A.J. Tallo
Culminating Assessment
Examine Culture as Dynamic and Contested:
Culture is constructed by the individuals in each certain area. It exists no matter what. As long as people are alive culture will be an existing concept that is only changed by the ideologies of the people within each culture. There is an endless amount of sub cultures within each culture. Then there are sub cultures that are even smaller existing within the original sub cultures. You cannot change culture because it is something that only changes with the majority of the people. It has so many aspects to it that it s ever changing and morphing. Every second something about a culture is changing. It may be through different types of education or realization. But at the same time cultures are know for the practices they have stuck with since the culture was started and will always carry on. This is what distinguishes one culture from another. Each has set ideas beliefs, and practices that make other cultures look upon in disagreement. These differences are so contested by other cultures that since the start it has caused for segregation, racism, hatred, and in worst case scenarios: war. I have learned since the Mid – Term of this course a lot more about Culture as a Dynamic or and culture being contested. In the second half of the course we learned about a lot of intercultural issues such as understandings, disagreements, and cultural norms. Many cultures have different customs and ways of doing things. There are a lot of easy mistakes one can make when communicating with one of another culture. We learned about how to deal with these things and how to become more open and effectively communicate with other cultures. There are a lot of things one can do. But he most important is the understanding of these so-called “norms”. It is important to learn cultures norms before trying to experience it. Also be careful of certain hand gestures as well as other actions that one culture may find offensive although yours does not. The main idea is openness and communication between races and cultures.
Critically examine paradigm shifts in understanding culture:
People around the globe believe they understand everything there is to know about each culture and at the same time say that their original culture is the best suit for them. No one person understands the various amounts of cultures our earth has to offer. There is much education being offered worldwide on cultures of the planet but understanding culture means more than being educated on it. There is much to know about each cultures beliefs and practices yet the only way to know is actually live a life in each culture for an extended period of time. To walk in one’s shoes in each culture is the only true way of understanding everything one must know. People have rapid changes in their view of cultures. The media and news may lead one to believe certain things about a country or culture. Our understandings of cultures are changing all the time as we have new biases and information that leads us to believe things about a culture that very well not be true. Stereotypes may be true in some cases but in the end there is a lot more truth than we can know about each individual culture. There are many paradigm shifts in cultures. Cultures vary in many ways. Since the mid term assessment to now (end of the semester) our class has been taught a lot more about these shifts in culture and the things that come out of it. Many of these differences occur in culture’s educational systems and that was our focus as a class. Different nations have different roles and reasons in their systems of educating their youth. Some countries use a top-down approach which can be considered a closed approach. Other nations use a cooperative approach with students. These different approaches somewhat resemble the philosophy of each nations its foreign affairs or other doings in political matters.
Analyze variability and heterogeneity within and across cultures:
Each culture has many differences within itself. Many people of the same culture have totally opposite views and ideologies. They may have different religions, philosophies, and worldly outlooks. America is a prime example of these variables in a culture. A melting pot of people of all types and cultures who have come together in a country and formed a large mainstream culture. Is it possible that part of the reason America’s values and activities are taken in by people worldwide is because we have a culture that encompasses all cultures? It may be possible. There are such dynamics and differences in each cultures that every single one has variability’s that are unimaginable. It is obviously foolish to group a culture together as all being very similar to each other. People vary themselves, everyone is different and if we weren’t then there would be no such thing as culture or variability in culture itself. The variability in culture is extremely vast. There are such a large amount of cultures that exist in the world today, and subcultures existing within those. The ideas, and philosophies of all of these groups can vary in such a large way. Western cultures have obviously different values than that of Europe or Asia. But within each there are nations that uphold certain values and beliefs. Within each nation there are religious groups and other types of groups that also hold their own cultural beliefs, values, teachings, and traditions. Each culture is different, but every culture has subcultures within it so it can be hard to group a large culture together as having the exact same beliefs and value systems.
Engage in reflexivity about their own culture and identity:
Being an American I have so many dynamics to my culture. I have multiple cultures one could say. There is the idea that we are all part of the American culture here in this country. This American culture can be viewed in a positive or negative light around the globe. As an American you also have a background culture. Wherever your family is from is one of your sub cultures. And also, every person is involved in very much smaller cultures in their communities and local areas. Each of these has different view and some may even be opposite ones. Its not about what culture was given to you at your birth, as much as it is important to know what aspects of each culture you would like to carry on or take part in. I myself, am an Italian – American. Although I only carry out some cultural aspects of my family’s Italian heritage it is my blood and therefore my culture. As an American I take part in everyday actions that an outsider would see as American aspect. However I don’t even notice since I am so used to this culture and the lifestyle that comes along with it. Also every group or organization I take part in is my culture as well. For instance being a college student makes me part of a college culture that exist within other larger cultures. I take small parts of each of these cultures that I truly believe in and make my own set of beliefs and practices I follow. I think the majority of people do the same thing although many do not think about it. You should be able to see your cultural identity for what it is but through what I have learned the most important thing is the idea of global citizenship. Understanding that you are not so different from other cultures and countries from around the world. Everyone should identify a part of his or her culture as being a global citizen. It is not any easier now that it is the end of the course to engage in reflexivity of one’s own cultural values, norms, and beliefs. This was a main point around teachings in the first half o the semester as well as in the readings we were required to do. I still fell very similar about beliefs as I did before and have no problem engaging in reflexivity of my own culture. But since last time, I have learned to engage in reflexivity about other’s cultures. This came through learning a lot more about other cultures and their beliefs. Also, we learned a great deal about where certain cultures get their belief systems and philosophies from, and why. It is easier for me to understand an educational system of one’s culture and how it differs from mine when you can better understand a culture as whole including its history. These are tools one can use to push prejudices or dislikes of another’s culture aside and see it for what it is. Skills like these can also help you to be more open; in turn you can learn another culture’s norms and practices easier and in a better mindset than many would.
Eastern’s Global Citizenship experiences have given me a great deal of new understanding when it comes to world cultures and beliefs. Through many campus events and our International Cross-Cultural Education class I have learned a great deal about these topics. It has helped me to be more understanding and aware of other cultures and what each and every one has to bring to the table. They all offer something different and I would not be able to take advantage of this if I had never got these experiences through our class and experiences the school has provided. I have learned how to communicate more effectively with a variety of other cultures to share my knowledge, as well as learn what they have to teach me. These experiences have been eye opening and educational to a point where you can cross barriers to be able to gain knowledge in ways one may never have done before. I have learned to be a “Global Citizen”, as opposed to just a citizen of my nation, for the first time in my life. I owe it to cultural experiences I have gone through in this course and Eastern’s global citizenship experiences that have been offered to me.
A.J. Tallo 