Cultural Analysis uses qualitative research methods in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. In particular, this method uses ethnography and anthropology, to collect data on cultural phenomena and to interpret cultural representations and practices. This analysis attempt to understand and map trends, influences, and effects, within cultures.

Cultural Analysis

Cultural Studies analyze the political dynamics of contemporary culture, such as "pop culture" and its historical basis. Cultural studies researchers review how cultural practices connect to wider systems of power associated with or operating through, social phenomena, including ideology, class structures, national formations, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and generation.

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Culture encompasses the beliefs, customs, art, and traditions of a society. It is passed down to individuals through language and by modeling behaviors that are deemed culturally acceptable, which are often reinforced through social rewards or punishments.

Culture

This theory examines and critiques societies and cultures and looks at social issues and structures that lead to inequality. It identifies the people who can suppress this inequality and outlines the steps needed to reach human liberation. 

Critical Theory

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Reference of Foundations of Large Language Models Course

In an easy culture many goals are attainable and accepted as valuable by society. A tough culture has less less attainable goals and fewer methods of achieving those goals.  

Tough vs. Easy Cultures

Cultures that emphasize achievement tend to promote success at a young age and show high levels of industrialization. For example, in the United States, the common children's, "The Little Engine who Could" promotes achievement. Cultures that promote affiliation place a larger emphasis love and connection throughout the lifespan. 

Achievement vs. Affiliation 

Tight cultures expect small amounts of deviation from typical behaviors/norms. Tight cultures are often seen in areas ethnically homogeneous areas such as Hong Kong. Loose cultures are more accepting of behaviors outside of the norm. Loose cultures are often found in diverse areas such as the US or Australia. 

Tight vs. Loose Cultures

Cultures that place an emphasis on the head promote ideas such as creativity, critical thinking, curiosity, and learning. Examples of a "head" culture include Los Angeles and San Fransisco. "Heart" cultures place a larger emphasis on traits such as gratitude, hope, love, and fairness. An example of a culture with a large emphasis on heart would be Miami. 

Head vs. Heart Cultures

-  Cultures high on dignity tend to emphasize individual values in their own self rather than value from others. Dignity focuses on internal strengths and fits well with market economies. Example: United States


-  Cultures with honor exist in areas with lower government and policing of citizens. Without strong police and laws, citizens must protect themselves and their families. Example: Latin American countries


-  Cultures of face are seen in  areas with hierarchy and cooperation. Citizens protect one another's image and and obey authority figures. Example: Japan or China. 

Honor, Face, and Dignity 

To what extent do people who are less powerful in that society accept the inequality of power?

Power-distance

How strict the gender roles are and what they prescribe.

Gender Roles

The extent to which a culture's attitude towards risky situations is anxious.

Uncertainty avoidance

Awareness and appreciation of the values, norms, and beliefs characteristic of a cultural, ethnic, racial, or another group that is not one’s own, accompanied by a willingness to adapt one’s behavior accordingly. 

Cultural Sensitivity

Cultural Studies

Focuses on investigating cultural variation, beliefs, and social/cognitive organization among humans. Studies how culture organizes and shapes the world and how humans are shaped by their environment.

Cultural Anthropology 

Globalization is a process of economic, political, and cultural integration that is occurring between countries and peoples around the world. It is driven by advancements in technology, communication, transportation, and trade, and is leading to increased interdependence, cross-border transactions, and the spread of ideas and cultures.

Globalization

The cultural perspective considers culture to be one of the most important environmental factors in shaping personality. It explores how both universal and culture-specific elements contribute to personality development and diversity, questioning the universal applicability of theories developed in a single cultural context, such as the West.

Cultural Perspective in Personality

Collectivism and individualism represent two contrasting cultural frameworks that emphasize different core values. Individualist cultures, common in Western nations like the United States, England, and Australia, prioritize independence, competition, and personal achievement. In contrast, collectivist cultures, prevalent in Asia, Africa, and South America, place a higher value on social harmony, respectfulness, and the needs of the group over individual desires.

Collectivism vs. Individualism

Read the following scenario and analyze how cultural norms are being transmitted. In your response, identify the specific norm being taught, the method of transmission, and the form of reinforcement used.

Analyzing Cultural Transmission

A child named Kai is at a community gathering and reaches to take food from a shared platter with their hands. Kai's grandmother gently stops them, explaining, 'In our family, we always use the serving utensils first to show respect for others.' She then hands Kai the serving tongs and smiles when Kai uses them. Later, Kai's parent praises them, saying, 'I was so proud to see you using the tongs today.' Which statement best analyzes how culture is being transmitted in this situation?

The process of listening and considering ideas from as many perspectives as possible to reason a conclusion and inform an strategic academic plan. 

Critical Inquiry Theory in Education

Learning science an interdisciplinary field that works to further our understanding of learning as well as to engage in the design and implementation of learning innovations. Contributing fields include cognitive science, computer science, educational psychology, anthropology, and applied linguistics. 

Learning Science

Critical Race Theory is an interdisciplinary movement made up of activists and scholars working to understand and change the relationships between race, racism, and power. 

Critical Race Theory (CRT)

Queer theory is a field of critical theory that can include different meanings, but most broadly referes to a lens that centers the abnormal (the queer) in order to demonstrate the socially constructed boundaries of the normal. 

Queer theory

Critical Practices in Literature 

A major critique of the current disability studies discipline relates to its essentialist and binary approach to understanding disability and the subjective disability experience. 

Disability Studies and Intersectionality


The critical perspective emerged in the 1970's with roots in Black Feminism. 

History of Critical Perspective in Disabillity Studies

Black feminist thought understands race to play a role in whether society labels an individual as a woman. Thus, the term intersectionality was coined in 1989 to explain how power and status contribute to social organization and understanding. 


19th Century Black Feminist History Influenced the Inception of Intersectionality 

Intersectionality examines the experiences of people who are experiencing discrimination on the basis of two or more marginalized identities at the same time, and how this differs from experiencing discrimnination on the basis of these identities individually.  Because of this depending on context, we all have areas where we experience privilege, as well as areas of oppression

For example, the stereotypes or preconceived notions held about black women are not merely a combination of those held about black people and those held about women, but a unique intersection of racism and sexism that black women experience differently from either black men or white women.

Intersectionality

Disability studies resaerch often neglects the presence of an individual's identity which can have major influence over their subjective reality and reinforces oppressive systems. 

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