Analyzing Culture and Traditions: Spain, Canada, and the Philippines - Coursework Example

Analyzing Culture and Traditions: Spain, Canada, and the Philippines and Section Submitted Introduction This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the culture and traditions of three specific countries: Spain, Canada, and the Philippines. In this regard, it intends to emphasize on specific customs and practices that mark the identity of each culture. Such findings will be obtained from the three interviews that were conducted in support of this study. In order to maintain focus and succinctness in the discussion, this paper shall be divided into three parts. The first part shall give a theoretical background on the importance of culture in the formation of social identity, as well as the proper ways through which cultural analysis must be done. Through this part, the need for an objective assessment of culture will be reinforced. The second part, on the other hand, will zero in on the results of the three interviews conducted as regards the specific culture and traditions of Spain, Canada, and the Philippines. By using first-hand or primary information as obtained from the one-on-one interviews, credibility of data will be strengthened. This will be followed by an individual analysis of the cultures by using Geert Hoftstede’s Cultural Dimensions Framework. The last part will be dedicated to an enriching and highly insightful conclusion that will put an end to this study. Importance of Culture: A Brief Overview By definition, culture refers to the set of beliefs, habits, and art forms that crucially characterize a specific group of people in a specific area. Because of this seemingly vast description, cultural representations may include art, literature, religion, lifestyles, and many more. With this, it can be said that the significance of culture is hinged on its capacity to give a unique identity to people. As highlighted in an online article, “a community gains a character and a personality of its own, because of the culture of its people” (Oak 1). Thus, it is through the learning and passing of these traditions that common bond is fostered. As further stated in the same article, “the cultural values form the founding principles of one’s life as they influence one’s way of living and thus impact on social life. Having established the role of cultures in forming the unique social identities of people, an acknowledgement of their stark differences must always be remembered. In this light, comparing cultures to determine which one is better is not only illogical but also impractical, as there are no verified measures in assessing cultures. With this, an analytic framework has been formed to guide in the examination of cultural differences (Iivonen, Sonnenwald & Parma 1). Firstly, people’s relationship with their external environment usually verifies if they dominate, live in harmony with, or get subjugated by the environment. Secondly, people’s relationship with other people determines if they are individualists (autonomous and self-determining) or socialists (group-oriented and clannish). Thirdly, people’s primary model of activity helps in clarifying if people are ‘be-ers’ that focus on the development of the self in light of personal experiences and internal realizations, or ‘do-ers’ that are more active and what to achieve the most in life. Apart from these three, there are other frameworks that guide in the assessment of culture. One is people’s view of physical space which usually highlights their perspective on the difference between public or private space. People’s temporal orientation, on the other hand, refers to their orientation on the past, the present or the future. In this sense, cultures that are past-oriented tend to value customers and traditions more, while present-oriented ones dwell on the short-time planning and benefits. Innovations and long-term change are justified with future-oriented cultures. Analyzing Three Cultures: Spain, Canada, and the Philippines After assimilating the vitality of culture in relation to social identity construction, as well as the various lenses that could be utilized when studying cultures individually, it is now time to focus on the results of the three interviews and expose the characteristics of each country. In order to put more conciseness in the laying down of results and in the analysis of them, this paper hopes to emphasize more on the customs of people in relation to other people, as well as their relationship with their external environment. Spain: Culture and Traditions Based on the qualitative results, Spaniards tend to see family (both nuclear and extended) as the foundation of all social structures. Although the structure of family continues to vary through the decades, it was pointed out that Spaniards usually spend an average of 20 years living with the family until they finally seek for independence. When it comes to gender roles, Spain basically has a more equalitarian society—meaning both males and females are treated with the same level of respect. With regard to religion, majority of Spaniards are Roman Catholic. However, with the rise of liberalism and other ideologies which tend to contradict with the religious dogmas of Roman Catholicism, Spaniards have learned to embrace other forms of religion such as Christian, Agnosticism, and even Atheism. When it comes to etiquette, Spanish put much value on their self-image, influencing their overall behavior with other people. This could be verified in the way they conduct business engagements and negotiations. Based on the interview results, Spaniards tend to be very conscious not only in the way they address their business counterparts (referred to as Don or Dona), but also in the way they communicate with each one. In this light, Spaniards prefer face-to-face communication in order to make the discussion clearer and efficiently settle on the important matters. Because they are image-conscious, Spaniards always keep a sense of professionalism even in the height of argumentations, and would avoid looking foolish at all times. Spaniards’ emphasis on self-image could also be seen in their dining etiquette and table manners. As further brought up in the interview, Spaniards usually bring chocolates, pastries, cakes, wine, and flowers when invited to another home. Aside from this, they also make it a point to bring small gifts for the children (if there are any). As regards table manners, Spaniards remain standing until invited to seat down, and do not begin eating until the host or hostess starts. When eating, they keep their hands visible by resting their wrists on the edge of the table. They are also very particular in the use of utensils—even a fruit must be eaten with a knife and a fork. When finished with their meal, Spaniards lay their knife and fork parallel on their plate with their handles facing to the right. When it comes to cultural traditions and symbols, Spain has a lot. As narrated in the interview, the popularity of these symbols has become the key reason why a lot of tourists visit the country. For one, the renowned ‘tapas’ usually pertain to the way of eating food. Contrary to major thinking, ‘tapa’ is not a type of food, but the manner of eating food in small portions. Thus, the term ‘going for tapas’ does not mean ordering a lot of dishes in one restaurant but more about hopping from one restaurant to another. In addition to this, flamenco is also a noted Spanish symbol which usually pertains to a musical style that emphasizes on the guitar. Thus, dancing is regarded as a mere accompaniment to the music. The Spanish siesta, moreover, is another peculiar facet of their culture. In the afternoon, stores close for its owners to take a quick nap. But with the advent of globalization, fewer and fewer businesses decide to take their siesta. Another significant cultural symbol is bullfighting (although being frowned upon by Spaniards because of the negative imagery it conjures). Many tourists go to Spain just to personally witness a bullfight. With regard to sport, like in many European countries, Spaniards are obsessed with soccer, and would go at great lengths just to see their country being represented in international soccer games. Using Hoftstede’s Cultural Dimensions Framework, it can be claimed that Spanish culture has low power distance as power is deemed to be widely dispersed in society. Moreover, Spanish culture has low individualism due to the cohesive effects of religious beliefs and cultural norms that often govern and harmonize inter-personal relations. In addition to this, Spanish culture has gender equality as there is wide acknowledgement of the role in women helping further economic, socio-cultural, and political initiatives. Lastly, Spanish culture has low long-term orientation as evidenced by the slow adoption of new ideologies and beliefs that continually influence people’s behavior in the environment. Canada: Culture and Traditions Canadian culture is deemed to be an amalgam of immigrants’ and locals’ customs and traditions. Such a theory was reinforced in the interview conducted, as it was claimed that Canadians share with the Americans on the celebration of Thanksgiving. Held on the first Monday of October, Thanksgiving is meant to commemorate the early settlers’ first harvests in the new land. Apart from this, Canadians also celebrate Halloween through ‘trick-or-treat’ where children dressed in all sorts of costume move around the neighborhood to get candies. Lastly, Canadians celebrate Christmas through a unique tradition in Newfoundland called ‘mummering’. Similar to ‘trick-or-treat’, adults and children usually don mismatched clothing and visit homes to put off a mini-concert by singing and dancing. When it comes to etiquette, Canadians just like the Spaniards put emphasis on good manners and proper conduct. For one, when someone enters a home, it is required that the footwear is removed inside the entrance so as to avoid any track of mud or gravel onto the floors. Also, it is customary for guests to address the host or hostess with courtesy. As regards table manner, Canadians are said to ‘big eaters’. They like eating meat both in breakfast and in dinner. As claimed in the interview, breakfasts and dinners serve as important social occasions for Canadians as it help them catch up with their family and friends. Lunch, on the contrary, is often eaten very lightly as most Canadians are at work. When it comes to Canada’s unique traditions and cultural symbols, each area of the country and each ethnic group usually have their own set of customs and belief system. However, it is through hockey (which remains to be the national sport) that somewhat keep the country united. As regards literature and art, while Canada does not have a single national literary tradition, there are many internationally-acclaimed Canadian writers. One exception, however, is the province of Quebec which has a longstanding ‘national’ literature that is noted for its social criticism. Using Hoftstede’s Cultural Dimensions Framework, it can be claimed that Canadian culture has low power distance due the society’s high regard for freedom and individual worth. Moreover, Canadian culture has high individualism as influenced essentially by numerous cultural groups that exist in the country. Such finding, however, does not tantamount to having cultural disputes or misunderstanding; it rather means that respect for differences is highly regarded. In addition to this, there is gender equality in Canadian culture as concretized by the rise of women in the arts and humanities. Lastly, Canadian culture has low long-term orientation due to the influences from European and American beliefs. The Philippines: Culture and Traditions Being a colony of Spain for almost 300 years and of the United States for 40 years, and having been influenced by other Asian countries like Japan, China, and even India, the Filipino culture is often claimed to be a product of a number of Western and Eastern traditions and belief system. For one, Filipino—its national language—is claimed to be a combination of Spanish, Malay, Hindi, and Chinese. Just like Spaniards, Filipinos value familial relations and regard the family as the basic unit of the family. In this light, Filipinos often live with their extended families (even after having their own nuclear families). This tight kinship, as noted in the interviews, truly marks the Filipino values. Apart from this, Filipinos are said to be hospitable and respectful to foreigners and guests. They always make it a point not to disappoint an arriving guest by preparing for his or visit. Since majority of Filipinos are Roman Catholic, the country’s culture is claimed to be conservative and traditional. Controversial issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion, and euthanasia are still considered social taboos. However, with the influx of liberalistic ideas, Filipinos are becoming more open in discussing such issues in a less formal and critical manner. With regard to cultural symbols, Filipinos are known to be great entertainers (particularly singers). Examples are Lea Salonga and Charice Pempengco who usually astound their audiences through their heart-felt performances. Apart from this, Filipinos are said to be experimental with their dishes, incorporating both foreign and local delicacies. Some of the most-loved meals in the Philippines are a combination of Italian, American, and Japanese food. In addition to this, Filipinos are said to be festive. Be it in local fiestas or in noon-time shows, Filipinos love singing and dancing. This happy disposition has actually prodded its tourism department to launch its campaign entitled ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’. When it comes to sports, Filipinos love basketball and volleyball. Boxing is also considered an important sport as it helped the country get noticed in the international sports scene through Manny Pacquiao. Using Hoftstede’s Cultural Dimensions Framework, it can be claimed that Filipino culture has high power distance as rooted in the acceptance of the role of leaders in all aspects of society—in family, in school, or even in work environments. Moreover, Filipino culture has low individualism due to the value seen in unity and group dynamics. In addition to this, there is gender equality in Filipino culture as because of the socio-cultural significance of feministic ideals in creating positive changes in society. Lastly, Filipino culture has high long-term orientation given the influence of old traditions in lifestyles and behaviors of people. Conclusion In conclusion, it can be said that the findings obtained on the unique customs and traditions of Spain, Canada, and the Philippines reinforce the understanding that culture is critical in forming the social identity of its people. Bibliography Iivonen,Mirja; Sonnenwald, Diane & Parma, Maria. Analyzing and Understanding Cultural Differences: Experiences from Education in Library and Information Studies. RCLS.org, 1998. Web. 20 Mar 2013. Oak, Manali. Importance of Culture. Buzzle.com, 2012. Web. 20 Mar 2013. Appendix A Interview Guide I. Introduction: 1. State the objective of the study 2. Give a quick rundown of the questions to be asked 3. Clarify why objectivity and personal opinions are needed in the interview II. Specific Questions 1. In a nutshell, can you tell me what your culture is about? Like if you were a tourist agent selling your country to me as a foreigner, how would you describe your culture? 2. What are some of the important values and belief systems that you commonly share in your country? Why do you think are these important in building your identity as a person and as a citizen in your country? 3. Can you share some interesting customs in your country such as dining manners, proper dealing with people, and what not? 4. What are some of your most-valued cultural symbols like dance, literature, and other art forms? Read More