Culture

I have chosen the word CULTURE because this is the theme which I feel in my head that I have the most ideas for and that I would find most interesting to invest my time and thoughts in. 

The word culture is derived from the Latin 'culture' meaning a cultivated piece of land and was used in terms of growth. This then spread from cultivation of the soil to cultivation of the mind and faculties which leads to our modern day understanding of the word.

To me, culture is about the doings of a particular group of people who define themselves in a certain way. These groups can form on a basis of nationality, religion, heritage, interests, beliefs and opinions and can express their culture through things such as behaviour, clothing, diet or celebrations. There are some long lasting cultures steeped in history but in contrasts there are 'fads' which come and go which is a sign of times changing a lot quicker as the world continues to develop, the question of what gives a culture its value could be asked here. I think how 'cultured' you are does not just depend on how much you are a part of a particular group but also how aware you are of the world around you. 

Quotes about culture:

Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit. Jawaharlal Nehru.

'Whoever controls the media, the images, controls the culture.' Allen Ginsberg.

This is interesting, especially for a maker, because it is saying that you can create empowering work but it is dependent on who controls what is fed out into the public whether your work will have the chance to make an impact or not. It starts up the topic of underground subcultures, steering the focus away from the mainstream. This links to the quote below which suggests which says a similar thing. 

If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision  wherever it takes him. John F. Kennedy. 

Moral values, and a culture and a religion, maintaining these values are far better than laws and regulations. Swami Sivananda.

'American culture is probably the least Christian culture that we've ever had because its so materialistic and it's so full of lies. The whole advertising world is just intertwined with lies, appealing to the worst of the instincts we have.' Eugene H. Peterson. 

(I like this quote. This is something I am quite interested in at the moment especially after watching numerous documentaries about the American food industry and how twisted it is. Peterson wrote 'The Message' which is the bible written in contemporary language which is more easily understood and recognised nowadays. Although this is not really relevant to this specific quote, it raises the issue of religions becoming outdated and whether or not changes should be made. This can be extended beyond just religion into nationalities and the cultures of classes.)

Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory, there would be no civilisation, no society, no future. Elie Wiesel.

'Even through sugar was very expensive, people consumed it til their teeth turned black and  if their teeth didn't turn black natural, they blackened them artificially to show how wealthy and marvellously self indulgent they were.' Bill Bryson

(This quote from Bryson's 'At Home - A Short History of a Private Life' is basically about trying to fit in and giving off an image that is not true to yourself. Although this is clearly an outdated example, this idea is extremely relevant today as fads come and go and people feel the need to keep up so they are accepted into that particular culture. There is definitely an argument to be had about the pressures of different cultures and whether we should be defined and governed by some of these ideas or principles.)

Images relating to culture:

baubauhaus.com

This image could have a lot of different intended meanings but I take the theme of fusion from it. I think it can be interpreted as a humorous way of showing that new and interesting things can come from fusing different cultures together.

Carol Rossetti

I can't say I value the artwork and craft in this image but the message gives off a sense of freedom to do what you want with your own body. In an interview about this series of illustrations Rossetti said that 'its mostly about our freedom to express our identities and make our own life choices.' Tattooing has become a culture in itself and it made me think about this in comparison to a religion. Why is there a difference between people united by a belief and people united by an interest and art form?

Luis Quiles

I think this illustration by Quiles makes you think about how some cultures are becoming outdated - messages in holy books for example may not be relevant to world issues today but people still turn to them to try and help solve their problems. 

Photographs relating to culture:

Dmitri Markine

This photograph is an example of how people use their appearance to show their devotion to a certain culture, in this case an African tribe. 

Ben Sherman - 50 years of style culture

This is a photograph from a 70s northern soul all nighter last Wigan Casino. This says a lot about how music and fashion play a big part in culture. Locations can be significant to certain cultures, for example Wigan Casino was a primary venue for northern soul.

Kawaii culture

In Japanese culture, Kawaii is the equivalent of a level of 'cuteness'. Kawaii culture has different branches within it and is an example of a modern culture - it has influences from the past but only started to emerge properly in the mid 70s.