CULTURE: The Way of Life

Culture is a way of life developed and possessed by a group and it is inherited from generation to generation. Culture itself is formed by many complex elements, including politic and religious systems, customs, languages, clothes, appliances, houses, and arts. A language, involving culture, is a part of human being so that many people assume that it is inherited genetically. When a person communicates to other people in different culture and he or she tries to adapt the differences, it proves that the culture itself is still learned.  

Some people know that culture is a pattern of all life. It is complex, abstract and wide. There are so many culture aspects that can determine communicative act. These socio-culture elements are widespread as follows:

Melville J. Herskovits assumes that culture has four basic elements such as technology tools, economical system, family and political power. Bronislaw Malinowski explains that there are four significant elements like social norm system, economical organization, tools and institutions or employee for education, and also power institutions. People should also know that culture has some kinds according to the expert.

J.J. Hoenigman explains that there are three kinds of culture namely idea, activity, and artifacts. Those kinds of culture can be abstract because the culture itself is abstract. Idea is the work of human being that can create and make great work. Activity is the practice that human being does. By doing the activity, people can create work same as idea. And artifacts can be great work that people made.

People should also know that culture can also have several components. They are materials that refer to all products of mass. The example of material itself can be jewelry, weapon and so many others. The second component can be non-material such as abstract product like folktales, traditional dances and songs. The third component is social institution as a tool of communication to other people. Next is belief system that can influence people’s behavior, way of life and so on. Then, Aesthetics as the kind of components like music, drama and so many others. The last is language that can be a media to communicate. Language can be different in every country even area or district.