Culture As we go from place to place, we note differences in peoples beliefs with regard to dressing, food and cooking, love

and courtship, marriage practices, ways of worshipping God, earning a living, leisure time activities, etc. The Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Arabs, Americans, Russians people in general are brought up differently; thus, they acquire different ways of behaving. The behavior patterns peculiar to a group of people comprise what sociologists and other social scientists call culture.. Popular Culture - It includes activities, products and services that are assumed to appeal primarily to members of the middle and working classes. This includes rock music, spectator sports, movies and TV soap operas. The sum total of human creations - Culture is the sum total of human creations-intellectual, technical, artistic, physical and moral. Culture interprets our surroundings, gives them meaning and allows us to express ourselves. Language, religion, science, art, notions of right and wrong, and explanations of the meaning of life are all parts of culture. It is also includes the various materials and objects that people learn to use. Total distinctive way of life - Culture refers to the total and distinctive way of life or designs for living of any society. It encompasses learned behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values and ideals characteristic of certain societies. Peoples social heritage - It refers to the customary ways in which groups organize their ways of behaving, thinking and feeling. It is transmitted from one generation to another through language and the arts. Aspect of our existence - Culture is the aspect of our existence which is familiar to some people but different to others. It is the way of life common to a group of people which enables them to share ideas and patterns of behavior that distinguishes them from others. Culture varies from one society to another. Society and Culture Society is a group of people occupying a geographical territory, with a common culture, and interacting with each other. The members are united by social relationships, share a common language and beliefs and consume similar goods. People may share a common culture even if they are geographically dispersed. Functionalists view: Functionalists consider society a social system which has a set of components related to one another in a more or less stable fashion through a period of time. Functionalists view the family, religion, economy, education, and the state as the major social institutions. Conflict Theorists view: Conflict theorists analyze society based on conflict and power. While they also pay attention to social institutions and their structural relations, they focus on conflict and power within society and the process of change which disorganizes and brings instability. According to conflict theorists, wealth, power and prestige are scanty and dominated by the elite and the rich. The lower class are exploited by the dominant elite, resulting in conflict for scarce resources. Language and Culture Language refers to the systematized usage of speech and hearing to convey, communicate or express feeling and ideas. It is made up of a set of verbal and written symbols used within a certain culture. A symbol is anything that stands or represents something else and is not immediately present to our senses. The existence of culture is made possible by the use of symbols as these enable people to share ideas.