writing) to the article.
Much of our class will use this technique to brainstorm ideas for stories, poems, plays, films, non-fiction and other writing projects. The fundamental idea of this course is to use our research and responses to a variety of topics to inspire our artistic and academic impulses. Secondly, it is a course that urges the artist to depict him or herself in relation to or as the other. We will be examining power structures and hegemonic cultural groups in relation to each other, using this topic to reach a more universal and engaged POV about our own selves, our own cultures, and the world audience itself.
This course is a literature course, a course in ideas, as well as a practice from which to write and capture authentic voices. It also fulfills the criteria for a college composition and literature course. Students enrolled in this course have the option to gain accreditation from MCC. This means, that this course is treated and delivered as an actual college course (because it is). Students who wish to enroll in the Dual Enrollment opportunity for this class will likely gain 3 or 6 ENG college credits on an official college transcript. The course may simply be taken as high school credit instead.
All students will be creating a writing portfolio. For dual enrolled students, there are some types of writing that are required for college credit. For high school credit, you may focus solely on creative writing work. You will be allowed in many cases to make your own path as you build a writing portfolio for this course.
But first, let me introduce to you the field of cultural studies. Let's read and respond to the three articles, "Arguing About America." After reading and responding, let's take a closer look at some key vocabulary we will need for this course.
Culture: What is it?
Culture Scientists and Anthropologists define culture as learned behavior acquired by individuals as members of a social group.
According to Edward Tyler in 1871: culture includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and other capabilities or habits acquired by a group.
Hegemony: an influential social group to which one owes allegiance. Often used to discuss how these groups use power or dominate other groups. We all belong to several hegemonic groups, depending on time, place, and situation. For example, you and your classmates belong to the social group: SOTA. "We are School of the Arts" as the slogan goes.
Regardless of culture, all cultures include:
Culture Wars: the term coined for the conflict between traditionalist or conservative values and progressive or liberal values (specifically in politics, but also in social philosophy and the media)
Back to reading. Please read the very famous essay: "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston in class (or as homework if we run out of time to finish it...)
For our first creative writing assignment, we're going to the lab next class to write a personal creative non-fiction essay on an aspect of you. Write an essay* about your experience within a specific hegemonic group or culture that you identify with (one, perhaps, that you listed earlier in the class). This can be an examination of your gender, your "race" or "class", your heritage, your identity or involvement in a sub-group or minority, your religion, a family tradition, etc.
Consider how you identify yourself. What part of your personality/tradition/culture is unique to you. Focus on this idea in your creative essay. Remember:
HOMEWORK: Come to next class ready to write about "How it feels to be...you"--We will start in the creative writing lab next class. Also, please begin reading The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. For Monday's class, please complete the first chapter (pp. 1 - 21). As you read, notice how the author introduces ideology and culture as a frame for the theme of this book. Next class we will work on the technique of summarizing and discuss chapter one.
Now, let's read. I'll ask you to respond to what you're reading throughout this course. What sticks out for you as important or interesting in this article? Take 2 minutes and respond (in writing) to the article.
Much of our class will use this technique to brainstorm ideas for stories, poems, plays, films, non-fiction and other writing projects. The fundamental idea of this course is to use our research and responses to a variety of topics to inspire our artistic and academic impulses. Secondly, it is a course that urges the artist to depict him or herself in relation to or as the other. We will be examining power structures and hegemonic cultural groups in relation to each other, using this topic to reach a more universal and engaged POV about our own selves, our own cultures, and the world audience itself.
This course is a literature course, a course in ideas, as well as a practice from which to write and capture authentic voices. It also fulfills the criteria for a college composition and literature course. Students enrolled in this course have the option to gain accreditation from MCC. This means, that this course is treated and delivered as an actual college course (because it is). Students who wish to enroll in the Dual Enrollment opportunity for this class will likely gain 3 or 6 ENG college credits on an official college transcript. The course may simply be taken as high school credit instead.
All students will be creating a writing portfolio. For dual enrolled students, there are some types of writing that are required for college credit. For high school credit, you may focus solely on creative writing work. You will be allowed in many cases to make your own path as you build a writing portfolio for this course.
But first, let me introduce to you the field of cultural studies. Let's read and respond to the three articles, "Arguing About America." After reading and responding, let's take a closer look at some key vocabulary we will need for this course.
Culture: What is it?
Culture Scientists and Anthropologists define culture as learned behavior acquired by individuals as members of a social group.
According to Edward Tyler in 1871: culture includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and other capabilities or habits acquired by a group.
- Culture is a learned behavior.
- Culture is also used to refer to a highly cultivated person versed in art, philosophy, etc.
- Culture includes insignificant behavior such as behavior traits, etiquette, food habits, as well as refined arts of a society.
- Culture can also be considered as the sum total of human knowledge and acquired behavior of humankind.
- Habits or behavior is generally transmitted from members to the young or outsiders until the outsider is also an insider, part of the group.
Language is a system of verbal and nonverbal symbols used to communicate ideas. The study of these symbols is what is known as semiotics.Taboos: strict mores or behavior that is looked down upon in a culture (usually sexual)
Hegemony: an influential social group to which one owes allegiance. Often used to discuss how these groups use power or dominate other groups. We all belong to several hegemonic groups, depending on time, place, and situation. For example, you and your classmates belong to the social group: SOTA. "We are School of the Arts" as the slogan goes.
Regardless of culture, all cultures include:
- a primary means of subsistence
- a primary family
- a system of kinship
- a set of rules of social conduct
- religion (belief)
- material culture (tools, weapons, clothing)
- forms of art
Culture Wars: the term coined for the conflict between traditionalist or conservative values and progressive or liberal values (specifically in politics, but also in social philosophy and the media)
Back to reading. Please read the very famous essay: "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston in class (or as homework if we run out of time to finish it...)
For our first creative writing assignment, we're going to the lab next class to write a personal creative non-fiction essay on an aspect of you. Write an essay* about your experience within a specific hegemonic group or culture that you identify with (one, perhaps, that you listed earlier in the class). This can be an examination of your gender, your "race" or "class", your heritage, your identity or involvement in a sub-group or minority, your religion, a family tradition, etc.
Consider how you identify yourself. What part of your personality/tradition/culture is unique to you. Focus on this idea in your creative essay. Remember:
- Non-fiction is creative--remember to use poetic/literary devices (imagery, metaphor, detail, tone, character, etc.)
- Non-fiction tells an interesting story--show us the scenes, paint them with imagery, remember to use your writing skills and make your audience appreciate your story.
- Non-fiction includes dialogue, description of setting, and can include teaching new ideas to your audience
- Non-fiction includes reflection of the subject matter
HOMEWORK: Come to next class ready to write about "How it feels to be...you"--We will start in the creative writing lab next class. Also, please begin reading The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. For Monday's class, please complete the first chapter (pp. 1 - 21). As you read, notice how the author introduces ideology and culture as a frame for the theme of this book. Next class we will work on the technique of summarizing and discuss chapter one.
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