Culture Low/High Context?

Each author in the article gives a definition as to what culture is. Some of the definitions are similar with only contextual variations and some are quite different than others. Since culture is cumulative, we can say that everyone is a product of culture and every author’s view is rightfully centered on the template of his/her individual group. The external and internal parts of all culture always have a believer in common. That person can choose to foster his/her indigenous culture or learn and adopt a new one. However, to be an intercultural competent one has to know the culture as if you were a native or more so as know the overt and covert aspects of it. Although some cultures are rigid in representations and practices, none are immutable. In our ever-changing and innovative world or with the globalization movement, the basic elements of culture such as beliefs, religion, language, food, music, dance, signs, and symbols are interchangeable and shared. For instance, the French “Haute Couture” which is represented by some very well known designers, the Chinese food, the Italian pizza, and the British and American Music are distributed and consumed in most parts of the world. The conceptual and cognitive differences that exist from culture to culture can be easily noted through traveling to another country, having a telephone conversation with someone, and searching the worldwide web. Ethnicity and communication are probably the two best indicators of cultural differences. A person with Oriental features may be stigmatized as a Buddhist whereas a blonde with blue eyes and a British accent may be considered a Christian. Culture, whether high or low context, binds, empowers, identifies, and distinguishes people. That within itself gives sense to cultural equality and relativism. Culture is not genetic. It is topical, mental, historical, normative, functional, behavioral, structural, and symbolic. This is essay gives me a new understanding of cultural concepts that I can personally apply and pass on to others such as my children and students. It is full of insights that can prepare someone for any cultural context. It reveals ignorance and instills knowledge and awareness that can ease interaction between different social groups and/or settings.