Cultural components are part of the common characteristics that determine a person as belonging to a group or nation. They are those elements by which the particularities of people from a certain physical environment are defined.
Culture is an extensive concept that characterizes a population in its artistic manifestations, language, history, gastronomy and even the way of dressing. They are learned manifestations, which have usually been transmitted from generation to generation.
Culture is determined by an adaptation mechanism, which consists of the ability of individuals to respond to the environment in accordance with the changes manifested in the order of these customs common to a social group (usually defined by territorial limits).
Cultural component and its characteristics
In the cultural components of a nation, the general characteristics of the concept of culture are evident, which is defined by a set of actions learned and acquired by a particular group, which makes them feel identity with certain activities and actions. In general, we can characterize a culture as follows:
- It affects all human activity, because it is part of who we are, and the way we perceive and relate to the world.
- Culture is action, because it is a reality that involves various actors, being lived by people, which translates into ways of acting that mark the daily events of a group of people.
- People tend to feel the components of a culture as part of their being, they live them as if they were elements of their individuality.
- They are customs that have been formalized through the acceptance of a group, although they are not entirely correct, its massification is what gives it support and validity.
- They are ways shared by a plurality of people, what makes a custom part of a culture is the acceptance given by a mass of people.
- You are not born with culture, culture is learned, therefore, there are no biological / hereditary components that determine its existence; and although it can be spread from one generation to another, this is done through learning, and not by diffusion of genetic factors.
- It is objective and symbolic.
Cultural components
Culture is a dynamic group that tends to adapt to the physical and social environment and to the innovations of all kinds that are produced. No culture can remain static, even when they maintain their essence, there is no culture that is not subject to change, they are dynamic, they change, they evolve, since they must adjust to the new physical, social and political conditions that surround their development. Those that resist change, those that do not adapt to innovations, these cultures are destined to perish, since they become isolated and a culture that is isolated disappears. The most agile cultures, although they often seem vulnerable, due to possible external influence, have a great chance of surviving, although also in this path or transit, they can easily lose some of their characteristics, which are often defined as cultural components, the which are the basic elements that define a specific culture, among them we can mention:
Knowledge and beliefs
Collective knowledge regarding various topics, and the way in which to proceed with respect to them, is part of the culture, and this is evidence that the cultural factor is involved in the learning process of people. The beliefs part defines explanations that are not entirely true, nor do they have scientific support, and that nevertheless constitute explanations propagated within a social group regarding phenomena and processes.
From the most primitive societies or peoples to the most complex or advanced societies, all social groups know how to cope with daily tasks, what must be done every day in order to survive regardless of their beliefs, ideologies or values.
Politics
Political trends and the development of the nation are part of the construction of cultural manifestations, and the learning of ways to proceed.
History
The historical events that surround the development of a certain social group are part of the characteristics that define the establishment of customs in other areas, since they determined learning in the towns.
The historical events of relevance within the cultural components are those that marked the beginning of a social group. For them, the peoples use their preservation as a reminder of their autonomy, in order to transmit to future generations the identification with the characteristics of their people of origin.
Art
Especially in this item the manifestation of the particularities of the peoples is evident, largely determined by the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation. Here manifestations such as painting, music, writing, stories, etc. are covered.
Language
Even when members of different cultures speak the same language, their particularities lead them to develop different dialects, in which environmental and social factors intervene. The dialect determines the pronunciation, expressions and combinations of words.
Gastronomy
It defines the food we eat, the combination of products, the type of diet we follow. In general, nations have typical dishes that define and identify them.
Dress
Determine the formal codes to wear on various occasions. It also determines colors and garments.
Transmission of cultural components
As we have already mentioned, culture is not a biological fact, but rather has a social character, therefore, its diffusion is defined by learning derived from contact with other individuals.
- Through a process of socialization we acquire culture, since, from our birth, and more relevant in the childhood stage. However, this process persists throughout our lives, as we acquire culture by learning.
- Once we acquire it, we make it part of our personal structure in a natural way, without our being aware of it, it is not something imposed.
- Finally, we adapt to the social environment and make it our own, and that cultural component becomes part of our personal characteristics, so that the individual feels fully identified with them.