CULTURE

UNIT I
C O N T E M P O R A RY I N D I A
 WHAT IS CULTURE?

• The knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, cuisine, social habits,
music, art, architecture, philosophy and religion.
• Culture is the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings,
hierarchies, material objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of time.
• Culture is dynamic. It is essentially fluid and constantly in motion.
• Culture is referred to patterns of thought and behaviour of people. The individuals, belonging to
all communities, categories and backgrounds need to conduct themselves in accordance to the
norms and values.
• The dictionary defines culture as 'customs and civilization of a particular time or people' and
'intellectual and artistic achievement or expression'.
• Culture is spoken of as sanskriti in Vedic terms, the word originating from sanskara which is
imbued with the sense of a process of enhancement and cleansing.
• Sanskriti could then be taken to mean a collection of techniques or a system that purifies and
elevates Man's existence by showing him how to coexist in harmony with others and teaches
him the courtesies of living in human society and the practice philanthropy.
• It also gathers into its ambit, those values and modes of conduct which bring about refinement
and instils those sanskara which will take them on the road to enlightenment and will refine their
talents.
• In his book, Knowledge, Culture and Man, Pritibhushan Chatterji Culture "means something
cultivated or ripened... 'Culture' also refers to some kind of refinement which is born of
education and enlightenment."
• According to Prof. Edward Burnett Tylor, culture is a multifaceted set of "knowledge, belief, art,
law, morals, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of
society".
• According to William A. Haviland, "Culture is a set of rules or standards that, when acted upon by
the members of a society, produce behaviour that falls within a range of variance the members
consider proper and acceptable."
• Describing culture as both the result and foundation of instruction, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru declared
that it was fundamental for the creation and growth of both physical and mental attributes.
• In her book Culture and Modernity, Roop Rekha Verma defines culture as "a system of the
patterns and the modes of expectations, expressions, values, institutionalization and enjoyment
habits of people in general."
• Sri Rajgopalacharya, a great Indian philosopher and the first Governor General of independent
India, said that culture was the collective expression of the thoughts, speeches and deeds of the
learned, talented or creative members of a society or a nation.
• In culture can be found, the origin and evolution of all the thoughts, customs, objectives and
ethics of a particular country or society. It can rightly be said that culture is traditional yet
dynamic as it keeps expanding and developing.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE

• Culture is common to a group of people who make up a particular society. It can be said that culture
is like an ensemble of signs that every person puts up for the others so that he can be identified in a
distinct manner. It marks out and shows how we are different.
• It is not hereditary but something that is learned after birth during the period of socialization.
Culture is the different ways we have of knowing not only others but also ourselves.
• Culture is associated with various symbols such as an image, an object of worship, rituals, texts and
artefacts to continue its flow and it is dependent on people following the codes of conventions
associated with a specific culture.
• It is an amalgamation of social, economic and political features. Cultural historian Raymond Williams
refers to culture as a whole way of life, or a structure of feeling. This definition underlies the idea of
culture being something that one imbibes, often unconsciously and which influences and shapes all
things in your life, your attitudes, how you perceive something, how you react to it.
• Culture provides a sense of identity to its members, thus helping them cope with
difficulties during times of stress and lends meaning and continuity. Culture is the
one process that affirms one's sense of self and identity in this increasingly
divided and fragmented world of consumerism.
• Culture can never be the result of any one single person's initiative or endeavour
nor can it be said to be the consequence of any particular incident at any
particular time. It is a slow and gradual evolution over epochs and history.
• Culture is the collected legacy of innumerable ventures, trials and experiences
over time as societies and civilizations evolve over time.
• It is not something that is established or altered within the span of one
generation or period but is what slowly develops over a period of centuries
• Within the infinite ramifications of culture is encompassed the history of all
aspects of all human societies.
• It registers the movement and waves of thoughts and deeds; the ascent and
descent of empires and civilizations; the barriers that came in the way of human
progress; the cycles of ruin and regeneration of societies at the social, national
and global levels.
• All and any advancements made - whether in psychology, art, science, politics,
economy or dealing with the spiritual realm - are recorded in culture.
• Civilization is the expression of culture while culture is the origin and strength
of a civilization
• If culture cannot exist without people, people also cannot survive without
culture
TYPES OF CULTURE

High Low
Culture Culture

Popular Folk
Culture Culture
 HIGH CULTURE
• The term 'high culture' was introduced in English by the Victorian poet-critic, Matthew Arnold
through his work Culture and Anarchy in 1869. For him, 'high culture' was a force that
encouraged moral and political good. He said that this meant to "know the best that has been
said and thought in the world" and he defined 'high culture' as the "study of perfection". The poet
T. S. Eliot, in his Notes towards the definition of Culture (1948) felt that both high culture and
popular culture were essential for there to be a complete culture.
• Much of 'high culture' pertains to the appreciation of 'high art', a term that includes Literature,
Performing Arts, Music and the Visual Arts.
• What was regarded as being a part of this 'high culture' was that which had mostly been created
during a time when the artist had the patronage of wealthy, sophisticated and aesthetically
inclined people and was thus able to produce works of art in an atmosphere that was free of
financial or other tensions.
• 'High Culture' refers to paintings or cinema by the acknowledged masters, classical music or
dance and writing that has been established as canons.
• Although it has been criticized as being elitist and catering only to the educated, urban, affluent
class, efforts have frequently been made to involve the general public in exhibitions or concerts
that featured 'high culture’.
• Governments of various countries also promote it by funding museums and libraries and
subsidizing theatre or music groups.
• As access to books and education gradually opened up, academicians took up the study of all
aspects of high culture and courses that focus on liberal arts promote this concept although
they do not nowadays, use this specific term.
• Ernest Gellner viewed it as an essential feature in the formation of a composite national
identity and he defined high culture as"...a literate codified culture which permits context- free
communication". He distinguishes between various cultures rather than on the differences
within a particular culture and contrasts 'high culture' with less complicated, agriculture-based
'low cultures'.
• Yet another Sociology related, broader, class based concept of 'high culture' defines it as, "taste",
under which can be found etiquette, appreciation of fine food and wine etc. It also refers to
certain social rules that are meant for the upper class and which are not accessible to the
lower classes.
 CULTURE CAPITAL

• Cultural capital is the accumulation of knowledge, behaviors, and skills that a person can tap
into to demonstrate one's cultural competence and social status. French sociologist Pierre
Bourdieu coined the term in his 1973 paper the “Cultural Reproduction and Social
Reproduction” co-authored by Jean-Claude Passeron.
• The accumulation of knowledge is used to reinforce class differences. That's because variables
such as race, gender, nationality, and religion often determine who has access to different forms
of knowledge. Social status also frames some forms of knowledge as more valuable than
others.
STATES OF CULTURE CAPITAL

Embodied
State

Institutionalized
Objectified State
State
 CULTURAL CAPITAL IN AN EMBODIED
STATE
• In his 1986 essay, "The Forms of Capital," Bourdieu broke down the concept of cultural capital
into three parts. First, he stated that it exists in an embodied state, meaning that the knowledge
people acquire over time, through socialization and education, exists within them.
• The more they obtain certain forms of embodied cultural capital, say knowledge of classical music
or hip-hop, the more they are primed to seek it out.
• As for norms, mores, and skills such as table manners, language, and gendered behavior, people
often act out and display embodied cultural capital as they move through the world and interact
with others.
 CULTURAL CAPITAL IN AN OBJECTIFIED
STATE
• Cultural capital also exists in an objectified state.
• This refers to the material objects individuals own that might relate to their
educational pursuits (books and computers), jobs (tools and equipment),
clothing and accessories, the durable goods in their homes (furniture, appliances,
decorative items), and even the food they purchase and prepare.
• These objectified forms of cultural capital tend to signal one's economic class.
CULTURAL CAPITAL IN AN
INSTITUTIONALIZED STATE
• This refers to the ways in which cultural capital is measured, certified, and
ranked. Academic qualifications and degrees are prime examples of this, as are
job titles, political offices, and social roles like husband, wife, mother, and father.
• Bourdieu emphasized that cultural capital exists in a system of exchange with
economic and social capital.
• Economic capital, of course, refers to money and wealth. Social capital refers to
the collection of social relations an individual has at one's disposal with peers,
friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, etc.
• But economic capital and social capital can be exchanged for each other.
• With economic capital, a person can buy access to prestigious
educational institutions that then reward one with valuable social
capital.
• In turn, both the social and cultural capital accumulated at an elite
boarding school or college can be exchanged for economic capital
via social networks, skills, values, and behaviors that point one to
high-paying jobs.
• For this reason, Bourdieu observed that cultural capital is used to
facilitate and enforce social divisions, hierarchies, and ultimately,
inequality.
 LOW CULTURE

• low culture is associated with the pattern of cultural experiences and attitudes
that exist in the lowest class segments of a society.
• The Romantic Movement was among the first to take another look at the
supposed 'low culture' and re-value it at a time when medieval romances that
had earlier been disparaged began to influence literature.
• 'Low culture' is also another term for popular culture ie, that which has mass
appeal. This could include things in society as diverse as gossip magazines or talk
shows, sports like football or cricket, film music and books that are currently
best sellers or even take-away food.
 POPULAR CULTURE

• In the fifteenth century, the word 'popular' when used in law and politics, denoted 'low', 'base',
'vulgar' and 'of the common people’.
• It was not until the latter part of the eighteenth century that the word gained the positive
connotation of what it is taken to mean today 'widespread' and 'well-liked’.
• This type of culture, also known as pop culture, as the term suggests, is related to all those
activities (along with their associated symbols) that are popular or common. The question which
arises is how is this determined? It is determined most often by the mass media which defines
and even determines what is popular in the social context - i.e. all that is accepted by the majority
of the members of a society.
• Popular culture is also taken to mean all those cultural factors that are widely prevalent in a
particular society and which are transmitted through the local language.
• Popular culture features constant change and is limited by both space and time.
• Elements of pop culture may actually diversify or evolve into a separate sub-culture as well.
Whatever constitutes popular culture appeals to an extensive section of the public.

• Popular culture is also often defined as Mass Culture, which is commercially driven, mass-
produced and is meant for mass consumption.
• It can also be termed as the 'authentic' culture because it most reflects the tastes and fashions
of the majority of that period.
• It is often seen as being almost antithetical to the exclusive, elitist 'high culture' and a sign of
resistance by the masses. Popular culture has been seen to have emerged from the shift to
urbanization after the Industrial Revolution.
• The popular culture refers to the pattern of cultural experiences and attitudes that exist in
mainstream society. Popular culture events might include a parade, a baseball game, or the
season finale of a television show.
• Music, anime, and cosplay are pieces of popular culture. Popular culture is accessible by most
and is expressed and spread via commercial and social media outlets such as radio, television,
movies, the music industry, publishers, and corporate-run websites.
• Although high culture may be considered by some as superior to popular culture, the lines
between high culture and popular culture vary over time and place. Shakespearean plays,
considered to be popular culture when they were written, are now part of our society’s high
culture.
 FOLK CULTURE
• This is the tradition and customs of a particular community or society that is reflected in the local
lifestyle.
• Folk culture is usually transmitted from generation to generation through the oral tradition and is
imbued with a strong feeling of community.
• It also shows up the differences between what used to be done and the new ways of doing it.
• In earlier times during the pre-industrial eras, folk culture was equivalent to mass culture and
hence could also be called the popular culture of that time.
• Folklore was and is a part of popular culture.
• Folk culture is firmly rooted to a sense of place. Even when some elements of it are shifted to a
new locale, as in the case of migration, the displaced elements still carry strong connotations of
the place of their origin.
• What distinguishes folk culture from popular culture is that the former places emphasis on
looking inward without reference to the outside, unlike the latter.
• However, it must not be forgotten that folk culture has always influenced both 'popular' and
'high' culture and many features of folk culture have gone on to become an indistinguishable and
inextricable part of both these cultures.

• https://alg.manifoldapp.org/read/introduction-to-human-geography/section/1450fd73-fcd7-4c3e-
bfd5-6ec00e2f1479
 INDIAN FOLK ARTS
• India is a place where stories are told through art, dance, music, food, and customs. To understand
the rich history of India, you should start by subscribing to stories that are told in folk art.
• The Indian folk arts are an important part of the nation’s culture and identity because they are
directly connected with spiritual nature of people’s lives.
• While exploring the history of culture, it is essential to understand the background of each
country. India, with its rich history and influence on other cultures, has a lot to teach
about culture.
• India is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.4 billion people living in it. It is home
to some of the most ancient civilizations, and has a long history of cultural richness to boast
about.
• While India was a place where many scholars and intellectuals found refuge from colonialism, it
also became a place where many ideas were exchanged and creative works were created.
• From Vedic philosophy, to the teachings of Buddha, India has always been at the forefront
of culture-changing ideas.
• Culture is an important part of any society. It can help or hinder the way a nation creates,
develops, and progresses. Culture is constantly evolving with time.
• Cultures and creativity both affect economic, social, and all other aspects of activity. The country
of India is one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries, as it has been home to a multitude
of cultures for millennia.
• This diversity in Indian and Culture is symbolized by the plurality of its culture. India has one of
the world’s largest collections of songs, music, dance, theatre, folk traditions, performing arts and
rites and rituals.
WHAT IS INDIAN FOLK ART?

• In Indian Art and Culture, one of the few forms of entertainment in ancient India was
folk arts. Indian folk arts are culturally based art forms that are handed down through
generations. These traditional art forms include music, dancing, puppetry, storytelling, and much
more.This is a very unique feature of Indian Art and Culture.
• In Indian Art and Culture, the art of storytelling has been around for as long as humans have
been telling one another stories. It has evolved over time to reflect changes in technology and
religion and social norms. It is said that storytelling first began with the fire story – where
people would gather around a fire at night and tell each other stories.
• Traditional Indian folk art is a term that refers to the artwork of people
who are not professional artists, such as painters or sculptors, and is often
created in isolation. In our Indian Art and Culture, the term “folk” imply an
emphasis on originality and simplicity: no formal qualification is required to
produce folk art, and the style of work reflects the culture from which it
originates.
• Folk arts are artistic traditions that originated in a common context and
were passed down through generations by being taught informally, this is
so much the heart of our Indian Art and Culture. They include painting,
drawing, sculpture, printmaking, blacksmithing, pottery-making, weaving, or
other textile arts such as quilting-crocheting-knitting; ceremonial object
making; decorative object making.
A I PA N A RT
Aipan art originated from Almora
in Uttarakhand, which was founded
during the reign of the Chand
dynasty. It flourished during the
reign of the Chand dynasty in
the Kumaon region.

The word Aepan is a derivative of

Arpan. A commonly used word for
it is “Likhai” (writing). Although it is
a pattern made with fingers. Aipan
are used as ritual design for Pujas,
festivals and ceremonies connected
with birth, janeu, marriage and
death.
C H E R I YA L S C RO L L
PA I N T I N G

The Cheriyal Scrolls paintings are

made in Hyderabad. They are made
by ragi dough that is shaped into
scrolls and then hand painted with
vegetable colors. The scrolls depict
scenes from the Ramayana,
Mahabharata or other epic folk
stories.

Cheriyal Scrolls paintings was

inseparable from the job of the story-
telling, balladeer community known
as Kaki Padagollu.

The Cheriyal scroll painting would go

up to 40-45 feet long. It would usually
be about 3 ft wide and written in
vertical format. Traditional scrolls are
set horizontally, meaning it shows the
story spread across the page.
 G O N D PA I N T I N G

Gond painting has been practiced by

the Gond tribe of Madhya Pradesh.
Generally painted with dots and dashes
or short lines, their illustrations feature
complex patterns.

A type of Mural painting, done beautifully

on the walls and floors as part of
festival celebrations. Primarily using natural
pigments for colours from vegetables,
flowers, cow dung or mud etc

Gondi Culture is the main background for

the designs and patterns selected. Gondi is
an Indian tribe that lives in the regions of
Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Andhra
Pradesh. The unique feature of Gond
painting is the fusion of living creatures
with nature, they all seem connected.

Jangrah Singh Shyam- Gond Tribal Artist

 D O K R A A RT

Dokra Damar tribes are the main traditional

metalsmiths in West Bengal and Odisha,
whose technique of lost wax casting is
named after them.

Dokra Art (also called Dhokra) named after

Dhokras tribe, a nomadic group that extends
from Jharkhand to the southern state of
West Bengal and the eastern state of Odisha.
They can be traced back to a few hundred
years ago when they traveled extensively,
going as far as Kerala and Rajasthan.

Dokra is non–ferrous metal casting using the

lost-wax casting technique.This sort of metal
casting has been used in India for over 4,000
years and is still used. One of the earliest
known lost wax artefacts is the dancing girl
of Mohenjo-daro.
 KALAMKARI
PA I N T I N G
The term Kalamkari is said to have
come from two words, “Kalam”, which
means pen, and “Kari”, which means
craftmanship. Kalamkari Painting
became popular under the patronage of
the Golconda sultanate.

Kalamkari is the oriental word for

the Indian village of Kalamkari where
this type of hand-painted or block-
printed textile was originally produced.
Now, Kalamkari paintings are also made
in Isfahan (Iran), Andhra Pradesh (India)
and Telangana (India).

Only natural dyes are used in

Kalamkari, which involves 23 steps.
There are two distinctive styles
of Kalamkari art in India– the
Srikalahasti style and the Machilipatnam
style.
 K A L I G H AT PAT
PA I N T I N G

Kalighat paintings are a tradition of

religious art prevalent in West Bengal,
India. The paintings of the Hindu
goddess of the same name, Kali, are
painted on cloth and can be seen on
roadside stalls and shops. These
paintings depict various scenes from
Hindu mythology and people believe
that they bring good luck and
prosperity.

The Kalighat paintings originated from

being items people would buy when
they visited the Kalighat Kali temple in
West Bengal. The paintings have been
around since the 19th century and have
developed a lot over time.
KERALA MURAL
PA I N T I N G

Kerala Mural paintings are one of the

most well known and distinctive
forms of art from Kerala, India. The
Kerala Mural paintings are a form
of temple art that have been
practiced in Kerala for over 2000
years and has been preserved
through generations by local artists.
Although they have been influenced
by western techniques, they have
retained their Indian roots.

A mural is a large painting on a wall

that often depicts a story. The word
is the Latin word for the word ‘wall’,
which correlates with them being
painted on either side of a wall.

Traditional murals are painted with

five colors, which are red, yellow,
green, black and white.
 K U T C H L I P PA N
A RT
It is a form of art that originated from
the Kutch region in Gujarat. This form
of art is a result of a fusion of the
traditional Kutch crafts with British
and Indian techniques.

The mud and mirror work features

materials such as clay and the dung of
the local camel population, which
allows for an interesting effect that
keeps homes cool.

Women from the Rabari community

are typically in charge of mud and
mirror work. They don’t trace or draw
a pattern before beginning the work.
This has made them especially skilled
at this art form.