Culture in American Society - Essay Example

Second Draft Roll No: Teacher: 22nd September 2008 Culture plays a vital role in our daily lives. Culture canbe defined as a system that incorporates various ways or patterns of performing any act, leading a life or behaving in a certain manner (Kroeber and Kluckhohn 1952). Culture can also be defined as a shared set of values identified by all members of the society (Kroeber and Kluckhohn 1952). Every culture has some patterns and believes and people tend to be different with their respective cultures (White 1949).

Culture is created by means of people of a particular society. It is also said that culture plays a part in the development of a society or an individual (White 1949). Culture can be judged by means of religion, lifestyle, literature, music, foods, arts and architecture, language, fashions, behaviors, rituals and symbols employed by individuals of a society (Tyler 1974). The culture is shifted from generation to the other generation and keeps on changing (Kroeber and Kluckhohn 1952). The topic, which interests me the most, is the association of culture to the development of society and individuals of a society.

American society has developed not because of one culture but it has many cultures behind its origin. America is a multicultural society in which, people from different societies develop and add their own cultural values to this multicultural society (Schlesinger 1991). Because of existence of multiple cultures in America, the society as a whole is affected (Schlesinger 1991). I want to do research on American society and the role of multiple cultures and individuals from those cultures on the development of the society as a whole.

I want to analyze whether the multicultural impact on the society has come up to be advantageous or disadvantageous and how has the society developed because of the migration of individuals from multiple cultures. Culture is an important part of our lives, which is responsible for shaping our personalities (Dabaghian 1970). It enables us to develop into the individuals as we are. People from different cultures are different because of the different social values that are there because of culture (Tyler 1974).

With the help of culture, the development in a society can be judged. With the passage of time, the culture of a society goes through various transactions that are the outcome of change in cultural values because of many reasons (Dabaghian 1970). This aspect can be better judged in American society that has gone through many transactions since its development. The reasons that can bring in a change in a culture are invasion of a country, impact of global linkage, migration of people from other cultures, colonialism and many others (Dabaghian 1970).

In America’s case, it is because of migration of people towards America for the search of financial stability and better future. America is considered as a land of opportunities, which facilitates people from all cultures to come and search for their fate (Schlesinger 1991). The change is not necessarily good. The change brought by the intrusion of another culture keeps the ability to annihilate the cultural values of a particular culture or one culture can be amalgamated in another culture and can come out in form of a new culture (Agbaje 1996).

As far as America is concerned, the change can be seen as a change towards development. The development is advantageous or disadvantageous, that is needed to be found out. Therefore, I want to do some research in culture related development of American society because I consider that I have a profound liking for the role of culture on development. Culture is webbed with our lives and its participation in the development of our personalities cannot be negated. Works Cited Agbaje, A. Culture, corruption and development.

Voices from Africa, 1996: 41-51. Dabaghian, J. Mirror of Man: Readings in Sociology and Literature. Canada: Little, Brown and Company Limited, 1970. Tylor, E.B. Primitive culture: researches into the development of mythology, philosophy, religion, art, and custom. New York: Gordon Press, 1974. White, L. The Science of Culture: A study of man and civilization. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1949. Kroeber, A. L. and Kluckhohn, C. Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions.

Cambridge, MA: Peabody Museum, 1952. Schlesinger, Jr. Arthur M. The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society. US: Whittle Books, 1991.