Meaning and Characteristics of Culture

Culture refers to the pattern of human activity and the symbols, which give significance
to this activity. Culture is represented through the art, literature, costumes, customs and
traditions of a community. Different cultures exist in different parts of the world. The
natural environment greatly affects the lifestyle of the people of that region, thus
shaping their culture. The diversity in the cultures around the world is also a result of
the mindsets of people inhabiting different regions of the world.

The word 'culture' that hails from the Latin word, 'cultura' derived from ‘colere’, means,
'to cultivate'. Hence the way in which the minds of the masses inhabiting a particular
region are cultivated, in some way determines the culture of a region.

However, the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:

• Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high

culture

• An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behaviour that depends

upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning

• The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an
institution, organization, or group

McGrew suggests a definition of culture that he finds scientifically useful for studying
primate culture. He points out that scientists do not have access to the subjective
thoughts or knowledge of non-human primates. Thus, if culture is defined in terms of
knowledge, then scientists are severely limited in their attempts to study primate
culture. Instead of defining culture as a kind of knowledge, McGrew suggests that we
view culture as a process. He lists six steps in the process:

• A new pattern of behaviour is invented, or an existing one is modified.

• The innovator transmits this pattern to another.

• The form of the pattern is consistent within and across performers, perhaps even
in terms of recognizable stylistic features.

• The one who acquires the pattern retains the ability to perform it long after
having acquired it.

• The pattern spreads across social units in a population. These social units may be
families, clans, troops, or bands.

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• The pattern endures across generations.

Culture refers to the pattern of human activity and the symbols that give significance to
these activities. Culture manifests itself in terms of the art, literature, costumes,
customs, language, religion and religious rituals. The people and their pattern of life
make up the culture of a region. Cultures vary in the different parts of the world. They
are different across the land boundaries and the diversity in cultures results in the
diversity in people around the world. Culture also consists of the system of beliefs held
by the people of the region, their principles of life and their moral values. The patterns
of behaviour of the people of a particular region also form a part of the region's culture.

(a) Elements of Culture

Culture of any society consists of following elements:

(i) Artifacts
Artifacts are the physical things that are found that have particular symbolism for
a culture. They may even be endowed with mystical properties. The first products
of a company. Prizes won in grueling challenges and so on are all artifacts.

Artifacts can also be more everyday objects, such as the bunch of flowers in
reception. The main thing is that they have special meaning. The purpose of
artifacts are as reminders and triggers. When people in the culture see them, they
think about their meaning and hence are reminded of their identity as a member
of the culture, and, by association, of the rules of the culture. Artifacts may also
be used in specific rituals. Mosques and churches do this, of course. But so also do
organizations.

(ii) Stories, Histories, Myths, Legends, Jokes

Culture is often embedded and transmitted through stories, whether they are
deep and obviously intended as learning devices, or whether they appear more
subtly, for example in humor and jokes.
A typical story includes a bad guy (often shady and unnamed) and a good guy
(often the founder or a prototypical cultural member). There may also be an
innocent. The story evolves in a classic format, with the bad guy being spotted and
vanquished by the good guy, with the innocent being rescued and learning the
greatness of the culture into the bargain.

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 Sometimes there stories are true. Sometimes nobody knows. Sometimes there
are elaborations on a relatively simple truth. The power of the stories are in when
and how they are told, and the effect they have on their recipients.

(iii) Rituals, Rites, Ceremonies, Celebrations

Rituals are processes or sets of actions which are repeated in specific
circumstances and with specific meaning.

They may be used in such as rites of passage, such as when someone is promoted
or retires. They may be associated with company events such as the release of a
new event. Whatever the circumstance, the predictability of the rituals and the
seriousness of the meaning all combine to sustain the culture.

(iv) Heroes
Heroes in a culture are named people who act as prototypes, or idealized
examples, by which cultural members learn of the correct or ‘perfect’ behaviour.

The classic heroes are the founders of the organization, who are often portrayed
as much whiter and perfect than they actually are or were. In stories they
symbolize and teach people the ideal behaviours and norms of the culture.

(v) Symbols and Symbolic Action

Symbols, like artifacts, are things which act as triggers to remind people in the
culture of its rules, beliefs, etc. They act as a shorthand way to keep people
aligned.

Symbols can also be used to indicate status within a culture. This includes
clothing, office décor and so on. Status symbols signal to others to help them use
the correct behaviour with others in the hierarchy. They also lock in the users of
the symbols into prescribed behaviours that are appropriate for their status and
position.

(vi) Beliefs, Assumptions and Mental Models

An organization and culture will often share beliefs and ways of understanding the
world. This helps smooth communications and agreement, but can also become
fatal blinkers that blind everyone to impending dangers.

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(vii) Attitudes
Attitudes are the external displays of underlying beliefs that people use to signal
to other people of their membership. This includes internal members (look: I'm
conforming to the rules. Please don't exclude me).
Attitudes also can be used to give warning, such as when a street gang member
eyes up a member of the public. By using a long hard stare, they are using national
cultural symbolism to indicate their threat.

(viii) Rules, Norms, Ethical Codes, Values

The norms and values of a culture are effectively the rules by which its members
must abide, or risk rejection from the culture (which is one of the most feared
sanctions known). They are embedded in the artifacts, symbols, stories, attitudes,
and so on.

(b) Importance of Culture

The cultural values of a community give it an identity of its own. A community
gains a character and a personality of its own, because of the culture of its people.
Culture is shared by the members of a community. It is learned and passed from
the older generations to the newer ones. For an effective transfer of culture from
one generation to another, it has to be translated into symbols. Language, art and
religion serve as the symbolic means of transfer of cultural values between
generations.

Culture is a bond that ties the people of a region or community together. It is that
one common bond, which brings the people of a community together. The
customs and traditions that the people of a community follow, the festivals they
celebrate, the kind of clothing they wear, the food they eat, and most
importantly, the cultural values they adhere to, bind them together.

Culture is seen as a system of social control, wherein people shape their standards
and behaviour. The cultural values form the founding principles of one's life. They
influence one's principles and philosophies of life. They influence one's way of
living and thus impact social life.

The importance of culture lies in the fact that it is a link between people and their
value systems.

(c) Characteristics of Culture

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Culture is shared, by which we mean that every culture is shared by a group of
people. Depending on the region they live in, the climatic conditions they thrive in
and their historical heritage, they form a set of values and beliefs. This set of their
principles of life shapes their culture. No culture belongs to an individual. It is
rather shared among many people of a certain part of the world. It belongs to a
single community and not to any single human being.

Culture is learned. The members of a culture share certain ideals, which shape
their lives. Generations learn to follow these ideals and principles. Culture
propagates through generations, which adopt their old customs and traditions as
a part of their culture. The ideals they base their lives on is a part of their culture.
Cultural values are imparted from one generation to another, thus resulting in a
continual of traditions that are a part of culture. The language, the literature and
the art forms pass across generations. Culture is learned, understood and adopted
by the younger generations of society. No individual is born with a sense of
his/her culture. He/she has to learn it.

What are the elements of culture? The language, other forms of expression as
also the thoughts and emotions of the people, their social and cultural norms,
their principles and beliefs are the basic elements of culture. For an effective
transfer of culture from one generation to another, it has to be translated in
terms of symbols, which represent the cultural values of a community. Language,
art and religion form the system of symbols that render a deep meaning to
culture.

Despite the efforts of the older generations to transfer their cultural values to the
forthcoming generations, many tend to remain unaware of their culture. People
are often found to have an incomplete knowledge of their culture. People seldom
know their culture completely.

A gradual change is characteristic to almost every culture. Cultures are subject to

change. Culture loses some of its traits and gains new ones. The aspects of culture
that change vary across societies. With the passage of time, new technologies
emerge, new modes of work come up, social thinking undergoes transitions and
so does culture. Every culture changes in time although the rate of change of
every culture varies.

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 It is well established fact that no culture can remain in isolation. There is hardly
any social community that is completely isolated from the rest of the world. Every
culture hence, is mostly influenced by cultures of the surrounding regions.
Cultural values are prone to be affected by the values of communities in close
vicinity. The cultures, which emerged during the same periods of time often, show
certain similarities. Modern times have witnessed an intermix of cultures. Cultures
are blended together giving rise to shared cultures.

Activity:
Identify general elements of culture and compare it with the elements of
Pakistani culture.

1.5 Cultural Diversity

What is cultural diversity? Diversity is nothing more than a difference from the majority.
In any culture there is a majority and many minorities. Culture is a set of norms that set
standards for a society of what is acceptable behaviour.

In every culture there are basic standards for social interaction such as personal space
distance, eye contact, amount of body language displayed in public, negotiating style,
etc. Cultural diversity makes our country richer by making it a more interesting place in
which to live. Cultural diversity also makes our country stronger and better able to
compete in the new global economy. People from diverse cultures bring language skills,
new ways of thinking, and creative solutions to difficult problems and negotiating skills.

Cultural diversity is the quality of diverse or different cultures, as opposed to

monoculture, as in the global monoculture, or a homogenization of cultures, akin to
cultural decay. The phrase cultural diversity can also refer to having different cultures
respect each other's differences. The phrase cultural diversity is sometime misused to
mean the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as a
whole; but these phenomenon are multiculturalism rather than cultural diversity. The
culturally destructive action of globalization is often said to have a negative effect on the
world's cultural diversity.

The many separate societies that emerged around the globe differed markedly from
each other, and many of these differences persist to this day. As well as the more
obvious cultural differences that exist between people, such as language, dress and
traditions, there are also significant variations in the way societies organize themselves,
in their shared conception of morality, and in the ways they interact with their
environment.
Cultural diversity can be seen as analogous to biodiversity.

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Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only in respect of economic
growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral
and spiritual life. This is captured in the seven culture conventions, which provide a solid
basis for the promotion of cultural diversity. Cultural diversity is thus an asset that is
indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development.

At the same time, acceptance and recognition of cultural diversity – in particular

through innovative use of media and ICTs – are conducive to dialogue among
civilizations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding.

Cultural diversity is when we have people from different countries who of course have
different beliefs, speak different languages, male and female living and working together
peacefully.

Cultural diversity is a term used to mean that a group or area contains people from
many different cultures and backgrounds. These areas are considered diverse because
everyone is unique and different.
(a) Importance of Cultural Diversity:
• Culture is important because it is what makes a society unique. For example,
this could include a certain religion or type of clothing. Each of these things
is unique to a culture. The beauty of culture is its diversity which alives the
culture

• Cultural diversity is important because our country, our workplaces and our
schools include persons of various ethnics groups and interests. We can
learn from one another, but first we must have a level of understanding
about one another in order to work together effectively. Cultural diversity
training also helps people to dispel negative stereotypes about one another.
• Diversity is important because it provides our society and culture with
unique and inspirational perspectives. Diversity can create new ideas and
changes that can be beneficial to a society, or even the world.
• Diversity is important to get over our little mindedness because of the
cultural and religious differences it brings. Socializing with someone of a
different culture and or different religion brings about a better
understanding of it. The more we understand other cultures and religions,
the more tolerant we become.

• Cultural diversity is important because it affects everyone and their lifestyle,

guiding beliefs and basic assumptions about life.
• Diversity is extremely important in school because it really benefits the
students that attend the school. Students need to see the importance of
other cultures.
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 • Diversity is important because it provides society with a unique perspective
and new ideas. With diversity, different opinions can be voiced and
beneficial changes can be made through the simple inspiration of diversity.

Activity:
Conduct an interview with teachers in your institution about importance of
cultural diversity and highlight the factors affecting it in our society.

1.6 Culture and Cultural Elements of Pakistani Society

Pakistan came into existence on August, 14, 1947 from British Rule. Its population in
2009 was about 174.58 million with an area of 340, 499 sq mi (Britannica.com, 2010).
Islam is the major religion of the people of Pakistan. It is a Muslim dominated country
with 95 percent Muslim and only 5 percent others. However, being a pathway to many
military conquests in the history, it has given birth to several ethnic groups. The
interaction between invaders and the locals had given birth to a common language
called Urdu; however the locals kept their particular ethnic and cultural values alive. The
society and culture of Pakistan comprises numerous diverse cultures and ethnic groups:
the Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis in east, Muhajirs, Makrani in the south; Baloch and
Pashtun in the west; and the ancient Dardic, Wakhi and Burusho communities in the
north. These Pakistani cultures have been greatly influenced by many of the surrounding
countries' cultures, such as the Turkic peoples, Persian, Arab, some parts of South Asia,
Central Asia and the Middle East (UNESCO World Heritage State Parties Pakistan
Retrieved 09 July 2010).

In ancient times, Pakistan was a major cultural hub. Many cultural practices and great
monuments have been inherited from the time of the ancient rulers of the region. One
of the greatest cultural influences was that of the Persian Empire, of which Pakistan was
a part. In fact, the Pakistani satraps were at one time the richest and most productive of
the massive Persian Empire. Other key influences include the Afghan Empire, Mughal
Empire and later, the short lived but influential, the British Empire.

Pakistani society is largely multilingual, multi-ethnic and multicultural. Though cultures

within the country differ to some extent, more similarities than differences can be
found, as most Pakistanis are mainly of Aryan heritage or have coexisted side by side
along the Indus River for several thousand years, or both. However, over 60 years of
integration, a distinctive "Pakistani" culture has sprung up, especially in the urban areas
where many of the diverse ethnic groups have coexisted and the country now having a
literacy rate of 55%, up from 3% at the time of independence. Traditional family values
are highly respected and considered sacred, although urban families increasingly form

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nuclear families, owing to socio-economic constraints imposed by the traditional culture
of the extended family.

Pakistani Culture is very unique in terms of its social and ethical values. These values are
something which are given due importance. This culture revolves around the religion of
Islam which teaches equality among every human being that exists on this planet.
Pakistan’s culture is very diverse. Pakistani culture has the following elements:
1. Islamic Values
Pakistani culture is actually a part of the contemporary Islamic civilization which
draws its value and traditions from Islam and rich Islamic history. Majority of
population comprises of Muslims and follows teachings of Islam, i-e., belief in one
Allah, Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad P.B.U.H, brotherhood, equality and
social justice etc. Islam is religion of peace and patience. Pakistani society is very
cooperative. National calendar is marked by religious days which are observed
with great devotion.

2. Religious Festivals
Festivals play an important part of our culture. Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha are our
two main religious festivals .They are celebrated with great happiness throughout
the country.

3. National and Regional Languages

Pakistan is a large country which comprises of four provinces, the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Federally Administered Northern Areas
(FANA). All of these component parts have their own regional languages. As such
Punjabi, Pashtu, Sindhi, Balochi, Barohi and Kashmiri are regional languages.
However, Urdu is the national language which is spokin and understood in all
parts of the country.

4. Mixed Culture
Practically speaking Pakistani culture is a beautiful blend of the Punjabi, Sindhi,
Pathan, Baluchi, Barohi, Seraiki and Kashmiri cultures. In addition, the presence of
Hindu community in Sindh gives touches of dance and music in the Sindhi region.
The Hindus sing Bhejan but Pakistani culture has adopted Qawwali which is a
praise of the Holy Prophet P.B.U.H.

5. Rich Literature
Pakistani culture is rich in the literatures of Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Baruhi,

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 Baluchi and Kashmiri languages. Urdu literature boasts of the masterpieces of
Maulana Azad, Iqbal, Shibli, Hali, Ghalib, Agha Hashar, Manto and Faiz whereas
the Punjabi literature stands out with great names like Waris Shah, Sultan Bahu,
Ghulam Farid, Bulhay Shah and Shah Hussain etc. Similarly, Sindhi literature
glitters with the masterpieces of Shah Abdul Latif, Sachal Sarmast, Shah Qadir
Bakhsh, and Faqir Nabi Bakhsh. The Pushto literature also boasts of names like
Sheikh Saleh, Raghoon Khan, Akhund dardeeza, Khushal Khan Khattak and
Rahman Baba. The Baluchi literature comprises of masterpieces of Jam Durk,
Muhammad Ali, Zahoor Shah Hashmi, Ghani Parvez, Hasrat Baluch, Abbas Ali Zemi
and Aziz Bugti etc.

6. Male Dominated Society

Pakistani society is dominated by male members. Each family is headed by the
senior most male member who is responsible for arranging the bread and butter
of the family.

7. Variety of Dresses

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 Pakistani culture is rich in variety of dresses: The people of Punjab, the Pathans KPK, the Baluchi
people and the Sindhis wear their own distinct dresses. These dresses are very colorful and
prominent and give attractive look during national fairs and festivals.

8. Fairs and Festivals

The culture of Pakistan has great tradition of fairs and festivals. These fairs are held in all parts of
the country. Moreover, annual urs of great saints are held to commemorate their anniversaries.
On these occasions, fairs are also held in which people take part in great numbers. Out of these
the Horse and Cattle shows of Lahore, Mianwali and Sibi are famous wheseas the Polo festival fo
Gilgit is prominent at national and international level. Moreover annual urs of Hazrat Daata Ganj
Bakhsh, Madhu Lal Hussain, Baba Bulhay Shah, Baba Farid Gunj Shakar, Baba Gulu Shah, Pir
Jamaat Ali Shah, Abdul Latif Bhitaii, Hazrat Noshah Ganj Bakhsh, Bari Imam, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar,
and Bahauddin Zakriya are celebrated with great fervour.

9. Sports
Pakistani people are great lovers of sports and games. Modern games like hockey, cricket,
football, badminton, squash, table tennis and lawn tennis are played throughout the country. In
addition wrestling, boxing, and athletics are also very popular among masses. Pakistan has
produced great sportsmen in the past. These include Bholu in Wrestling, Hanif, Miandad, Imran,
Wasim Akram, and Inzamam in cricket, Shehnaz sheikh, Islahuddin, Khalid Mahmood, Akhtar
Rasool, and Munir Dar in hockey and Jahangir, Jansher in squash.

10. Handicrafts
Pakistan enjoys great distinction in handicrafts at international level. Wooden furniture of Chiniot,
sports goods of Sialkot and embroidery of Multan and Hyderabad is world famous.

11. Arts and Architecture

The iconoclasm of Islam has given a characteristic form and pattern in the use of elegant designs,
based on geometric figures and floral forms borrowed from nature. The Shah Jahan
Masjid,Shalimar Garden,Badshahi Masjid,Shahi Qila and many such graceful buildings are a living
proof of the exellent Mughal architecture.

12. Recreational Activities-Sports

The recreational activities all over the Pakistan are common. The games like wrestling, hockey,
cricket, football, squash, Kabaddi etc are popular in every part of our country. These games reflect
our cultural identity.

13. Education
Education contributes a great deal in developing national character. Educational system plays a
vital role in the formation of culture, unity and solidarity of a nation. it is ,therefore, important
that the entire syllabi right from the lower to higher level should be placed in accordance with the
ideology of Pakistan.

14. Ulema,Mushaikh and Sufi Poets

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 Ulema,Mashaikh and Sufi Poets occupy an honoured place in our cultural aspect life. Sufis like Lal
Shahbaz,Data Ganj Baksh,Shah Abdul Lateef,Sachal Sarmast,Hazrat Sultan Bahu and Waris Shah
rendered meritorious services for the spread of Islam in the Sub Continent.

CONCLUSION
Culture which includes religion, literature art, architecture, dresses, music manners and customs has its
roots in the Islamic culture Islam has described the rights and duties of every individual. Even in drinking,
eating and dressing, we have to observe certain rules prescribed by Islam. So it may be said that
Pakistani culture represents the true picture of Islamic culture.

Activity:
Discuss with your parents about the customs of your family and enlist positive and
negative aspects of your family customs and traditions.

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