...There are many different types of features and traits that factor into race, depending on the culture. Rattansi believes that from the history of race, it has become a social process as a natural perception such as skin color. One of Rattansi’s argument is, that scientifically there are no ‘determined races’. He supports this idea by explaining that the genes for blood types has nothing to do with a persons’ skin color or race. An example is, someone across the world with different phenotypical features may have the same blood type without interfering with the idea of race. This demonstrates the lack of understanding of biological determinism and the key distinctions between genotypes and phenotypes. Another element that factors into race...
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...Develop the argument that certain kinds of cultures, political and economic systems are, by their nature, resistant to economic development through international trade. In this modern age of globalization, where capital can cross the national borders so easily and the investment funds can be pulled from one country to another in order to respond to new business opportunities, economic development is attainable in the most of the countries. However, the economic development depends on the certain kinds of cultures, political and economic systems. In general for any country to reach an economic development there are few conditions to be met such as stable government, no corruption and friendly culture. In other words, economic development is “affected by those intangibles that are collectively known as culture” (Francis & Hezel). Max Weber in the early 20th century offered a different view on how cultural and even religious values impact the economic output. “He argued that the Protestant work ethic, supported by Reformation teachings that the pursuit of wealth was a duty, inculcated the virtues needed for maximum economic productivity. For this reason, Protestants were more productive than Catholics throughout Europe-just think of Germany and Great Britain, for instance, compared to Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Italy in his day.” (Francis & Hezel). The question is why some countries do very well, while others fail to develop, even when there are help to support their development...
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...The Effects of Clashing Cultures Our world today is populated with distinctive cultures and their unique languages, communication, beliefs, etc. that make our universe exquisitely diverse. As human beings, we tend to adapt to our own culture quite fast and we become used to perceiving our group of people as the only thing that is "good." We fear wanting to assimilate or broaden our knowledge to other cultures, for it is our natural instinct to shut out anything unfamiliar to us. In her essay, "Arts of the Contact Zone," Mary Louise Pratt argues for importance of understanding the point where two cultures clash, the contact zone, and that it can be powerful to engage in one's culture by expanding our grasp of knowledge and wisdom in the diversity we live in today. Pratt introduces three major concepts in her argument that exemplify the objective of her essay: the contact zone, autoethnographic texts, and transculturation. Upon viewing two other pieces by Richard Rodriguez, “The Achievement of Desire” and Gloria Anzaldua’s “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” Rodriguez and Anzaldua demonstrate Pratt's argument by supporting her concepts about the influence of contact zones between two juxtaposing cultures. In her argument, "Arts of the Contact Zone," Pratt introduces the theme of her argument, the contact zones: the point where cultures clash and come together in unison. Where one culture has a lot more power than the other. A contact zone is the root of how...
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...case for relativity and depends on different histories and environments of a few cultures. Rachels analyzes Cultural Relativism and justifies why it isn’t necessarily right or wrong. I have reviewed and thought about each of their arguments and have decided to side with James Rachels. The following paragraphs will be an attempt at showing why I believe both arguments seem to basically be equally strong with a slight lead by Ruth...
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...laws that places everyone on equal footing will only conceal the inequality that will continue to persist. It is necessary to recognize that minorities need special rights to maintain freedom and equality in this society. Liberal Culturalism, proposed by Kymlicka, and the politics of positional differences, proposed by Young, are two positions in this philosophical debate which recognizes the need for group rights and advocates on its behalf. While these two positions have very similar qualities, the politics of positional difference has the most convincing argument in this philosophical debate, due to its...
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...folkways. It is not outside them, of independent origin, and brought to test them. In the folkways, whatever is, is right” (Sumner, 1906: 28). To explain, the relativist stance involves both a negative assumption, that is the denial of the existence of any “universal moral truth at all” (Driver, 2007: 16), and a positive one, that is the recognition of the existence of a moral truth dependent on each specific culture. With such a definition, cultural relativism distance itself radically from moral universalism that instead holds that “there are derivative norms that may differ across cultures, but at least some basic norms do not” (Driver, 2007: 17). Indeed, universalism does acknowledge the difference in morality between different societies, but it also believes that this is not due to lack of objectivity or universality in morality, but rather to a change in those norms which have been built on the basis of some universally moral values that everybody shares in any beliefs’ system. There are several accounts on this moral issue, as well as considerable amounts of arguments in favour of...
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...some of which are long practiced traditions that affect the business aspects of the country’s economy. Taking the practiced traditions into consideration means that business presentations or arguments must be changed and conveyed accordingly. First we look at some of the culture differences within the country and then we will look at the different ways that presentations or arguments would need to be changed based on those differences. The people of Japan still practice traditions in such a way that may appear unfamiliar to most. Most of the country holds value dimensions, in this order, to be very important to their survival in the country. The first and foremost important aspect of the value of the Japanese is power distance. This is simply a well respected superior who looks out for his company and his employees (Onken, 2014). The second aspect of value in the Japanese culture is uncertainty avoidance. The Japanese people must know what is going to happen next, at all times. There are even specific laws and procedures in place to help keep a sense of nationalism. The country is very important to the people. Thirdly, there is collectivism. The people have a very strong sense of dependence and a very strong sense of belonging to “the organization” (Onken, 2014). According to a Japanese culture website, due to the social pressures and fear of humiliation, most, if not all decisions are made based on what should be done for the organization in a group environment. Lastly, there is...
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...ßCultural-Competence Assignment Introduction The purpose of this essay is to firstly understand the arguments between McSweeney and Hofstede about national cultures. The argument starts on the Hoftstede’s published book Culture’s Consequences. Hoftstede’s cultural dimensions theory has got popular and in the same time criticised by other scholars, while McSweeney is one of the scholars who have been critising the cultural dimensions on people from different nations. This essay will firstly summarise the ideas and arguments of both of McSweeney and Hofstede in order to develop the understanding about the reasons why they are conflicting with each other on the cultural dimension theories. Following the summary of the two scholars ideas and argument, this essay will discuss the agreement and disagreement of both scholars. Reflection on this course on national culture will be specified as well in order to show whether my personal understanding about culture has been changed or improved. Summary of the ideas and argument of both McSweeney and Hofstede * McSweeney’s argument McSweeney expresses his doubts about Hoftstede’s model of national cultural differences and their consequences. The criticism that McSweeney has on the theory of Hoftstede’s cultural dimensions based on the description of national cultural differences in the Culture’s Consequences published in 1980 (McSweeney, 2002). First of all, the methodology applied in the research of Hoftstede’s model is critised...
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...that having no culture is better than continuing the culture of their ancestors. Ehrenreich is prompted into writing this essay because she was asked about her connections to her heritage. After searching and being unable to find a strong connection, she comes to the conclusion that the culture of none is better and then tries to convince her readers of that. However, “Cultural Baggage” is ineffective because Ehrenreich fails to fulfill her purpose of convincing readers of her claim. She fails to do so because of a lack of logos, ineffective ethos, inconsistencies in her structure, and the alienation of her readers who are proud of their culture. Because of these...
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...Fictive Kinship in Japan: A Summary of Argument This essay will review the use of informal kinship within Japanese culture, as explored by Edward Norbeck and Harumi Befu. Through careful examination I shall analyze the central arguments as presented by Norbeck and Befu, the evidence used to support these arguments, how the evidence and argument complement one another, and the previous training and experience had by the authors that allows them to write a successful article. Together Norbeck and Befu examine how the Japanese use of kinships terms can often give non-relatives the status of relatives. Their process of exploration on this topic of the range for the usage of kinship terms are examined throughout four distinct sections in the article, with subsequent sections found within each. This use of division helps to frame the argument of Norbeck and Befu in a manner that allows the reader to clearly understand the cultural usage of the varying forms of kinship and how it helps to define relationships among people. The first section, “Background Consideration” describes the methods in which Norbeck and Befu gathered information - personal experiences, fieldwork, and thirty informants. Further reading introduces the general rules of kinships and how the method of kinships has been obtained from other cultures. Based on the research conducted by Spier, the Japanese system of classification is similar to that of the one practiced in the Eskimo culture. This questions the idea Young...
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...yet is fully supportive of education in terms of intellectual growth. Staying true to his stance, Graff constructs his hidden intellectual argument that sticks to an everyday, relatable tone associated with banter without compromising his ideas. Graff begins the text using familiar colloquial terms, such as “street-smart”...
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...| L.E. Goodman Analysis | Sherry Casey | SOC 120 | Milagros Baez | 3/11/2013 | | Some religions believe that we are all born of sin and into sin regardless of what culture, race, ethnic identity, or class. The belief is that we all have a sense of what is morally right and the relativity of it. “There are traits, customs, and beliefs that make us distinctive to certain cultures, races, and classes, which due to the differences we all follow, a set of different moral standards. Each culture tackles moral questions based on their own moral beliefs.” (Winter, 2011) Relativism maintains when it comes to right and wrong there is neither, because what is virtuous within a particular individual, culture or societies morality must be understood and taken into consideration (Mosser, 2010). Lenn Goodman brings up arguments that there are certain things that are simply wrong. Some people would agree, if you follow his thinking, yet there will be a few that would present a logical argument that would contradict his arguments. The areas of moral debates that Goodman chose would bring on a mass debate of arguments when it comes to cultures, races, ethic identities, or classes. Within the American society there are a huge amount of different cultures. The cultures all function together and have different beliefs and values. It is these different beliefs and values that make America and interesting place to live. The beliefs of Lenn Goodman are based on the...
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...paper “The Young and the Restless in Trinidad: A Case of the Local and the Global in Mass Consumption" (2002) which is a study on local and global transformation and cultural content in television programming does not fully take into account John Fiske's "Television Culture"(1987) which outlines the codes of images that determine the way we create and understand television; when claiming that society is already pre-disposed to coding cultures and therefore specific coding does not necessarily apply when cultural context is imposed on an audience. Firstly, Fiske and Miller believe that coding is involved in the process of guiding an audience to a meaning. Secondly, they imply that while culture context does manipulate an understanding of meaning, there needs to be an initial adapted code before context comes into play. Both of the articles, published within ten years of one another, are written from a post-modern viewpoint. This means that both authors discuss the general ideology of coding and how it affects the audiences understanding of "meaning". Equally important, both arguments contrast one another. One article breaks down coding and provides clear evidence and supporting details. Meanwhile, though his argument is valid, the other...
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...A visual argument is using an image to make a specific statement. In the world we live in today we are surrounded with visual aids, for example magazines, newspapers, internet ads, and billboards. I think visual arguments are becoming more popular because when done correctly are able to get a point across faster, especially now that we are always looking at some type of technological device like a laptop, cell phone, and television. Also a visual argument gets a point across without having to use too many words, catching the eye of the audience and immediately getting the information across. My operational definition of an effective visual argument is an argument that makes a clear point, must capture the intended audience attention, and evoke an emotion from the viewer(s). The advertisement I chose was about the Coca Cola brand. The ad shows a glass Coca Cola Bottle with pictures of people and things that are iconic/classic to American Culture. Midway through the bottle there is a label, and on the label it is written Coca- Cola Classic. The...
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...09/2012 Cultural appropriation is a concept that seems to carry with it a negative connotation. I think this is understandable since the practice often involves the recognition of certain societal divides, which can be highly sensitive and political. This can make people uncomfortable, and in the context of the arts, it has been known to cause offense. This sensitivity has been used as a superficial counter against cultural appropriation, especially by those who feel their culture is the one being appropriated from. It is an easy argument to apply against artists who appropriate. It makes for a simple stance when an offended party stages a public outcry, helping them to gain traction and visibility in the landscape containing the politics of culture. The case for cultural appropriation in fine art, or at least the one against the censorship of it, takes more effort and time to present because it does not crux on the emotions of those attempting to make an ethical judgment call. It appears that the offense argument has been so convincing as the main reason not to engage in cultural appropriation because it simply feels as though it’s right. If we were to place ourselves in the offended party’s shoes, we might say, “Well, it’s possible we wouldn’t appreciate that sort of act either.” However, if someone wants to make an ethical case against cultural appropriation, the mere fact that it could cause some offense some of the time is simply not enough to label it unethical. This is not...
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