Introduction to Sociology/Culture/Dayoung Lee

1.Summary
Culture means the environmental element around us that  is distinguished from nature. Culture usually includes the factors as represented stories, beliefs, media, ideas, works of art, religious practices, fashions, rituals, specialized knowledge, and common sense. Culture has certain functions in social life, and it can further unite groups and society, and vice versa. The occurrence and intensification of inequality can be encouraged by culture.
There is subculture and counterculture in culture. Extensive culture often involves subcultures, which is participated and shared by a minority of people. Countercurture also belongs to subcultures and means to challenge the values or beliefs of the major culture.
Culture is not limited to norms, values, beliefs, or expressive symbols, and has various aspects. And culture can be accepted differently depending on the region or people who consume it. For example, in the United States, a cow is merely consumed as ingredients of food, but it is considered sacred animals in India. But culture is not static. Culture can be changed slowly or rapidly. The Indian culture of worshiping cow can probably be changed in the future. Only time knows the answer.

2.What was interesting?
It was curious that the culture was not stagnant, but it could change. The culture of our society tends to be changed in globalization and similar to other cultures. Culture may be transformed at anytime, but I felt that each country's unique cultural identity seemed to be transformed into the same form by blending with different cultures. I felt a little sad about that.

3.Discussion point
I want to talk about changes of the traditional culture of  Korea. Of course the change is good, but it is sad that the characteristics of Korea seems to be disappearing. The traditional Korean clothes, Hanbok, is no longer worn, and the ancestrial ritual culture is disappearing.
I think positive attitude towards culture of other countries is good. However, it is also necessary to try to protect our nation's unique culture from being eaten away. Due to the acception of the foreign language, the position of Korean language is narrowed(For example, Koreans often call horseradish a "Wasabi", replacing Korean word "GochunaengI".). Acceptance of indiscriminatory culture will lead to the disappearance of national identity. We must be cautious about it.

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