Society Culture & Built Environment

Semester-VI
14.02.2019

Varish Panchal
Assistant Professor
Amity School of Architecture and Planning
Why to study?

Our huge and highly variegated store of knowledge about the ways
that humans occupy and use their space becomes most meaningful
when these societies are studied in the light of culture and its relation
to building design
What is Society?

A society is the aggregate of people or a group of individuals living together in a more or

less ordered community.
These individuals are involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group
sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political
authority and dominant cultural expectations.
What is Sociology?

The systematic study of development, structure and functioning

of human society and social interaction.
One can understand social problems, social patterns and
dynamics of social interactions and culture influencing them in
everyday life.
What is Community?

A group or collection of people having a particular characteristic

in common, or have similar interests or belong to the same
geographical place.
In Sociology, it can be a small or large social unit, which may have
common norms, values, religion or identity which often share a
sense of place that is situated in a given geographical area or in
virtual space through communication platforms.
What is the difference between Community and Society?

Like for any group, individuals is necessary for the existence of

both a society and a community, there are distinct differences
between the two. A community refers to a group of individuals
residing in a specific geographic location whereas a society refers
to a system of social relationships
“Man is a social animal, he cannot live in isolation.”
We cannot be the
Grumpy Cat
Social Processes

Interaction
Selfie Time !
Social Processes

Types / Forms of Social Interaction

Opposition Cooperation

Competition Conflict Accommodation Assimilation

Social Processes

• Cooperation
• Conflict
• Competition
• Accommodation
• Assimilation
• Progress
• Evolution
Cooperation

Cooperation is the process of groups of organisms working or acting together

for common, mutual, or some underlying benefit, to the same end as
opposed to working in competition for selfish benefit.
Cooperation
Accommodation and Assimilation

Accommodation is social adjustment an individual may do.

e.g. adjustment of man to both natural and manmade environment.

Assimilation means two dissimilar individuals or groups which become

similar by removing their cultural differences.
Acculturation

The first step towards assimilation is called acculturation.

In other words it is cultural modification.
Conflict

Conflict is a type of social interaction or process where opposition

is observed between individuals or groups that leads to
disagreement.

Why and When?

When people are competing for inadequate material and non
material products.
Power, Status, Property

What ?
They threat each other’s purposes, to prevent each other’s interest.
Conflict: Fields

Political
Social
Economic
Religious
Competition
Difference between competition & conflict
Competition
• Competition is the
continuous process and it is
never ending.
• It is impersonal
• It is unconscious and the
individuals and groups are
not aware of it.
• It encourages hard work.
• It is based on nonviolence.
Conflict
• It is not continuous
process.
• At some stage it must
come to an end.
• It is personal.
• It is conscious and the
individual and groups are
aware and know each
other.
• It discourages hard work
for law in conflict.
• Violent methods may be
used in conflict.
What is Indian Society?

The question becomes difficult to answer as by the

reason of Indian diversity. People of India do not
have a common religion, race, language etc. The
only thing that people in India share together is the
identity of being Indian and the values prescribed
under the constitution.
Indian Society

Dynamic and Syncretic:

The present Indian society is the culmination of long
drawn process involving both assimilation and
accommodation. While many tribes have over the
years lost their indigenous culture as a result of
assimilation into the Hindu society, many new
practices have emerged from contact of different
cultures. It is also dynamic since it is ever changing.
The recent example of it is the changes in the social
values after globalization.

Examples of assimilation:
• About 197 languages/dialects are endangered in
India.
• Struggle of many tribes such as Naga for
protecting their culture from outsiders.
• Increasing number of PVTG (Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups)
Indian Society

Examples of assimilation:
• Language of Urdu has developed out of Arabic
and Hindavi.
• Bhakti movement and Sufi movements that
inspired each other.
• Caste like system adopted by Islam in India
(foreign conquerors - Ashraf and the local
converts - Ajlaf).
• Rashtrapati Bhawan – fusion of Rajput, Mughal
and European architecture
Indian Society

Traditionalism with modernity:

While after globalization a visible shift can be seen
towards modern values such, Indian society has not
failed to protect and preserve its traditional values
and norms and has even endeavoured to spread
them across the world.
Examples:
• While many modern gyms have opened across
the nation, yoga has only gained more popularity
in the recent time as evident from the declaration
of 21st June International Yoga Day by UN.
• Western food is equally popular as Indian food.
So is the case with dance, music, cuisines, dress
etc.
• While western medicines have gained ground in
India, Indian system of medicine (AYUSH) has not
lost its charm.
• Spirituality and religiosity continue to be an
important part of peoples’ lives despite growing
materialism.
Indian Society

Traditional Values:
• Respecting age
• Need to take care of aged parents
• Saving for tomorrow

Tension between Globalization & traditional Values:

• Joint families
• Female Careerism
• Concern for environment
Indian Society

Unity in Diversity:
When India got independent many political thinker
had commented that number of days of Indian
democracy are numbered since society as diverse as
India will ultimately have to make way for small
homogeneous independent states. There are:
• About 6 major religions
• More than 1500 spoken languages(2)
• 5 major racial groups
• Number of sects within the religion

Examples:
• High levels of migration across the nation despite
the wise cultural differences.
• Major festivals like Diwali, Eid and Christmas are
celebrated across the nation with equal fervour.
• Flourishing metro cities like Delhi, Bangalore etc.
with cosmopolitan culture.
Indian Society

Unity in Diversity:
Factors that have helped in the unity:
• Values of co-existence that had developed as a
result of historical fusion and accommodation
since most of the conquerors like Mughals settled
in India itself
• The Indian national movement: rule of congress
such as meeting shall be held in different part of
nations; British railways, telegram, army, Indian
press, major movements like non-cooperation
that promoted mixing of people. This all led to
development of Indian identity.
• State reorganization based on language and
efforts of government to protect the interest of
minorities
Indian Society

Caste and Class:

The Indian society mostly Hindus (80%) divided
under the rigid caste system based on the ascriptive
values, a system which has permeated even in other
religions like Islam as well. The system originated
from the varna systems has created social
stratification a major source of privileges and
disabilities. At the same time economic reforms have
created flourishing urban areas (31% population)
where people are stratified based on class
(achievements such as income) rather than their
social identity.
Indian Society

Patriarchy:
Patriarchy is family or social system where final
decision making power vests in the male head. As a
result of it women usually are relegate to the status
of second class citizens are subjected to various
disabilities. Although many social groups are
matrilineal as well such as in Meghalaya and Kerala,
patriarchy is near universal. The system can be found
in nearly every society. It leads to gender
discrimination and socio-eco deprivation of women.
Indian Society

Rural and Agrarian:

About 70% of the population in India resides in the
rural areas and almost half the population is engages
in agriculture as a major source of livelihood. It is
usually said that heart of India lies in its villages
proved by the statistics as well as the culture of rural
areas. Many of the art and craft such as Madhubani
paintings, Khadi, bamboo items and other
handicrafts are still predominantly sourced from
rural areas. For instance, public places in Jaipur are
being painted with the folk paintings of Rajasthan.

Also, major festivals in India such as Holi, Sakrat,

Lohri, Pongal etc. are related to harvest seasons
thereby indicating the agrarian connection of Indian
celebrations.
Indian Society

Mutual respect and Tolerance:

Indian society has survived despite its diversity
because of the accommodative values of mutual
respect and tolerance that have existed here from
the very early times. These values were only
strengthened with time as more and more invaders
made India their home leading to mixing and co-
existence on many different cultures.
During the ancient period Indus valley civilization
used to be a secular society and traded peacefully
with other societies such as Mesopotamia, importing
their cultural elements as well. Buddhism and
Jainism promoted these values among their
followers. Some ancient texts also promoted the
value of “sarva-dharma-sam-bhava" which
represents the secular values of the time. Co-
existence of many philosophies – religious, atheistic
and materialist - indicates the environment of
debate and divergence that must have existed at the
time.
Social Stratification

Every complex society faces the difficult task of placing its

members into roles that are necessary for the society to
survive. These roles must be filled with as little conflict
and confusion as possible. There must be people willing
to perform jobs (roles) with little status and those that
carry a great deal of prestige. In your community there
are people who are doctors, lawyers, and teachers.
Others collect trash, direct traffic, and put out fires.
Although these roles do not all carry the same prestige,
there is very little conflict involved in determining who
will perform which one.
In India, caste is one set of role cards and perhaps the
most important one. One’s caste is ascribed; that is,
children inherit the status and functions of their parents.
At birth Indians are dealt their caste card.
Might not be true to developed countries, but it is
important to remember that there is no society where
individual effort is the sole criterion for status.
 Society and the space

It is more than obvious that buildings and the entire built environment are
essentially social and cultural products. Buildings result from social needs and
accommodate a variety of functions: social, political, economic, religious and
cultural. Their size, appearance, location, and form are governed not simply by
physical factors but by a society's ideas, it's forms of economic and social
organizations, it's distribution of resources and authority, its activities, and the
beliefs and values, which prevail at any one period of time. As changes in the
society occur, so too does change in its build environment. New building types
emerge as old ones become obsolete. Some buildings are modified, extended
and take on different functions; others may simply disappear. Society produces
its buildings, and the buildings, although not producing society, help to
maintain many of its social forms.
 Society and the space

The sociological position of architectural design deals not only with society as a
whole but also with society at the level of the individual. Design relative to
individuals must provide for their basic needs as well as respond with a
language that they may accept as defining their place within society. This idea
of place carries meaning on two levels; place as a built entity, and place as a
component of social order. It is at the level of the individual that people will
seek out housing to suit their needs (local and social order) and will choose to
work in locations which reflect their ideals of social position.
 Classification of Human Settlements

Based on Sizes:
• Small and sparsely spaced (rural settlements or villages specializing in agriculture)
• Large and closely spaces (urban settlements specializing in secondary and tertiary
activities)
• Based on Location of Settlements- plains, mountains, coastal, etc.
• Based on Physical Forms-form as the expression of content, function, and structure.
• Based on Functions- which are important to an understanding of the
• meaning and role of settlements. Example: Based on activity (economic, social),
their performance, or special role (as dormitories, retirement villages, etc.)
• Based on Time Dimension- age of settlements, their place in continuum (past,
present, future), their relative static of dynamic character, the whole process of
their growth.
• Based on degree of society’s conscious involvement in settlements creation: natural
and planned settlements
• Based on institutions, legislations and administrations which society has created for
settlements
 Classification of Human Settlements

BY EKISTICS UNITS: FOUR BASIC GROUPS:

• Minor shells or elementary units- Man(Anthropos), room, house;
• Micro-settlements- units smaller than, or as small as, the traditional town where
people used, do & still do achieve interconnection by walking (house group, small
neighbourhood);
• Meso-settlements- between traditional town & conurbation within which one can
commute daily (small polis, polis, small metropolis, small eperopolis, eperopolis);
• Macro-settlements- whose largest possible expression is the Ecumenopolis.
Doxiadis' ideal future ekistic units:
For the year 2100 at which time he estimated (in 1968)
that Earth would achieve zero population growth at a
Population of 50,000,000,000 with human civilization
being Powered by fusion energy.

Ekistic units:
15 levels
• Also called EKISTICS Logarithmic Scale (els)
• Unit range from man To ecumenopolis Which turn into
four Basic groups
Ecumenopolis: The entire area of Megalopolis: A group of conurbations
Earth taken up by human settlements consisting of more than 10 million
people each

Conurbation: A group of large cities & Metropolis: A large city & its suburbs
their suburbs, consisting of 3 to 10 million consisting of multiple cities & towns
people. Also called urban agglomeration having 1 to 3 million people
 Classification of Human Settlements

• Large City- a city with large population & many services having less than 1 million
but over 3 lakhs people.
• City- a city with abundant but not with as many services as in a large city ,having
over 1 lakh upto 3 lakhs people
• Large Town- Population of 20,000 to 1 lakh.
• Town- population of 1,000 to 20,000.
• Village- population of 100 to 1000
• Hamlet- tiny population (<100) and very few (if any) services, & few buildings
• Isolated dwellings – 1 or 2 buildings of families with negligible services, if any.
What is Culture?

“The whole way of life, material, intellectual, and spiritual, of a given society.
The complex of distinctive attainments, beliefs, traditions which establish the background
of racial, religious, or social group.” (KENNEY, 1994)

Culture embraces complex ways of living, value systems, traditions, beliefs and habits;
including knowledge, morals, law and customs, acquired by those within that Society.
These provide for a set of ‘cultural objects’, which symbolise a shared schematic
experience, and which we recognise as having cultural value.
Cultural Lag

Cultural lag refers to the phenomenon that occurs when changes

in material culture occur before or at a faster rate than the
changes in non-material culture. In other words, cultural lag is
when technological change, or something similar like tools,
develops faster than society can process those changes.
Cultural Lag

Ogburn's Theory of Cultural Lag:

The concept of cultural lag was first developed in 1922 by
sociologist Williams F. Ogburn. Ogburn noticed that material
culture tends to develop and advance at a faster rate than non-
material culture.
Material culture is the physical and tangible aspects of culture
including technology, buildings, and tools.
Non-material culture is the aspect of culture that isn't physical,
nor is it tangible. Non-material culture includes cultural values,
morals, customs, values, ideologies, religion and behaviour
pattern etc.
Cultural Lag

Examples:
• Recent technological developments have led to several
advancements in the field of genetic engineering. Genetic
engineering involves altering the DNA or genetic material of a
cellular organism in order to change or add new traits. The
ethical conflicts related to genetically modifying DNA are an
example of cultural lag.
• When cars were first invented, there were not yet any laws to
govern driving: no speed limits, no guidelines for who had the
right of way at intersections, no lane markers, no stop signs,
and so on. As you can imagine, the result was chaos.
• Another example can be of flying cars. The first flying car was
actually built in 1937, developed by Waldo Waterman in 1937,
the Arrowbile. Obviously, we can easily build cars that fly. But,
we don't.
Sub-culture

When you think of the different groups that you're a part of,
how many are there? You're part of big groups such residents
of a country or those belonging to a certain gender, but what
about the smaller groups? Maybe you're active in a church
community or a you're a fan of a particular style of music
around which there is a culture? These smaller groups that
you're a part of are called subcultures, which are defined as
smaller cultural groups that fit into a larger group. Subcultures
are recognizably different from larger groups because of their
distinctive characteristics or belief systems.
There are countless types of subcultures that are based on
everything from hobbies and interests to political and spiritual
beliefs. When these groups are based on practices or ideas
that do not align with social standards and norms, they may
be considered deviant subcultures. Deviance involves people
holding perspectives or engaging in behaviours that contradict
what societies and cultures usually consider acceptable.
Sub-culture and deviance

It can be tricky to categorize deviance because what qualifies

something as deviant behaviour is often culturally specific or
subjective. Moreover, cultural standards and expectations evolve
along with a society, which means that what is considered
deviant in one decade might be acceptable in the next. For
example, until not so long ago homosexuality was considered
deviant behaviour, whereas now many members of the cultural
majority consider it to be acceptable
 Culture Architecture

Does culture define architecture of a place; or does architecture set a culture

Culture and Architecture

The culture of each society is identified through its manifestations such as language, art,
and architecture, and analysis in the field of culture is related to the study of cultural
manifestations.
Architecture as a matter of human life reflects the culture in every society interacting
closely with structural, historical, political, economic and social features of society.
People in every country try to follow their norms and maintain their values in making of
architecture by applying the material things. Changing the cultural and social attitudes in
communities has the greatest impact on the architecture. Therefore, the role of culture in
promoting architectural identity seems essential.
The result is that the culture of each community defines the identity of the community
and architecture as a social phenomenon was originated from the culture and its effects.
Art and architecture are of the most important symptoms and characteristics of each
nation and every historical period that indicate the environment human’s lives at any
time.
Indigenous culture

Indigenous culture is the set of social behaviours, ideas, beliefs

and customs carried out by particular people who belong to the
place originally and are known as indigenous people.
Indigenous peoples, also known as first peoples, aboriginal
peoples or native peoples, are ethnic groups who are the original
settlers of a given region, in contrast to groups that have settled,
occupied or colonized the area more recently.
Indigenous cultures and issues in India:
India is home to about 700 tribal groups with a population of 104
million, as per 2011 census. These indigenous people constitute the
second largest tribal population in the world after Africa. As industries
encroached upon their lands, many communities were displaced and
some continued to wage a struggle to either protect their homes or
demand a fair compensation.
By taking away forest lands for industries and plantation forestry instead
of preserving natural species that provide livelihood to these people, the
government was depriving them of the basic means of livelihood.
Indigenous cultures and issues in India:
The battle for Niyamgiri may be won by Odisha’s Dongria Kondhs and the
Baiga tribe of Madhya Pradesh may have become the first indigenous
people to get habitat rights in India after a century-long struggle, but
these developments don’t dwarf the challenge that lies in promotion and
protection of indigenous people’s rights.
Recognising their rights to forest areas and forest management practices
is critical to understand their struggle for survival. Loss of forest cover,
mining and the expansion of hybrid crops remain direct threats to food
security of these people who count on forest resources and wild food.
There’s a need for scientific discourse on the impact of climate change on
species that grow in the wild and are used by indigenous people living
close to forests.
Caste System in India:
India's caste system is among the world's oldest forms of
surviving social stratification. The system which divides Hindus
into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work) and
dharma (the Hindi word for religion, but here it means duty) is
generally accepted to be more than 3,000 years old.

The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories –

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras.
Many believe that the groups originated from Brahma, the
Hindu God of creation.
The main castes were further divided into about 3,000 castes
and 25,000 sub-castes, each based on their specific
occupation.
Caste System in India:
For centuries, caste dictated almost every aspect of Hindu
religious and social life, with each group occupying a specific
place in this complex hierarchy.
Rural communities were long arranged on the basis of castes -
the upper and lower castes almost always lived in segregated
colonies, the water wells were not shared, Brahmins would not
accept food or drink from the Shudras, and one could marry
only within one's caste. Traditionally, the system bestowed
many privileges on the upper castes while sanctioning
repression of the lower castes by privileged groups.
Often criticised for being unjust and regressive, it remained
virtually unchanged for centuries, trapping people into fixed
social orders from which it was impossible to escape. Despite
the obstacles, however, some Dalits and other low-caste
Indians, such as BR Ambedkar who authored the Indian
constitution, and KR Narayanan who became the nation's first
Dalit president, have risen to hold prestigious positions in the
country.
Impact of Caste System on society and space:
69 years to independence and India still struggles with its
hassle around the cast system models:

• The Reservation:
It is evident that with caste system in society comes inequality
and it still exists in modern India. To curb this disparity,
government policies were introduced such as reservation or
the quota system. The logic they extract from reservations is
that it is pushing ‘positive’ discrimination by caste. These
reservations gave the backward classes a direct entry into what
the government called ‘normalcy’ but they forgot that
paradoxically they were creating an incentive to keep these
divisions alive.
Impact of Caste System on society and space:
• The Odd ranking:
We aren’t alien from the fact that there are universal notions
of the relative worth of different professions and this bias have
always reflected in our social hierarchy. If we ask a kid to rank
the professions of plumber, soldier, doctor and a shopkeeper in
terms of utility, he/she might instinctively say doctor
>soldier>shopkeeper>plumber. This is a clear indication that
the Rig Veda teachings still keep our minds captivated which
did it this way- Brahmins> Kshatriyas > Vaishyas > Shudras. This
isn’t just limited to the Rig Veda; plenty of societies around the
world have classified their society.