Make a list of phrases you have heard containing the word 'culture'. Ask your friends and family what they mean by culture. What criteria do they use to distinguish among cultures?
Common phrases containing the word 'culture' include 'Western culture', 'the culture of eighteenth century Lucknow', and 'culture of hospitality'. When asked about the meaning of culture, friends and family often describe it as a 'way of life' or refer to acquiring refined taste in classical music, dance forms, or painting.
People commonly use criteria like refined taste to distinguish between 'cultured' and 'uncultured' masses. This distinction is based on appreciation of arts. Other criteria include shared behaviour, learning, and traditions passed down through generations. Some also distinguish cultures based on geographical or historical contexts, such as 'Western culture' or regional cultures. Sociologists and anthropologists study these social contexts to understand the relations between different aspects of culture.
Explanation
This question is an activity-based question asking students to observe everyday usage of the term 'culture'. The answer draws from the textbook examples of phrases like 'Western culture' and 'culture of eighteenth century Lucknow'. It also incorporates the textbook's discussion on how culture is often associated with refined taste in arts, which historically distinguished people from the 'uncultured' masses. The criteria mentioned—shared behaviour, learning, and intergenerational transmission—come from the definitions listed in the text.