WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT CULTURE?

Most of what the Ethnicity project has been doing is preserving and developing brocade patterns from ethnic minorities in Vietnam, which are typical products representing the culture and identity of these communities. that ethnic group. Looking ahead and in general, Ethnicity is doing work that is directly related to the phrase "culture". That's why, through this article, the project wishes to share the core perspectives on culture, also open an opportunity to talk and with you to understand deeply and better understand this big concept. .

What is culture?

Cultures are intellectual products and works of art in a special way

Culture is a difficult concept to fully define for the early scholars in the study of culture; though it goes hand-in-hand with people's lives day by day, from the time when the first communities built up human civilization. According to the study Culture & Anarchy by scholar Matthew Arnold in 1867, culture is a phrase that evokes intellectual products and works of art in a special way. This concept is more related to objects of fine art, such as the Easter statue and the movement of paintings and photographs in the art world, so the term is still limited to describing other aspects. also considered as “culture”.

Culture manifests a complex synthesis

In 1870, this concept was added by Edward Tylor through the study of Primitive Culture with many aspects and more detailed descriptions of the characteristics of human life activities. Culture represents a complex complex consisting of knowledge, beliefs, morals, laws, arts, customs, or any other abilities and habits acquired by man, he argued. how to be a member of society.

Culture - characteristics from different communities of people, in different places

Finally, this concept was emphasized and supplemented by Franz Boas in 1950 that culture also refers to characteristics from different communities of people, in different places. At the same time, culture should not be measured and compared as inferior or superior to any other culture, all cultures are equally valuable to people belonging to that culture's community.

Is culture immutable?

Seeing a product from culture, we understand the patterns and values of a community because it reflects the way a society works, and interprets the characteristics of life directly. . That's why we, the "young" people (compared to the age of a culture) have certain interests and desire to be exposed to and inherit the great cultures of our predecessors. However, there are few cultures that still retain its character after thousands of years, over hundreds of generations.

Cultural 'extinction'

Consider cases of cultural extinction, which are cases where

(1) there are no successive generations or

(2) later generations do not want to continue the culture and gradually adapt to another culture.

As an example in linguistics - an important aspect of culture, there are 25 languages ​​that have been completely extinct in the timeline since 2010 and most recently March 2021, the Mednyj Aleutian language Eskimo Aleut in Russia - Reasons include the reasons mentioned above.

Traditional culture in modern times

Then, the big question is: Should we innovate and change the traditions, customs, and cultural products from hundreds of generations so that those cultures can adapt to life? Our modern? And if cultural change is to a deformed degree, is it still considered culture?

Ethnicity believes that these questions are big questions, and that there may not be the most accurate answers to them yet. However, Ethnicity wants to express its deep sympathy in the continuation, preservation and promotion of products from these cultures. One of the biggest concerns of the project through running Ethnicity every day is how to preserve the culture, applying the unique brocade pattern in the current context - when culture is a powerful entity, and can also be fragile for the same amount of time.

Culture can be fostered, but can also be lost if it is not continued to be mentioned and used in our lives. But that is not an excuse to ignore the preservation and development of culture. Ethnicity is still working hard on vectorizing patterns, raising awareness and inspiring you about brocade patterns, a typical cultural product of ethnic minorities in Vietnam.

#Ethnicity #EthnicityVietnam #Ethnicminorities #Ethnicminoritysbrocade #vanhoahocthuat

Reference sources:

Oatey, HS 2012, 'What is culture', A compilation of quotations, GlobalPeople Core Concept Compilations, <www.warwick.ac.uk/globalknowledge>.

Hobsbawm, EJ & Ranger, TO 1983, 'The Invention of Tradition', pp. 1-14, Cambridge University Press, New York.

Ethnicity is a project to preserve cultural heritage - brocade motifs of Vietnam's Ethnic Minorities. In the form of digital art of motifs, Ethnicity created the first Digital Library in Vietnam to preserve - promote - develop brocade patterns as well as our 53 ethnic groups. With the desire to promote understanding of ethnic cultures, we aim to promote these patterns in media, interactive exhibitions and develop applications of patterns in the light industry. modern creation.

 Project information:

 Website: https://ethnicityviet.com 

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ethnicity.Viet

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethnicity.vietnam/