what is tradition essay

Essay On Tradition And Culture

How do we define tradition, culture and identity? We believe that at a very basic level, tradition, culture and identity are very deeply interconnected. Our group thinks that it is very hard to singularly define each of these terms, without simultaneously defining the others. Culture, in our opinion, consists of the beliefs, behavioural patterns, values, and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group our society. Through our various cultures, we can define ourselves and our identities, conform to society’s shared values and contribute to society. Traditions are an integral part of our culture as well, and are rituals or customs that have been passed down many generations. Culture and tradition help us to recognize and respect our roots, and in turn, find our …show more content…

Although the introduction of exotic ingredients and spices, which are now key to Italian food, for example potatoes and bell peppers, to the cuisine was done in the 18th century, Italian cuisine has roots extending back all the way to around the 4th century BC. In modern times, Italian food is consumed and enjoyed all over the world by millions, thus making it probably the most popular globally and the most influential abroad. The quality of the prepared food is dependant on the quality of the ingredients used, and the availability of many ingredients varies regionally, making this cuisine very regionally diverse in flavour. For example, it seems as though people in Northern Italy consume more rice than the people in the South. Also, some dishes are exclusive only to certain places, for example the braised goat of Tuscany. Throughout Italy there are twenty distinct regions, each with different ingredients and styles of cooking. These variations in cooking traditions aid us in realising people’s identities and

Que Vivan Los Tamales Chapter Summary

Collin Brennan Professor Warner Freshman Tutorial 30 October, 2015 The mestizo recipes are famous for the combination of new and old world spices to make famous food. Que Vivan Los Tamales: Food and the Making of Mexican Identiy by Jeffrey Pilcher uses food to discuss the history of Mexico. Pilcher ties connections between the history of food and Mexico’s developing national identity. The book never really has a central thesis.

Influences Of African American Culture

Culture refers to the social heritage of a people- those learned patterns for thinking, feeling, and acting that are transmitted from one generation to the next, including the embodiment of these patterns in material items. Culture provides the meanings that enable human beings to interpret their experiences and guide their actions (Hughes and Kroehler, 2013). The African culture have played a role in our society for many years. America is known for its diversity and is called the melting pot.

Native American Culture Essay

Native Americans Native Americans are very different from other tribes. They eat, live, dress and do many things differently. The things I’m going to be talking about in my interesting paper is What they eat? What they wear? Where they live?

Summary Of The Omnivore's Dilemma

As fads and trends come and go, there is one certain topic that always stays relevant--food. Whether it be new recipes or tips or restaurants, cooking and cuisine are two of the most popular subjects in America. Many people fret over “revolutionary” diets or organic recipes, yet others fail to actually track down the origins of their foods. Because of this, I did not hesitate when choosing a book. My curiosity pertaining to food got the better of me

Moon Of The Crusted Snow Themes

Cultural traditions establish a direct relationship to one's ancestors and ancestry. It provides a sense of belonging and helps people to connect with their cultural identities. The characters' commitment to Anishinaabe traditions and practices helps them keep a connection to their Indigenous origin and shapes their individual and communal identities in the novel. Cultural traditions are usually practiced within the framework of a community. They draw people together, cultivating a sense of belonging, shared experiences, and mutual support.

An Indian Father's Plea '

Every day we use our culture. Whether it be to argue claims, express opinions, or make decisions, culture plays a part in each area. Culture is who we are, one’s identity, its extent is enormous over our views and actions. A person grows up surrounded with culture at a young age. This can affect how they learn and what they learn.

African American Family Traditions

List of traditions of your culture and how it related to your family The culture I identify is African American. The African American culture have several traditions that my family and I practice. The traditions of the African American culture that are practices among my family are maintaining family relationships, practicing Christianity, maintain hospitality, gaining education, and cooking.

Comparing Reuven And Danny's Culture

Our culture helps to define who people are and is an extremely important part in people’s lives. Not all cultures are the same and most people grow up in different cultures. We can see this between Reuven and Danny. In Reuven and Danny’s culture, there are many differences and similarities in their religion, the dynamics of their family, and the customs and traditions they practice. First, religion is a major part of who we are and in Danny and Reuven’s cultures we can see similarities and differences.

How Does Shirley Jackson Use Tradition In The Lottery

Shirley Jackson: The Lottery When you think of a tradition what comes to mind? Perhaps it is linked with your family’s core values, beliefs, or has significant meaning. Specifically, traditions are beliefs passed down from generations, they are not declared righteous or sinful, why they were born or still exist. Why do people follow traditions so mindlessly without knowing the purpose of it?

Cultural Identity Essay

I suppose when i used to think of cultural identity, i perceive it as what racial background we come from, what race we are. Whether it’s Mexican, Asian, French, etc… I assumed it meant what special foods we eat, and events or activities we participate in according to our background. Little did i know this is a misconception; quite a common one actually. Cultural identity is actually how you live your life and how you express yourself, the things you enjoy that make you, you. I am someone who enjoys many things, ranging from A-Z.

Food Culture Research Paper

Culture and memories are expressed through food. Everyone can identify themselves with a concrete culture and in every group there are numerous food dishes that satisfies one, or brings back peerless memories and feelings only they can relate to. Food itself has meaning attached to it, from the way it is prepared down to the ingredients used. Factors that influence food can be anything from practices and beliefs to the economy and distribution. Culinary traditions are important in helping express cultural identity.

Everyday Food Research Paper

Everyday food Abstract The article discusses the role of food as an instrument of identity and a channel of contact through cultures. This is discussed drawing from three cases of Italian food culture hybridization spanning from the early 20th century to the first decade of the 2000s: the role of Italian food in Italian-American identity as depicted in Leonardo Coviello’s work; the meeting of Southern and Northern food cultures following the Italian internal migrations in the ‘50s and ‘60s; the food practices of international migrants in the context of the global flows of people and commodities in present day Italy. In this regard, food plays an essential role in the rebuilding of a familiar context in which migrants can feel temporarily

Collectivist Culture Vs Individualistic Culture Essay

Culture is a belief system commonly shared in the society. Every human in a society share a common value and behavior distinct from other people, depending on where one was raised. That being said, I like to compare and contrast three divergent characteristics and describe which one I hail from. Individualist versus collectivist Individualistic culture is a culture where people cherish liberty and privacy and often trust their personal ability to emerge victorious and successful in their endeavors. Whereas, in a collectivist culture, people emphasizes the collective need of the society in general.

Cultural Encounters In American Culture

Everyone around the world has different beliefs, behaviors, objects and religion that are common for a particular society or a group of people who enjoys shared values and thus gives positive contributions to the society. This is called Culture. These are carried on by the people from generation by generation. It is the particular view point, customs and beliefs that discern one culture from another. It is transferred from one generation to another through language, material objects, and daily rituals.

Examples Of Cultural Encounter

Culture is defined by characteristics that are shared by a group of people. It is usually represented by language, religion, cuisine, traditional clothes, music, arts, and is dependent on social habits. Therefore, culture plays a major role in an individual’s perspective of life and his/her personality. Cultures have differed than each other, depending on the places they were established in, the way of survival people pursued to acclimate with different circumstances, and how they shared their experiences with each other.

More about Essay On Tradition And Culture

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Essays about Culture and Identity: 9 Examples And Prompts

Writing essays about culture and identity will help you explore your understanding of it. Here are examples that will give you inspiration for your next essay.

Culture can refer to customs, traditions, beliefs, lifestyles, laws, artistic expressions, and other elements that cultivate the collective identity. Different cultures are established across nations, regions, communities, and social groups. They are passed on from generation to generation while others evolve or are abolished to give way to modern beliefs and systems.

While our cultural identity begins at home, it changes as we involve ourselves with other groups (friends, educational institutions, social media communities, political groups, etc.) Culture is a very relatable subject as every person is part of a culture or at least can identify with one. Because it spans broad coverage, there are several interesting cultural subjects to write about.

Our culture and identity are dynamic. This is why you may find it challenging to write about it. To spark your inspiration, check out our picks of the best culture essays. 

1. Sweetness and Light by Matthew Arnolds

2. how auto-tune revolutionized the sound of popular music by simon reynolds, 3. how immigration changes language by john mcwhorter, 4. the comfort zone: growing up with charlie brown by jonathan franzen, 5. culture and identity definition by sandra graham, 6. how culture and surroundings influence identity by jeanette lucas, 7. how the food we eat reflects our culture and identity by sophia stephens, 8. identity and culture: my identity, culture, and identity by april casas, 9. how america hinders the cultural identity of their own citizens by seth luna, 1. answer the question, “who am i”, 2. causes of culture shock, 3. your thoughts on dystopia and utopia, 4. gender inequality from a global perspective, 5. the most interesting things you learned from other cultures, 6. the relationship between cultural identity and clothes, 7. describe your culture, 8. what is the importance of honoring your roots , 9. how can a person adapt to a new culture, 10. what artistic works best express your country’s culture, 11. how has social media influenced human interaction, 12. how do you protect the cultures of indigenous peoples, 13. are k-pop and k-drama sensations effectively promoting korea’s culture , 14. what is the importance of cultural diversity.

“… [A]nd when every man may say what he likes, our aspirations ought to be satisfied. But the aspirations of culture, which is the study of perfection, are not satisfied, unless what men say, when they may say what they like, is worth saying,—has good in it, and more good than bad.”

Arnolds compels a re-examination of values at a time when England is leading global industrialization and beginning to believe that greatness is founded on material progress. 

The author elaborates why culture, the strive for a standard of perfection, is not merely driven by scientific passions and, more so, by materialistic affluence. As he esteems religion as “that voice of the deepest human experience” to harmonize men in establishing that ideal society, Arnolds stresses that culture is the effort to “make reason and the will of God prevail” while humanizing gained knowledge to be society’s source of “sweetness and light.”

“Few innovations in sound production have been simultaneously so reviled and so revolutionary. Epoch-defining or epoch-defacing, Auto-Tune is indisputably the sound of the 21st century so far.”

Reynolds shows how Auto-Tune has shaped a pop music genre that has cut across cultures. The article maps out the music landscape Auto-Tune created and examines its impact on the culture of song productions and the modern taste for music. While the author debunks accusations that Auto-Tune destroyed the “natural” process of creating music, he also points out that the technology earned its reverence with big thanks to society’s current custom of using technology to hide blemishes and other imperfections.

Looking for more? Check out these essays about culture shock .

“… [T]he heavy immigration that countries like Italy are experiencing will almost certainly birth new kinds of Italian that are rich with slang, somewhat less elaborate than the standard, and… widely considered signs of linguistic deterioration, heralding a future where the “original” standard language no longer exists.”

American linguist McWhorter pacifies fears over the death of “standard” languages amid the wave of immigration to Europe. On the contrary, language is a vital expression of a culture, and for some, preserving is tantamount to upholding a cultural standard. 

However, instead of seeing the rise of new “multiethnolects” such as the Black English in America and Kiezdeutsch in Germany as threats to language and culture, McWhorter sees them as a new way to communicate and better understand the social groups that forayed these new languages.

“I wonder why “cartoonish” remains such a pejorative. It took me half my life to achieve seeing my parents as cartoons. And to become more perfectly a cartoon myself: what a victory that would be.”

This essay begins with a huge fight between Franzen’s brother and father to show how the cultural generation gap sweeping the 60s has hit closer to home. This generation gap, where young adults were rejecting the elders’ old ways in pursuit of a new and better culture, will also be the reason why his family ends up drifting apart. Throughout the essay, Franzen treads this difficult phase in his youth while narrating fondly how Peanuts, a pop culture icon at the time, was his source of escape. 

“…Culture is… your background… and Identity is formed where you belong to… Leopold Sedar Senghor and Shirley Geok-Lin Lim both talks about how culture and identity can impact… society…”

In this essay, Graham uses “To New York” by Senghor and “Learning To Love America” by Lim as two pieces of literature that effectively describe the role of culture and identity to traveling individuals. 

The author refers to Sengho’s reminder that people can adapt but must not forget their culture even if they go to a different place or country. On the other hand, Lim discusses immigrants’ struggle to have double identities.

“Culture is something that surrounds all of us and progress to shape our lives every day… Identity is illustrated as the state of mind in which someone or something distinguishes their own character traits that lead to determining who they really are, what they represent.”

Lucas is keen on giving examples of how his culture and surroundings influence an individual’s identity. She refers to Kothari’s “If you are what you eat, then what am I?” which discusses Kothari’s search for her identity depending on what food she eats. Food defines a person’s culture and identity, so Kothari believes that eating food from different countries will change his identity.

Lucas also refers to “Down These Mean Streets” by Piri Thomas, which argues how different cultural and environmental factors affect us. Because of what we encounter, there is a possibility that we will become someone who we are not. 

“What we grow is who we are. What we buy is who we are. What we eat is who we are.”

Stephens’ essay teaches its readers that the food we grow and eat defines us as a person. She explains that growing a crop and harvesting it takes a lot of effort, dedication, and patience, which mirrors our identity. 

Another metaphor she used is planting rice: it takes skills and knowledge to make it grow. Cooking rice is more accessible than cultivating it – you can quickly cook rice by boiling it in water. This reflects people rich in culture and tradition but who lives simpler life. 

“Every single one has their own unique identity and culture. Culture plays a big role in shaping your identity. Culture is what made me the person I am today and determines who or what I choose to associate myself with.”

Casas starts her piece by questioning who she is. In trying to learn and define who she is, she writes down and describes herself and her personality throughout the essay. Finally, she concludes that her culture is a big part of her identity, and she must understand it to understand herself.

“When it comes to these stereotypes we place on each other, a lot of the time, we succumb to the stereotypes given to us. And our cultural identity is shaped by these expectations and labels others give us. That is why negative stereotypes sometimes become true for a whole group or community.”

In this essay, Luna talks about how negative stereotyping in the United States led to moral distortion. For example, Americans are assumed to be ignorant of other countries’ cultures, making it difficult to understand other people’s cultures and lifestyles. 

She believes that stereotyping can significantly affect an individual or group’s identity. She suggests Americans should improve their intellectual competence by being sensitive to other people’s cultures.

14 Prompts on Essays about Culture and Identity

You can discuss many things on the subject of culture and identity. To give you a starting point, here are some prompts to help you write an exciting essay about culture. 

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips and our round-up of the best essay checkers .

Understanding your personality is vital since continuous interaction with others can affect your personality. Write about your culture and identity; what is your personality? How do you define yourself? Everyone is unique, so by writing an essay about who you are, you’ll be able to understand why you act a certain way and connect with readers who have the same values. 

Here’s a guide on writing a descriptive essay to effectively relay your experience to your readers.

Sometimes, people need to get out of their comfort zone and interact with other individuals with different cultures, beliefs, or traditions. This is to broaden one’s perspective about the world. Aside from discussing what you’ve learned in that journey, you can also focus on the bits that shocked you. 

You can talk about a tradition or value that you found so bizarre because it differs from your culture. Then add how you processed it and finally adapted to it.

Dystopia and Utopia are both imagined worlds. Dystopia is a world where people live in the worst or most unfavorable conditions, while Utopia is the opposite. 

You can write an essay about what you think a Dystopian or Utopian world may look like, how these societies will affect their citizens, etc. Then, consider what personality citizens of each world may have to depend on the two worlds’ cultures.

Today, more and more people are fighting for others to accept or at least respect the LGBTQ+ community. However, countries, territories, and religions still question their rights.

In your essay, you can talk about why these institutions react the way they do and how culture dictates someone’s identity in the wrong way. Before creating your own, feel free to read other essays and articles to learn more about the global gender inequality issue. 

The world has diverse cultures, traditions, and values. When you travel to a new place, learning and writing about your firsthand experiences with unique cultures and rituals will always be an interesting read.

In this prompt, you’ll research other cultures and how they shaped their group’s identity. Then, write about the most exciting aspects you’ve learned, why you found them fascinating, and how they differ from your culture.

Those proud of their culture will wear clothes inspired by them. Some wear the same clothes even if they aren’t from the same culture. The debate over cultural appropriation and culture appreciation is still a hot topic. 

In this essay, you may start with the traditions of your community or observances your family celebrates and gathers for. Then, elaborate on their origins and describe how your community or family is preserving these practices. 

Learning about your roots, ancestors, and family cultures can help strengthen your understanding of your identity and foster respect for other cultures. Explore this topic and offer examples of what others have learned. Has the journey always been a positive experience? Delve into this question for an engaging and interesting essay.

When a person moves country, it can be challenging to adapt to a new culture. If there are new people at work or school, you can interview them and ask how they are coping with their new environment. How different is this from what they have been used to, and what unique traditions do they find interesting?

Focus on an art piece that is a source of pride and identity to your country’s culture, much like the Tinikling of the Philippines or the Matryoshka dolls of Russia. Explore its origins and evolution up to its current manifestation and highlight efforts that are striving to protect and promote these artistic works.

The older generation did not have computers in their teen years. Ask about how they dated in their younger years and how they made friends. Contrast how the younger generation is building their social networks today. Write what culture of socialization works better for you and explain why.

Take in-depth navigation of existing policies that protect indigenous peoples. Are they sufficient to serve these communities needs, and are they being implemented effectively? There is also the challenge of balancing the protection of these traditions against the need to protect the environment, as some indigenous practices add to the carbon footprint. How is your government dealing with this challenge?

A large population is now riding the Hallyu or the Korean pop culture, with many falling in love with the artists and Korea’s food, language, and traditional events. Research how certain Korean films, TV series, or music have effectively attracted fans to experience Korea’s culture. Write about what countries can learn from Korea in promoting their own cultures.

Environments that embrace cultural diversity are productive and innovative. To start your essay, assess how diverse your workplace or school is. Then, write your personal experiences where working with co-workers or classmates from different cultures led to new and innovative ideas and projects. Combine this with the personal experiences of your boss or the principal to see how your environment benefits from hosting a melting pot of cultures.

If you aim for your article to effectively change readers’ perspectives and align with your opinion, read our guide to achieving persuasive writing . 

Aisling is an Irish journalist and content creator with a BA in Journalism & New Media. She has bylines in OK! Magazine, Metro, The Inquistr, and the Irish Examiner. She loves to read horror and YA. Find Aisling on LinkedIn .

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Traditions Are Important For Our Society

One concept that is present in every culture is tradition, and whether it be secular or religious, they each bring a unique significance to each culture. Nevertheless, traditions are important and somewhat necessary because it helps keep a culture “on its feet” and it provides a sense of identity for people. Traditions may vary from little things like going to your favorite restaurant on a special day like birthdays or family reunion, to big important traditions like eating Kosher in Judaism and the mandatory following of the Five Pillars of Islam . But keeping traditions are so important for our society today because it allows people to honor those who came before them in hopes of improving their culture and make positive contributions to society. This also puts better emphasis on family life and teaches how to strengthen family life through tradition. Although some ceremonies and rituals prevail longer than us, they make us feel part of that larger sense of things as we pass them down to our own children, to their children, and so on. Traditions are important because they are the basis of all knowledge within the realm of a giving culture or religion; however, they can also be sexist in nature, dangerous, or just immoral. Some traditions may even include some influence of gender roles as apparent in the Maori tribe with women being prohibited from positions of leadership and power, and in the Muslim faith where women 's role in society has been subject to controversy and

Level 5 Health and Social Care 503 Essay

it is important to promote equality and explain without causing offence why some practices are unacceptable “The key anti-oppressive component of personal ands social history discussed in chapter one understanding and valuing the cultural and spiritual heritage of families and

My Culture : My Assyrian Culture

My culture is a very unique and old style culture that has lasted for almost three thousand years. It is the Assyrian culture in which it has stayed to the old ways till this day. What we do is very different from normal families like for instance. When we get married the mates for the man go to the fiance´s home and take all her pictures and things indicating that the man has her now. Another cultural practice we do is usually when the man comes to age that he goes to the army with no exception. Our culture usually loves war and we have born into that lifestyle which means i will be going to the army after high school. The women in our culture are usually to obey the men but it's usually the other way around. Our women are very strong and dominant. We always respect our women in our culture. Our food is amazing we always cook new different foods every single day. Our culture is very traditional and very conservative we stick to our old roots and not changing to any other culture. We Assyrians have to stick together so our culture doesn't die off. For us, we usually only marry other Assyrians which means our culture will not die off and will survive the many years to come. Our culture is the only one left from the middle east that is originally from there which means all others are invaders to our homeland. I am the original race of our people from our homeland so i will not mix with others spreading my perfect genetics. That´s what i think with my culture which is fairly

The Role of Women in Buddhism

In many cultures, the roles of women vary reluctantly. While researching the many aspects of Buddhism, the religion is sometimes practiced differently and the roles of women differs. According to Experiencing World Religions, (Molloy, 127) Buddhism is one of the world's oldest yet most significant religions thus far. It has influenced many cultures, originating from India and making its way to migrate throughout the country of Asia, and women have been involved since the very first day. In today’s society, although men are predominantly inferior over women, women are granted the same opportunities. Just like many other societies in other countries or many other religions there are discriminations and prejucial acts against women. Although, woman are offered the second class citizenship in many Buddhist traditions, a woman's role is very important when helping maintain the religion resulting in mass population of worshipers , fulfilling the duties as caregivers and also wives to their husbands, and also providing any assistance if needed in the community. (Molloy, 127)

Cultural Tradition And Cultural Traditions

It is clear that cultural tradition delivers set foundations into a person’s lifetime, giving identity and sense of belonging to a person and their social group. It allows individuals to feel part of something and understand their ancestral values and customs. Several people believe that it is very important to preserve cultural traditions because they feel as if tradition is the main enabler to a shared identity and to a construction of social consistency and unity. People also believe that conservancy of cultural traditions forms exclusive bonds within members of the community, holding people with the same background together to pass on cultural values, and excluding those who aren’t part of the culture. They think that the actual preservation of traditions means not to change the customs and traditions, to not grow from our culture, for example not learning another language because you already know your mother tongue. It is a way to group up and tag everyone in a form of an alliance, and to have better organization and awareness of where everyone comes from.

The Culture of Ghana

Culture is one of the most relevant elements that can define not only a society but also a country’s cumulative beliefs and system. Often noted as the origins of a country, culture is definitive in the sense that it harbors all the elements that can provide justification on the traditions and norms set by the society for its members. More often than not, the society members follow norms in order to create a harmonious community, and the beliefs and the traditions serve as the poles or grounding rules for each member to follow. Culture is very dynamic in the way that it can change over a variety of foreign influences but what is permanent about it is that original elements about it often lingers with the influences, therefore making it multi-faceted and broad. More importantly, culture serves as an individual and unique trait each society has, and therefore sets it apart from other countries and other societies.

The Culture Of The Mexican Culture

In our society today, culture is not what it used to be hundreds of years ago. There is no more “pure” culture. Our culture today is enriched with many different traditions and customs that are being shared and adopted. Due to emigration and immigration, a variety of diverse customs, beliefs, and knowledge moved with every exiting and entering human being. Thus, changing and shaping the culture of many. Throughout the world, the beliefs and religious views of culture are dissimilar around the world. By taking the time to read, listen and learn about certain people’s culture, there will be knowledge and understanding that will be gained.

Immigrants in America Essay

These types of beliefs and strong traditions have been good examples for western civilization absorbing their rules and respect. This has been ideal to help restoring their family values.

Diary Of A Madman Essay

Traditions typically can be described as noble and based on morality. There are many benefits to following and keeping traditions, and traditions generally survive through generations because they bring a community together and are a proud part of a community’s identity. Through time, traditions and cultural norms change as beliefs change, and sometimes they can stray away from their moral foundations and become dangerous. When this happens, younger, innocent generations are at danger of blindly adopting these toxic traditions.

The Social Of A Social Institution

Religion: this social institution can play a role in influencing gender norms because some religions believe that there are specific duties and roles for each gender. For example in an Islamic religion it is believed that women are to fulfill their duties as a wife and mother while the father is to be able to protect and financially support the family. In Christianity women are seen as unfit to be in the high roles of religion like being a priest.

Cultural Differences Between The Middle East And The United States

Honor is also a very important thing in Middle Eastern culture. Education is highly valued in their culture society for both men and women, it brings honor to a family. Helping people in their community are perhaps the greatest source of family honor. A guest in someone’s home will never go hungry or be sent out in the cold. The people of the Middle East have high generosity and hospitality. Homes are always ready to receive an unannounced guest with food, sweets and coffee. Visits with family and neighbors are common, often occurring once or twice a week. The gender roles in the Middle East are not as different as ours in the U.S. Fathers are considered to be the heads of households and do the decision-making in family matters. This also comes with the responsibility for the family's economic well-being and security. Women take responsibility for raising the children and keep the household clean

Theme Of Tradition In The Good Earth

Tradition (culture?) plays a huge role and the start of The Good Earth and later diminishes. People believe that you should respect your elders, listen to the gods, and follow what life is planned for you. If one were to speak against their elders, they would no longer earn

Womens Role in Hinduism Essays

An often controversial issue within politics is how woman are viewed and treated in the Hindu religion. The role of woman in Hinduism is often disputed and positions range from quite reasonable to highly antagonistic. An often overlooked aspect is that, Hinduism is more of a way of life then a Religion. This is because Hinduism requires that we see the same reality in all the diversity of creation; that we see the same Self in all beings. Hindu women within this religion would view themselves as an important part of the family, but this is not shown through the contents of the Manusmriti. The Manusmriti directly translated is “Laws of Manu,” or “Institutions of Manu,” is regarded as the foundational

The Legal Issues With Manufacturing Foreign Countries

Different cultures have different values, and sometimes these differences can be stark. Gender, for example, could prove problematic in countries

Traditional vs. Modern Society Essay example

Traditional societies believe that family heritage is what holds a family together. These societies have ascriptive values, meaning to follow their family's ancestry and way of life. In modern culture, an individual has the power to decide for him/herself as to what he/she wants to attain in life - including an education, career and mate. To those of us living in a modern world, traditional societies may seem to have it rough. However, to those living the traditional way, their life is set for them. They need not worry about how powerful they will be or how much money they will make. Their life brings them security.

Gender In Thai Culture Essay

The role of gender can be different in accordance with different cultures and traditions. There are millions of culture and tradition in all around the world, and they can have different practices, social aspects, values and the role of gender in society. The role of gender can be evaluated and analyzed among different cultures, for example, the American culture, the Thai culture, and the Omani Culture.

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Indian Culture and Tradition Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on indian culture and tradition.

India has a rich culture and that has become our identity. Be it in religion, art, intellectual achievements, or performing arts, it has made us a colorful, rich, and diverse nation. The Indian culture and tradition essay is a guideline to the vibrant cultures and traditions followed in India. 

India was home to many invasions and thus it only added to the present variety. Today, India stands as a powerful and multi-cultured society as it has absorbed many cultures and moved on. People here have followed various religion , traditions, and customs.

Although people are turning modern today, hold on to the moral values and celebrates the festivals according to customs. So, we are still living and learning epic lessons from Ramayana and Mahabharata. Also, people still throng Gurudwaras, temples, churches, and mosques. 

The culture in India is everything from people’s living, rituals, values, beliefs, habits, care, knowledge, etc. Also, India is considered as the oldest civilization where people still follows their old habits of care and humanity.

Additionally, culture is a way through which we behave with others, how softly we react to different things, our understanding of ethics, values, and beliefs.

People from the old generation pass their beliefs and cultures to the upcoming generation. Thus, every child that behaves well with others has already learned about their culture from grandparents and parents.

Also, here we can see culture in everything like fashion , music , dance , social norms, foods, etc. Thus, India is one big melting pot for having behaviors and beliefs which gave birth to different cultures. 

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Indian Culture and Religion

There are many religions that have found their origin in age-old methods that are five thousand years old. Also, it is considered because Hinduism was originated from Vedas.

Thus, all the Hindu scriptures that are considered holy have been scripted in the Sanskrit language. Also, it is believed that Jainism has ancient origin and existence in the Indus valley. Buddhism is the other religion that was originated in the country through the teachings of Gautam Buddha. 

There are many different eras that have come and gone but no era was very powerful to change the influence of the real culture. So, the culture of younger generations is still connected to the older generations. Also, our ethnic culture always teaches us to respect elders, behave well, care for helpless people, and help needy and poor people.

Additionally, there is a great culture in our country that we should always welcome guest like gods. That is why we have a famous saying like ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. So, the basic roots in our culture are spiritual practices and humanity. 

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So What Is Culture, Exactly?

THEPALMER/Getty Images

• Archaeology
• Ph.D., Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara
• M.A., Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara
• B.A., Sociology, Pomona College

Culture is a term that refers to a large and diverse set of mostly intangible aspects of social life. According to sociologists, culture consists of the values, beliefs, systems of language, communication, and practices that people share in common and that can be used to define them as a collective. Culture also includes the material objects that are common to that group or society. Culture is distinct from social structure and economic aspects of society, but it is connected to them—both continuously informing them and being informed by them.

How Sociologists Define Culture

Culture is one of the most important concepts within sociology because sociologists recognize that it plays a crucial role in our social lives. It is important for shaping social relationships, maintaining and challenging social order, determining how we make sense of the world and our place in it, and in shaping our everyday actions and experiences in society. It is composed of both non-material and material things.

In brief, sociologists define the non-material aspects of culture as the values and beliefs, language, communication, and practices that are shared in common by a group of people. Expanding on these categories, culture is made up of our knowledge, common sense, assumptions, and expectations. It is also the rules, norms, laws, and morals that govern society; the words we use as well as how we speak and write them (what sociologists call " discourse "); and the symbols we use to express meaning, ideas, and concepts (like traffic signs and emojis, for example). Culture is also what we do and how we behave and perform (for example, theater and dance). It informs and is encapsulated in how we walk, sit, carry our bodies, and interact with others; how we behave depending on the place, time, and "audience;" and how we express identities of race, class, gender, and sexuality, among others. Culture also includes the collective practices we participate in, such as religious ceremonies, the celebration of secular holidays, and attending sporting events.

Material culture is composed of the things that humans make and use. This aspect of culture includes a wide variety of things, from buildings, technological gadgets, and clothing, to film, music, literature, and art, among others. Aspects of material culture are more commonly referred to as cultural products.

Sociologists see the two sides of culture—the material and non-material—as intimately connected. Material culture emerges from and is shaped by the non-material aspects of culture. In other words, what we value, believe, and know (and what we do together in everyday life) influences the things that we make. But it is not a one-way relationship between material and non-material culture. Material culture can also influence the non-material aspects of culture. For example, a powerful documentary film (an aspect of material culture) might change people’s attitudes and beliefs (i.e. non-material culture). This is why cultural products tend to follow patterns. What has come before in terms of music, film, television, and art, for example, influences the values, beliefs, and expectations of those who interact with them, which then, in turn, influence the creation of additional cultural products.

Why Culture Matters to Sociologists

Culture is important to sociologists because it plays a significant and important role in the production of social order. The social order refers to the stability of society based on the collective agreement to rules and norms that allow us to cooperate, function as a society, and live together (ideally) in peace and harmony. For sociologists, there are both good and bad aspects of social order.

Rooted in the theory of classical French sociologist Émile Durkheim , both material and non-material aspects of culture are valuable in that they hold society together. The values, beliefs, morals, communication, and practices that we share in common provide us with a shared sense of purpose and a valuable collective identity. Durkheim revealed through his research that when people come together to participate in rituals, they reaffirm the culture they hold in common, and in doing so, strengthen the social ties that bind them together. Today, sociologists see this important social phenomenon happening not only in religious rituals and celebrations like (some) weddings and the Indian festival of Holi but also in secular ones—such as high school dances and widely-attended, televised sporting events (for example, the Super Bowl and March Madness).

Famous Prussian social theorist and activist Karl Marx established the critical approach to culture in the social sciences. According to Marx, it is in the realm of non-material culture that a minority is able to maintain unjust power over the majority. He reasoned that subscribing to mainstream values, norms, and beliefs keep people invested in unequal social systems that do not work in their best interests, but rather, benefit the powerful minority. Sociologists today see Marx's theory in action in the way that most people in capitalist societies buy into the belief that success comes from hard work and dedication, and that anyone can live a good life if they do these things—despite the reality that a job which pays a living wage is increasingly hard to come by.  

Both theorists were right about the role that culture plays in society, but neither was exclusively   right. Culture can be a force for oppression and domination, but it can also be a force for creativity, resistance, and liberation. It is also a deeply important aspect of human social life and social organization. Without it, we would not have relationships or society.

Luce, Stephanie. " Living wages: a US perspective ." Employee Relations , vol. 39, no. 6, 2017, pp. 863-874. doi:10.1108/ER-07-2017-0153

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What is tradition essay

• Category: Lifestyle
• Published: 04.28.20

Using a diverse populace existing in america today, each of our country is actually a melting weed of different nationalities, each one particular unique in its own esteem. Culture, unique one societal group coming from another, contains beliefs, behaviors, language, traditions, art, designs, food, religious beliefs, politics, and economic devices. Through ongoing and changing processes of learning, creativity, and posting, culture styles our habits of behavior and thinking. A culture’s significance is so profound it touches almost every aspect of who and what we are. “Culture becomes the lens by which we see and assess what is going on about us (Henslin, 1993).

Aiming to define the complex term of culture with differing elements of distinguishable characteristics is a difficult task. Perhaps, a description of your culture would be easier to explain. For instance, a great Iranian female has just made an appearance in your workplace for providers and it is instantly evident that her lifestyle is very distinct from yours. Initial, her dark colored clothing includes her entire body from head to toe, together with a black veil over her face. Subsequently, as she speaks, a cultural big difference is discovered in both equally, her vocabulary and actions. Her accentuate and the non-visible facial expression create a obstacle for comprehending the interaction. Later, because the assistance for the lady progresses, her beliefs, ideals, and norms of her culture are dispelled. For example , in order for the girl to show her face to another male in public areas, she must first ask for permission from her husband to reveal. During additional discussion, it is even more apparent, that this Iranian woman can be subservient and it has a lower standard of status than that of Iranian males. Most of these characteristics happen to be indicative of the woman’s traditions.

As conveyed in the above description, the characteristics represent the first symbols of one’s culture. Emblems, in agent form of connection, art, expressions, materials, and so on, allow a cultural group to develop intricate thoughts and exchange these thoughts together. Through the changing of symbols, one’s ethnical ideas, beliefs, and principles, are passed on from one technology to the next.

Individuals are not delivered with tradition, they have to master it. Through the development of the whole life span, culture is learned from the culture in which we live. Furthermore, in the varied population of the United States, ethnic teams or communities will have to interact with other organizations outside the realm of their person self. In order to do so , it is necessary for the societies to change languages, ideas, or even, technology. In addition , the changing environments of the world populace requires a requirement for cultural edition for basic survival. For instance , a move from the United States, where standard resources are plentiful, to Russia, where resources are scarce, will force an adaptation for the cultural differences in order to develop a new life-style.

In conclusion, tradition defines who have we are, how we think, and just how we respond. Some kinds of traditions are contain better way of making lifestyle securer than others. Ethnical traits that provide some positive aspects, utility, or maybe pleasures are sought and accepted simply by societies. In accordance to a prominent anthropologist, “Culture is transmittable. ”A lifestyle is a way to an end: the security and continuity of existence.  (Britannica. com, g. 12).

Henslin, J. (1993). Sociology: a down to earth way. Needham Height: Simon & Schuster, Incorporation.

Summary of culture. Britannica Encyclopedia. Recovered Sept. 8, 2000 through the World Wide Web: http://www.britannica.com/bcom/ed/article/6/0,5716,118246+12+109857,00.html

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• Essay on Gender

Essay On What Is Culture

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Gender , Culture , Children , Generation , Human , Development , Family , Belief

Published: 01/21/2020

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Most people think of culture as a collection of the traditions that are amongst a group of people but these are merely traditions and culture is much larger than that. There are many ways in which culture can be defined. In general, the combination attitudes, ideas, expected or normative behavior patterns and values that people adopt in their society is collectively known as their culture. Culture can also be defined as a combination of common and lasting beliefs, meaning, and values that distinguish ethnic, national. People of one generation pass on their culture to their next generation. People do not genetically inherit culture and it does not exist on its own. Culture varies from one person to another. Members of a society always share culture. The thesis of this essay is to try to define “culture,” explain the purpose and significance of culture, how culture emerges and how it is passed on. The cooking, clothing, music, religion, writing, and many other things reflect the culture they belong to. Culture is not merely a reference to the beliefs, values, etc. associated with the groups that we become a part of by birth, it is also a reference to those that we choose to follow that are associated with groups that we choose to become a part of. Culture does not remain stationary; it constantly changes. People frequently move between cultures. For instance, often people grow up living in the rural countryside, but they decide they want live in an urban environment. In the same way, many people grow up in poor families, but they become richer as they grow up and come into contact with other people who are also richer. When people are first born into this world, they have no cultural knowledge. They learn their cultural traits mainly from their parents and the immediate environment they are living within. Of course, newborns tend to be very quick learns. If a newborn baby is placed into another family anywhere in the world, the baby will learn and adapt to the family’s culture as he or she grows up, accepting it as his or her own. As mentioned, culture has nothing to do with genetics since it is non-instinctive, so it not necessary that people follow the same culture as their parents, although it is more likely that they do. However, over time, people tend to change their culture. Children might follow a certain culture by birth, but they can make a cultural shift when they grow up. For instance, their gender roles are decided in advance, even before they are born, but as adults, their ideas about the acceptable roles of men and women change once they enter the workforce. In the same way, children usually share the same political beliefs and values as their families until they are young adults. As they move through college they are exposed to various new political beliefs and values, which influence their previous ones. There are many other forms of cultural shifts that occur in almost every person’s life. What makes cultural shifts noteworthy is that people end up in different contexts, as a result of which their beliefs and values change. People usually embrace new practices and traditions when they shift cultures. At the same time, they also preserve aspects of their previous cultures. Culture is not limited to ethnicity and race. The cultural stance of people is influenced by age, class, gender, religion, and many other factors. Of course, culture has a specific purpose. Culture tells us how men and women are supposed to behave. Culture tells people how they are supposed to conduct different activities. The patterns of behavior that are permitted by a particular culture are usually not set in stone, they tend to be flexible. For instance, the culture of a specific region might tell the people how they are supposed to dress based on their gender, but their culture might also permit them to dress according to different situations so that they communicate a variety of messages and statuses. Every human phenomenon that is in no way a result of human genetics is included in the cultures of today. Perhaps that is why cultures these days are so complex.

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• What is a Tradition

What is a Tradition - Essay Example

• Subject: Culture
• Type: Essay
• Level: Masters
• Pages: 2 (500 words)
• Downloads: 3
• Author: krystelmills

Extract of sample "What is a Tradition"

What is a Tradition? Traditions are borne out of our own personal experiences, either positive or negative. One tradition that we may be familiar with may not be so recognizable to others. It is up to us to uphold our traditions and keep them going so that we do not lose sight of our cultural backgrounds. Part of accomplishing this is to respect the traditions of others—no matter how strange or uncomfortable they may seem to us. Each tradition is unique to the certain individual who follows it.

Although this is so, in order for a tradition to be important, it must be deeply personable, highly memorable, and ideally shared with those who we love. Traditions are usually instilled in us from a very young age. These traditions may be in the form of a Christmas morning, a Thanksgiving dinner, or simply just a family tradition that is unique to that specific family. All these events connect with something inside of us that make us look back fondly on them when we are older. Traditions define who we are and help to form our likes and dislikes, personal preferences, and characteristics.

All of these traits are formed by the cultural traditions that we have been brought up in. The people who are closest to us generally shape our traditions because they have the greatest influence over our lives. The other thing about traditions is that they are highly memorable. This is because of the young age that we experience them and also because of the people who help to form them. These people are usually our family members because they are all that we have when we are young. Memorable traditions can be either good or bad; some traditions cause us to react negatively whenever we come across something similar in the future.

A negative experience of a tradition may cause us to shy away from it in the future. For example, going to church is a strong tradition in some families. If we had a bad experience of attending church when we were younger, then we are more likely to react negatively to the idea of attending church once we are adults. Finally, traditions are ideally shared with those who we love because it reaffirms the importance and significance of them. If we participate in traditions with our loved ones, then we are more likely to feel comfortable while doing them.

This will ultimately lead to the continuation of a tradition even once we are no longer with those who we love most. An example of this could be a yearly reunion between two older parents and their adult kids. Once the parents pass away, the remaining family members, the children in this instance, would most likely continue to meet regularly because the tradition would be natural to them. I feel that traditions are an important part of our upbringing because they help to form how we think about the world and also how we choose to act in it.

There is no tradition that is greater than another; each tradition has value to the person who believes and follows it. Even as this is the case, traditions have to be deeply personable, highly memorable, and shared with our loved ones for a particular tradition to remain important and relevant in our lives.

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The Importance of Culture

11 January, 2019

11 minutes read

Author:  Richard Pircher

Culture can be defined as “the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.” It can also be understood as the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular people or society. Therefore, it’s the shared patterns of our behavior and interaction which are learned through socialization. People of the same culture share a group identity that is fostered by social patterns unique to the group. Culture encompasses for example values, beliefs, symbols, norms, and patterns of behavior. It has a far-reaching impact on our everyday actions, on how we talk and think, what we wear, what we believe, how we sit at the table, and how we behave among other people. But what is the importance of culture in our society? And which components constitute our conception of culture?

Components of culture

• Patterns of behavior

What defines culture?

All cultures are characterized by constant change. As a dynamic phenomenon, cultures are under constant change and they must adapt to environmental changes. This is one of the universal features of a culture. After globalization, the world became more interconnected and today most societies consist of ethnically diverse populations. This has given rise to conflicts associated with ethnicity, religion, and ethical beliefs which are all central concepts in cultures. More than ever before, culture is no longer fixed but rather in constant motion. At a time when cultures adapt and become more fluid, a need has been identified to protect and preserve the past. There are organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) whose objectives include conserving and protecting cultural and natural heritage along with the promotion of international cooperation, peace, and security.

To answer the question about the importance of culture, one has to consider its role in people’s everyday lives. Because culture affects how people behave and interact with each other, it helps you build relationships with others when you understand other cultures and perspectives. It’s also good to understand how much in common we have with other people even if at first glance their cultures might seem completely different. We are all humans and have similar needs, hopes, fears, and things that make us happy. It doesn’t mean, however, that our cultural differences don’t matter at all. A better strategy is to acknowledge that differences exist and to fight against discrimination. The world is becoming more and more diverse as different languages, religions, economic and cultural groups blend together. We need to appreciate and understand different cultures and establish relationships with people from other backgrounds. This is the only way to build successful communities, improve our living conditions, and solve problems.

If we take a closer look at the characteristics of culture, we can identify five basic traits that define the concept of culture.

Five characteristics of culture

• Based on symbols

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Culture is learned

Culture is learned because it’s not biological or ingrained in our DNA. Children don’t inherit culture from their parents. Instead, they learn it and much of this learning occurs subconsciously without us paying any attention to it. We learn our culture not only from our families but also from institutions, other people, and the media. This process of learning is called enculturation. All humans share the same biological needs, for example, food, water, sleep, shelter, and sex, but the way we choose to fulfill those needs varies across cultures.

Culture is shared

Culture is shared because we share our culture with other members of our group. We know how to interact with these other members and we can predict their behavior based on our knowledge and expectations. The shared nature of culture doesn’t mean, however, that cultures are homogenous.

Culture is integrated

Because the various parts of a culture are interconnected, culture is also integrated. All components of culture are connected to one another and to gain a comprehensive understanding of a culture, one must learn about these different components.

Culture is dynamic

Culture is dynamic because cultures interact with each other. Cultures share ideas and symbols and they adapt to changes in the environment. Since cultures are also integrated, it means that if one component of a culture changes, it will affect all the other components, too, forcing the entire system to adapt.

Culture is based on symbols

Symbols are an integral part of every culture and they vary across different cultures. Cultures not only use symbols but they are also based on them. Symbols get their meaning when people in the same culture agree on how they should be used. Language is the most obvious example of the use of symbols within a culture but other things such as art, clothing, and money can also be defined as symbols.

It should also be pointed out that not all cultural adaptation is positive. Not all cultural practices are adaptive, and there are many examples of cultural adaptation that have been detrimental such as fast food, pollution, and climate change. But due to their dynamic nature, cultures have the ability to adapt and find solutions to these problems.

How does geography affect culture?

What influences our cultures then? One of the most profound of these factors is geography. The development of a culture is largely dependent on its geographical location. For example, locations that are ideal for hunting influence that culture by encouraging people to teach their descendants to hunt, tell hunting stories, and organize ceremonies that celebrate hunting skills. A factor such as hunting can thus become a defining characteristic of that culture. Another good example is the Japanese culture which relies heavily on the attribute of water. The fact that Japan is an island surrounded by water has influenced its culture from its creation myth to natural resources such as fish and growing of rice. Even more so, Japan as an island has historically been limited because of its geography, and this has given rise to art forms such as haiku poems and bonsai trees which are characterized by their limitations. Geography affects cultures from the number of languages spoken in a given area to the clothes people wear, their political ideas, and even religions. For example, on the island of Guinea, people speak more than 800 languages. This is because New Guinea is mountainous and it’s difficult for people from one area to come into contact with people from other areas. These different groups, therefore, learned to keep to themselves and developed their own languages. Culture also has its impact on the clothes that people wear, and this has historically been determined by geography, too. People in the Arctic whose culture relies on hunting whales and seals wear several layers of warm clothes, usually manufactured from animal skin. In contrast, tribes in the rainforests wear very little clothing and their economies are centered around plant life. In terms of government and religion, the ancient Greeks, for example, developed a political culture centered around city-states because their geography was mountainous and it was thus difficult for large kingdoms to arise. The Mesopotamian and Egyptian religions, on the other hand, differed in the fact that Mesopotamian gods were considered less kind than the Egyptian gods. This is believed to be the result of unpredictable floods in the Mesopotamian rivers and rather consistent and predictable floods in the Nile.

How does culture affect business?

When looking at modern cultures, we can see the many effects that cultures have, for example, on business. During a business meeting where people from different cultures are communicating with one another, cultural differences have to be taken into account. There is more than merely a language barrier that needs to be overcome. These differences can concern people’s sensitivity to time, the way of communicating, risk-taking, decision-making, and thinking of others, all of which need to be addressed. Cultural differences can often impact the success or failure of multicultural business negotiations. When segmenting target groups for a product or service, businesses have to spend time on examining the cultural expectations and values of different groups. Culture influences people’s tastes and preferences, and the same strategies will not work for all audiences. Americans, for example, have very different expectations from advertising and marketing than Asian consumers. Business owners must account for differences throughout the product’s life cycle, from its design to marketing and beyond.

Culture affects our every facet of life. Most societies these days have become multicultural as more and more people migrate across countries and continents. We live around, socialize and work with people from different cultural backgrounds and different parts of the world. While their values and beliefs might be different from ours, we should accept these differences and broaden our own views in order to attain harmony in these culturally diverse environments. We should acknowledge the importance of culture in communication and in contributing to our identity and sense of belonging as part of a social group. Culture can be seen as a uniting force that is part of our daily lives and an integral part of our being, defining the way we treat other people and ourselves.

• Caplan, L. (2018): “What Factors Influence Culture? What are the Characteristics of Culture?” eNotes. https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-factors-influence-culture-98429
• Community Tool Box (2018): “Understanding Culture and Diversity in Building Communities.” The University of Kansas. https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/culture-and-diversity/main
• eNotes (2015): “How Does Geography Affect Culture?” https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/how-does-geography-affect-culture-474205
• Nowaczyk, J., (2018): “The Five Basic Characteristics of Cultures.” Study.com https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-five-basic-characteristics-of-cultures.html
• OpinionFront (2018): “Why is Culture Important and How Does it Influence People?” https://opinionfront.com/why-is-culture-important
• Oxford Dictionaries (2019): “Definition of Culture.” Oxford University Press. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/culture
• Zimmermann, K. A. (2012): “What is Culture.” Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/21478-what-is-culture-definition-of-culture.html

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

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Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

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Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

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Traditional Essay Structure

Although college essays can offer ideas in many ways, one standard structure for expository essays is to offer the main idea or assertion early in the essay, and then offer categories of support.

Thinking again about how a lawyer makes a case, one way to think about this standard structure is to compare it to a courtroom argument in a television drama. The lawyer asserts, “My client is not guilty.” Then the lawyer provides different reasons for lack of guilt: no physical evidence placing the client at the crime scene, client had no motive for the crime, and more.

In writing terms, the assertion is the  thesis sentence , and the different reasons are the  topic sentences . Example:

Thesis Sentence (assertion): The 21st century workforce requires a unique set of skills.

Topic Sentence (reason) #1: Workers need to learn how to deal with change.

Topic Sentence (reason) #2: Because of dealing with such a rapidly changing work environment, 21st century workers need to learn how to learn.

Topic Sentence (reason) #3: Most of all, in order to negotiate rapid change and learning, workers in the 21st century need good communication skills.

As you can see, the supporting ideas in an essay develop out of the main assertion or argument in the thesis sentence.

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A Salty Young Critic Explains Internet Culture, Patiently

Famed for her fearless literary takedowns, Lauren Oyler adopts a softer tone in the new essay collection “No Judgment.”

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By Erin Somers

Erin Somers is a reporter for Publishers Lunch and the author of “Stay Up With Hugo Best.”

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NO JUDGMENTS: Essays, by Lauren Oyler

Why do people like to watch boxing? We admire the fighters: their guts, their footwork. It is elegant yet brutal. It entertains. It is a form of proxy violence — someone else being hit and doing the hitting — that taps into our primal urges.

Lauren Oyler made her name as a pugilist. Her breakout essay on the website BookSlut famously begins, “I have always hated Roxane Gay’s writing.” Her reviews get attention partly because she voices the criticism that one may be too politic to express. Typically, that criticism is harsh. Typically, it is funny. Even her 2021 debut novel, “Fake Accounts,” contains a 40-page parody of the fragmentary novel form that was dominant in that moment, especially among women writers. It goes on for so long that the reader has time to love it, hate it, become exasperated with it, resign herself to it and, finally, admire its diabolical commitment.

Now Oyler has returned with “No Judgment,” a collection of eight essays written specifically for the book. Her sense of humor is present, as is her agile thinking. But fans of blood sport won’t find much here to satisfy their baser appetites. Far from incendiary, the book is cleareyed and grounded. Several essays here provoked the surprising thought, “This is the sanest thing I have ever read on this topic.”

The book begins with an introduction explaining that some of the essays were inspired by “a growing agitation about what I perceived to be misunderstandings and fallacies spreading in cultural criticism and commentary.” Others center on personal experiences. Topics include: the evolution of internet gossip, the flawed social network Goodreads and the creep of the word “vulnerable” into arts criticism. The uniting idea, if there is one, seems to be about how people are using or absorbing media wrong, and how this is annoying.

The essays are long and unhurried, and the fare will be familiar to anyone who spends a lot of time online. Many of them involve Twitter discourses of the past few years. Martin Scorsese’s views on Marvel movies make an appearance, as do the online sagas of the writers Lauren Hough, Kathleen Hale and Elizabeth Gilbert, each of whom raised the hackles of the online reviewing community with a variety of consequences.

The first essay, “Embarrassment, Panic, Opprobrium, Job Loss, Etc.,” traces gossip through the 21st century, from the rise and fall of the website Gawker to #MeToo and whisper networks, and the notorious anonymously sourced list of “bad media men” that shook up the magazine world in 2017. These episodes are fluidly stitched together with added context from history and literature, which is the structure of most of the essays in the book. At its best, it feels like your smart friend explaining to you something you missed on the internet, why it’s important and what it means. Occasionally, it feels like your friend overexplaining these things.

Oyler is a sharp and confident critic, and some interpretations in the book are outstanding. For instance, her reading of the film “Tár,” in an essay called “The Power of Vulnerability,” suggests it is not about cancel culture, as many critics wrote when it first came out, but about what would happen if a woman acted like a man. She writes: “We see Tár from rise to downfall, playing the man the entire time. We see her being called maestro. … Most important, we see her in this astounding, unrealistic career, which, in reality, a woman like her would never achieve. Not only because she is a woman, but because she is a woman who acts like a man: cocky, selfish, self-important, rude, on closer inspection a total fraud.” This is an invigorating way to think about the film, and one that sidesteps trite notions of cancellation.

Likewise, in an essay about the forever war of irony versus sincerity, sparked by David Foster Wallace’s 1993 essay “E. Unibus Pluram” and rehashed every few years online, she proposes that the binary itself is fake. “These oppositions are, have always been, reductive, false: A complex work will almost always have both irony and sincerity, and it is possible to express sincere — or authentic, or true — feelings through irony, a rhetorical device that is useful when you want to represent the tension between two conflicting ideas at the same time.”

The collection’s most ambitious essay is an assessment of autofiction as a form rather than a genre. There are many interesting reflections here on Oyler’s own work (“Fake Accounts” is autofiction) and on the work of others — Vladimir Nabokov, Sheila Heti, Sally Rooney and more.

I had never considered, for example, the space between the reader’s projection of an author of autofiction, and who the author really is. That the author can play with this — either defying or reifying the reader’s preconceived notions — is a tool, and a very cool one.

Still, the book’s measuredness cuts both ways. While it likely demonstrates Oyler’s growth as a writer (you can’t be an edgelord all your life), it lacks the boldness of her novel and magazine writing. It is oddly safe. “TED Talks are stupid,” she writes. Well, yeah; The Onion launched a series making fun of them in 2012.

That these essays were written specifically for the book, meaning they did not run as magazine stories or pegged to news events, made me wonder, sometimes, at the why of them. Why these particular topics? Why this set of minor irritations? Is there anything new or definitive about them? Is there a sense of risk, aesthetically or otherwise?

Luckily, the execution is fresh enough to keep one reading. And the barbs, when they do come, are good — in the final essay, a cheap dentist is described as “a tan man in a linoleum hole.” Maybe it’s best to follow the book’s lead and approach it with equanimity: We can appreciate and mourn its maturity both at once.

NO JUDGMENT : Essays | By Lauren Oyler | HarperOne | 288 pp. | $28.99

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CFP: "Horror," SWPACA Virtual Conference, June 20-22, 2024

Call for Papers

Southwest Popular / American Culture Association (SWPACA)

2024 SWPACA Summer Salon

June 20-22, 2024

Virtual Conference

https://www.southwestpca.org

Submissions open on March 25, 2024

Proposal submission deadline: April 15, 2024

Proposals for papers are now being accepted for the SWPACA Summer Salon. SWPACA offers nearly 70 subject areas in a variety of categories encompassing the following: Film, Television, Music, & Visual Media; Historic & Contemporary Cultures; Identities & Cultures; Language & Literature; Science Fiction & Fantasy; and Pedagogy & Popular Culture. For a full list of subject areas, area descriptions, and Area Chairs, please visit https://southwestpca.org/conference/call-for-papers/

The area chair for Horror invites all interested scholars to submit paper proposals on any aspect of horror in literature, film, television, digital and online media, as well as in general culture. Given the strong showing of work on horror cinema in recent years, we hope to continue this tradition, but also to diversify into new and unconventional areas, new media, and performative aspects of popular culture.

All proposals must be submitted through the conference’s database at https://register.southwestpca.org/southwestpca

For details on using the submission database and on the application process in general, please see the Proposal Submission FAQs and Tips page at https://southwestpca.org/conference/faqs-and-tips/ Registration information for the conference will be available at https://southwestpca.org/conference/conference-registration-information/

Individual proposals for 15-minute papers must include an abstract of approximately 200-500 words. Only one proposal per person, please; no roundtables.  

If you have any questions about the Horror area, please contact its Area Chair, Steffen Hantke, Sogang University, [email protected] . If you have general questions about the conference, please contact us at [email protected] , and a member of the executive team will get back to you.

We look forward to receiving your submissions!