Griswold’s concept of “Culture” from a sociological viewpoint Essay

Griswold explored the concept of culture by two different perspectives, namely through the humanities and anthropologys viewpoint. With reference to different philosophers interpretation of culture, Griswold defines culture broadly as a complex whole, including everything in a social world. Since culture and social world argon related to achieve a fuller understanding of culture, we have to examine the connection in the midst of them, and how the two come together. The conceptual tool she uses to investigate the connections between cultures and societies are the cultural object, and the cultural diamond. Cultural objects are given meanings divided up by members of the culture, and it is through those meanings that those objects are linked to the social worlds. Therefore, we need to decipher how the meanings came by- Griswold introduces and compares different versions of reproof theory in functionalism, Marxism and Weberian Sociology, whereby culture is seen as a reflection of soci al life, or vice versa.The mirror theory is based on the assumption that culture is the mirror of social reality, reflecting the social world. This is an idea central to the functionalist and red reflective theory however, she points out that while they share the same reflection model, the essence of the two is opposites. Under Marxs view, everything, even human consciousness, starts from and has the history as a product of human labor (homo faber). Culture is a concept largely based on the material forces of production and economic foundation of a society. This historical materialism , and the production relations of society is the true root of culture, therefore , it is the social being that determines mens existence.However, for Functionalism, culture is based on mutual interdependence of one another to meet the needs of a society. Every component in a society is reflective of others. There are no class struggles, as opposed to Marxist theory. As for Webers view of the mirror th eory, Weber takes into account that the culture and society kindred is two- way social actions reflects cultural meanings. He argues that while material interests are still being pursued, the way men pursued their interests shows cultural causes in his illustrious switchman metaphor.The above modern sociological theories illustrates now culture is related, in many different ways, to the social world. Modern music is an physical exercise illustrating how societal actions reflects our ever-changing culture- music has always been a vehicle by which we express our values. In recent years, lyrics containing profanity or vulgar language are so greenness and are very popular among youngsters. It reflects that our culture has became more outspoken and less censorious. Conservatism is no longer something valued. Take another example- women these days are obsess with slimming as thin is now commonly regarded as beautiful. Women would go at great lengths to achieve their ideal body shape, just to conform to social pressures. This is an example showing how social phenomena can reflect culture, even though this culture is not necessarily beneficial to the society.BibliographyGriswold, Wendy. 2004. Cultures and Societies in a CHanging World. CA languish Froge Press. Selections.