Towards a Common Culture in the Idea of Culture and Introduction in Creating Culture - Essay Example

? COMPARISON AND CONTRAST BETWEEN TWO ARTICLES INTRODUCTION There have been numerous definitions as to what culture is exactly. While some may define it as a colony of bacteria as is with the case of biologists, others may define culture as an appreciation of good food, art and literature. However, the term culture refers to a shared feeling, attitude and belief which individuals have in their minds where it is considered a blue print of living (Eagleton, 2000, p.10). Culture is also considered a powerful human instrument for survival despite the fact that it is also a fragile occurrence. It is and has been transforming in the past years as it tends to exist only in people’s minds. For one to better understand exactly what culture is, it is important for them to take a closer look at its characteristics or features. All that man acquires in the course of his social life is included in culture and thus separates him from the lower animals (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.21). Even though there are those individuals who may tend to believe that culture is inborn it is not. Culture is generally learned and is more often than not referred to as learned ways of behavior (Eagleton, 2000, p.11). Culture is also not something that is possessed by just an individual but is actually shared by a group of individuals for instance values, morals, beliefs and traditions. Another characteristic that culture has is the fact that it is different from one society to the next. Cultures tend not to be uniform and vary from time to time. In addition, culture not only guides but it also determines a number of activities where man is concerned (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.22). It is thus considered a process through which man achieve satisfaction of his wants. This essay will specifically take a look at two articles by Eagleton, T (2000) and Austin-Broos, D. (1987) where it will compare and contrast what these two authors are trying to bring forth to their intended readers. ESSAY There exists two different components where culture is concerned that is material for instance everything that is fashioned, transformed or made by man in society and non-material such as beliefs, dance, music, attitudes and ideas (Eagleton, 2000, p.12). It is important for any given society to possess culture as the community tends to gain a personality as well as a characteristic of its own due to the culture of its individuals. Culture is considered a bond tying the individuals of a given region or society together (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.23). It is also a system of social control as people shape their behavior and standards which in turn influence one’s way of living (Eagleton, 2000, p.13). A number of authors and publishers have in the recent past made efforts of not only defining what culture is but also taking an in-depth look at how it applies to and the importance of it in any given society. Some of these authors include Austin-Broos, D. (1987) and Eagleton, T. (2000) who have published a number of books investigating this particular subject matter. Towards a Common Culture by Eagleton Terry “Towards a Common Culture” in The Idea of Culture by Eagleton, Terry (2000) is an article discussing culture and especially emphasizing on the discriminating different references to culture (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.24). The author deliberately does this as a way of introducing the reader to some of the current debates around this particular subject matter. Eagleton has put forth in this article an argument for a more complicated relation between nature and culture where he makes an effort of retrieving the importance of such ideas as human nature as viewed from a non-naturalistic perspective (Eagleton, 2000, p.14). In addition, the author has made a radical inquiry as to why both creditable and discreditable reasons regarding culture have come in this day and age to increase as much as it has. Eagleton also acknowledges the significance of culture as a way of putting it back to its place. Towards a Common Culture is an article that describes the onset of modern day mass culture which poses threat to traditional values. Great thinkers such as Matthew Arnold and Nietzsche have been quoted by the author as a way of supporting his argument (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.25). He has also in the process of writing this particular article quoted his former educator and mentor by the name Raymond Williams. Eagleton investigates the often conflicting manners by which culture might be defined and utilized in interpretation or interaction with the material world. Majority of his chapters have included the possibilities for developing a common culture as well as culture wars that are currently in existence (Eagleton, 2000, p.15). Despite the fact that culture is not yet politically sovereign it is considered relevant to a world in which the combination of the wealth of three riches people is equated with that of the 600 million poorest (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.26). Eagleton argues that what matters most is the culture wars as they tend to raise questions such as those regarding ethnic cleansing as compared to the relative merits of soap operas and Racine (Eagleton, 2000, p.16). Introduction in Creating Culture: Profiles in the Study of Culture by Austin-Broos This is an article by Austin-Broos, D. (1987) and similar to Eagleton, also discusses the concept of culture. Austin-Broos has made an attempt of elaborating on the belief that culture does not necessarily play an important role in society. The author has also included a number of theories and studies carried out by different sociologists and researchers for instance Durkheim and Weber (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.27). Austin-Broos has deliberately included such learned individuals as a way of adding to his contribution to theories of culture that have been formulated in the recent past. This article generally discusses what culture is made of and how it is perceived by different groups such as religious ones. The author has also tried to bind together Australia and American ideologies with regards to culture. In the introduction of the article, Austin-Broos has clearly summarized the key themes drawing the wide ranging contributions of the different individuals mentioned by her together and she provides the readers with a number of reasons as to why the culture concept has not yet found a footing in this day and age (Eagleton, 2000, p.17). The concept of culture and the study of it as a whole have rather complicated relationships providing the societal information in a particular community. Different theories and perspectives of different sociologists have been utilized in this article as a way of bringing out the important concept of culture for instance language, laws, traditions, beliefs and norms (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.28). In this way readers are better able to understand the general social experiences of people within a society or a community. Keeping in mind that culture is everything that individuals possess, do and think as members of the society, the concept of culture according to the author of this particular article acts as an explanation of the differences that exist within human communities (Eagleton, 2000, p.18). Austin-Broos has intelligently utilized different theories and included well known sociologist and other researchers as a way of removing any doubt that the readers may have regarding what the author understands as the concept of culture in today’s era. Comparison between the two articles Both Eagleton and Austin-Broos have investigated, discussed and elaborated on the concept of culture in today’s society but each in their own different perspectives and understanding. In these articles, other sociologists and professionals who deal with the subject of sociology have been mentioned and quoted by the two authors as a way of justifying their arguments as well as suggestions regarding the concept of culture in addition to how it is understood in the 21st Century. Eagleton and Austin-Broos have focused on the manner in which people behave, produce materials and think in their natural habitat. The concept of culture makes the effort of explaining the social experiences of man as he interacts within the community. The sense of culture is viewed as a reflection of human products that have revolved in the civilization and past history of ethnic society (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.29). Additionally, both authors agree that people tend to construct what is immoral and moral in accordance with their community’s agreed values as well as through numerous institutions such as society, education, media and religions (Eagleton, 2000, p.19). Both Austin-Broos and Eagleton have exhibited belief in the fact that culture is the way of life of any given social group where all material and non-material products resulting from this group life are carried on from one generation to the next (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.30). There are those sociologists who do not usually include the definition of culture in their works. However, these two authors have clearly defined the term culture and included illustrations and examples that make it easier for readers as well as those interested in anthropology and sociology to understand the general concept of culture (Eagleton, 2000, p.20). In addition, both of these authors have agreed on the fact that culture can be taught and learned where members of a given society are in a position of learning and teaching capabilities. They have also observed that culture tends to vary from one community to the next and it is these differences that both authors have tried to merge as a way of trying to understand the general concept of culture (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.31). With time patterns of behavior tend to change due to factors such as culture where the two authors agree that these transformations are what bring about differences in culture. As a whole, both Austin-Broos and Eagleton have in their articles attempted to decipher the meanings in relation to the concept of culture which have in the course of time become implicit in the term (Eagleton, 2000, p.21). Contrast between the two articles Despite the fact that culture is stable it has also been observed to be always changing with time as something new is often added to a society’s culture thus corroding the traditional one. One of the contrasts that exist between these two articles by Austin-Broos and Eagleton is the fact that while Eagleton has attempted to elaborate on the concept of culture by quoting a few sociologists and professionals in the course of his work, Austin-Broos on the other hand has summarized his work from a collection of different cultural theories from a number of sociologists, researchers and professionals dealing with the subject matter (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.32). Unlike Eagleton, Austin-Broos has not conducted research on his own but has studied other theories and written an analysis regarding the whole concept of culture. While Austin-Broos has mainly concentrated or rather focused on the behavior and thought of individuals in relations to the concept of culture, Eagleton has summarized his article into four main philosophical issues which are culture and identity, culture and liberation, culture and civilization and culture and nature (Eagleton, 2000, p.22). It is quite easier for a reader to understand the article written by Eagleton unlike that of Austin-Broos as the former has used simple language and illustrations that majority of readers can relate with. On the other hand, Austin-Broos has explained and elaborated on theories by different sociologists in an attempt of helping the reader understand why culture is as it is. However, Austin-Broos’ article has clearly separated culture and nature by utilizing the theories unlike Eagleton who from reading the article finds it quite challenging to separate the two terms (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.33). Eagleton argues that culture is produced by nature which also transforms it and thus by agreeing that culture is produced by nature it implies that culture contains two dimensions; that which is inherently given and that which has been developed by humans (Eagleton, 2000, p.23). This particular point goes against what Austin-Broos believes as per the different theories illustrated in his work suggesting otherwise. In addition, Eagleton does not support the fact that with the onset of modernization which has been embraced through globalization the concept of culture in regards to that which is located in specific boundaries and places is indeed problematic (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.34). Even though Austin-Broos and Eagleton are discussing about and elaborating on the concept of culture in the society, Austin-Broos has specifically focused on Australia and especially the Aboriginals in comparison to America with regards to their culture. She has not only defined the meaning of culture but has also given a history of the Australian and American cultures as a way of enabling readers understand the differences between these two unique populations (Eagleton, 2000, p.24). Creating Culture is an article that has focused on historical and intellectual circumstances that gave to culture the appearance of a safe category (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.35). However, unlike what Eagleton has managed to do in his article, Austin-Broos has not illustrated in detail the relationship between the concept of culture and the myth of a state of boundless human desire (Eagleton, 2000, p.25). He has instead quoted a few theories in relations to the subject matter as a way of explaining his arguments. The fact that Eagleton includes numerous illustrations from which readers can relate with in terms of their life experiences forms a rich set of reflections regarding the subject of culture, the ethics of liberation as well as cultural methods as utilized within a given society (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.). From what has been observed, culture is viewed as a powerful instrument for human survival despite the fact that it is also considered a fragile occurrence. The concept of culture has in the recent past become the main focus of anthropology since culture incorporates morals, law, belief, art, knowledge and custom in addition to other competences and behaviours acquired by humans as members of society (Eagleton, 2000, p.26). According to sociologists and professionals concerned with anthropology culture has 3 main layers which are considered part of one’s learned behavior patterns as well as views. These 3 levels include the body of cultural traditions which tends to differentiate one’s specific society, the subculture which is considered part of one’s identity and that which consists of cultural universals (Austin-Broos, 1987, p.36). The cultural universal is a level under culture which incorporates learned behavior patterns shared by all mankind as a whole. This means that regardless of which part of the world one may be, these particular traits are observable and shared universally. CONCLUSION Unlike what may be suggested by some researchers and sociologists culture and society are distinct and not the same thing. Culture refers to the complex of learned behavior pattern and views while society is a group of interacting organisms. Culture also happens to be different from one society to the next and this is because of the different values, beliefs, traditions, norms and behaviors held by the members of such societies. As earlier mentioned, culture is not the product of lone individuals but a continuous evolving product of groups of people interacting with one another. Austine-Broos, D. (1987) and Eagleton, T. (2000) have each attempted to explain and elaborate on the concept of culture in their own way from their articles enabling readers to have a better understanding of the subject matter. It is however also worth noting that there are those sociologists who believe that culture is not limited to humans but also can be observed with the animal kingdom where animals are capable of teaching their young what they as adults have learned as a way of survival. REFERENCES Austin-Broos, Diane. 1987 Introduction, in Creating Culture: Profiles in the Study of Culture, North Sydney: Allen and Unwin. Eagleton, Terry. 2000 Towards a Common Culture, in The Idea of Culture, Oxford, Malden Mass.: Blackwell. Read More