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Module 6 Exam #1
XXXX
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
HUMN 210: World Culture
David S. Murphy, Ph.D.
XXXX XX, 20XX
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Question 1.
A.) What are the three elements of cultural studies according to the “What does Cultural
Studies do” video lesson? Describe each of these elements and how they relate to one
another.
According to the video “What does Cultural Studies do” at approximately the 2:30 mark
reveals that the three elements of cultural studies are: texts, context, and lived experiences
(Zambrano, 2016). These three elements form the basis of how a culture identifies itself.
Regarding texts it was mentioned that they are anything that generates meaning of signify
cultural practices. Some of the examples mentioned were dress such as the kimono in Japan,
music such as rap and country, sports/teams such as basketball or All Blacks, entertainment such
as cinema and television; all of these can be identified as texts (Zambrano, 2016). Context on the
other hand is the way a person interprets texts and lived experiences is exactly as it sounds all the
experiences that an individual has gone through in life which can be shared from generation to
generation. All three elements are intertwined and essential with respect to someone’s cultural
identity. Without texts one would not be able to interpret their meaning and without meaning one
cannot form meaningful life experiences thus negating the necessary building blocks required for
cultural identity to evolve in future generations.
B.) How does your personal lived experience contribute to your understanding of cultural
studies?
Having served in the US Marine Corps for as long as I did allowed me to experience
cultures that I would otherwise have not experienced had I not joined. As the organization is a
melting pot of people from across the US and its territories it was a unique blend of patriotism
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mixed in with whatever cultural a specific Marine identified as. I also had the pleasure of visiting
other countries and I was able to witness how they live their lives and how similar/dissimilar
their cultures were to what I had experienced back in the United States.
Question 2.
A.) Identify one major force of globalization and explain its impact on one aspect of culture
we have studied so far (for example, cuisine, language, religion, etc.)
With regards to globalization I believe that technology has had a significant impact on
culture, more specifically smart phones. The ability to pull out our smart phones and utilize it
them to search anything and everything as well as interact with people all across the globe is
unique as we are not longer confined to what is going on locally. The ability to learn about
different places and people expands our outlook and intrigue of humanity. The fact we have
instantaneous access to information and the ability to communicate allows people around the
world to be more connected than ever before. Now there are drawbacks such as becoming
addicted to social media or becoming trapped in an echo chamber of disinformation, however as
a whole the benefits outweigh the negatives.
B.) Using your answer to Part A, describe how this force of globalization impacts your
personal life.
The impact smart phones have had are larger than I can even explain. Due to the
instantaneous ability to communicate with people allowed me to meet my wife. I met my wife
through a dating social media app that I would otherwise not have had access too had I not had a
phone. Aside from that major part of my life, the access to information any time I wish allows
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me to educate myself with cultures and places that fascinate me such as Japan and has also
allowed me to interact and learn about people from Japan.
Question 3.
A.) Drawing from “The Future of World Religions” by the Pew Research Center,
summarize the future of one major religion. Be sure to address projected change in global
population as well as age distribution and fertility rate.
Having been baptized Catholic I will stick with Christianity for the sake of this question.
According to the Pew Research Center (2015) Christianity is the largest religion in the world
with a 2010 estimate of 2.2 billion followers. The graphs within the article estimates that as the
world’s population grows Christianity will still be the largest religion by 2050 with 2.92 billion
followers, however will still maintain the same percentage of followers when regarding the
global population at 31.4% ("future of world religions: Population growth projections, 20102050," 2015). It is also mentioned that Christians have the second highest fertility rate at 2.7
behind Muslims at 3.1, this aspect along with the fact that 27% of Christians are under that age
of 15 indicates that as the world population increases Christians are projected to keep pace
("future of world religions: Population growth projections, 2010-2050," 2015).
B.) From your personal experience, what is one 21st century technology that you think
might contribute to the globalization of a religion? Be sure to explain why / how that
technology might contribute to globalization.
As mentioned in question 2, I believe that the use of technology such as computers and
smart phones by religious organizations can assist them in spreading their faith much more
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efficiently than in the past. The use of this technology could reduce the amount of physical
missionaries that would be needed to convert future followers or the physical need to attend
church. I remember seeing church service TV programs on Sunday mornings and this would not
be entirely different than if one were to watch on a smart phone or computer, the only thing I see
differently is that you can watch whenever due to the ability to watch saved videos whenever one
pleases. It would allow practitioners to be even more connected than it would be by just
attending church once a week.
Question 4.
A.) How does Chef Edward Lee describe American cuisine in the podcast episode of “The
Takeaway?” Be sure to use specific examples from the podcast.
One of the initial statements Chef Lee mentions is that American food is the luxury of
diversity (Botti & Ross, 2018). This is due to the United States having a diverse array if cultures
and that if someone really wanted to they can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner from various
different cultures in the same day. Chef Lee also mentioned that as food comes into the country it
evolves as what would be considered traditional food is cooked with American ingredients and
that food could be accepted before the culture itself is accepted. He also believes that the
gentrification of food is an evolution of cuisine that must be accepted as it could be seen as an
addition to a culture and can be seen as an elevation of art (Botti & Ross, 2018).
B.) Compare and contrast Chef Lee’s definition with your personal relationship with
American cuisine.
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I for one acknowledge and accept Chef Lee’s assertion that American cuisine is a melting
pot. I too view food as art along with being a cultural identifier, but seeing as we are all
Americans in this country it is amazing that food can be fluid in that it can become just as unique
in its own right just like it was as a traditional food in its culture of origin.
Question 5.
A.) Drawing from the article by Noels, Yashima & Zhang (2011), summarize one of the
three disciplinary perspectives on identity, language, and intercultural communication in
Section 2.
One of the three disciplinary perspectives is that of the Vygotskyan/social-historical
perspective. This perspective emphasizes the relationship between an individual and that of their
society (Jackson, 2011). This relationship can help forge the identity of an individual as they
gain control of their environment as well as of themselves (Jackson, 2011). It also describes that
through conversations, a child can learn about themselves and view themselves as something
worth meaning (Jackson, 2011)
B.) Provide an example from your life applying the disciplinary perspective you
summarized.
As I experienced new peoples and cultures during my time in the US Marines I was able
to use those experiences to mold myself into the person I am today. I am not longer bound by
only the experiences I had as a child in the Midwest, but someone is more diverse in culture do
to my relationship with those who grew up a little differently than I did and I was able to use
some of their experiences to mold myself into a better person.
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References
Botti, A., & Ross, W. E. (2018, July 17). Chef Edward Lee on the Multilayered Melting Pot of
American Cuisine. The Takeaway [Audio podcast].
https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/chef-edward-leemultilayered-melting-pot-american-cuisine
The future of world religions: Population growth projections, 2010-2050. (2015, April 2). Pew
Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/religious-projections2010-2050/
Jackson, J. (2011). The Routledge handbook of language and intercultural communication.
Routledge. https://ebookcentral-proquestcom.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/lib/erau/reader.action?ppg=71&docID=958214&tm=1
534879203358
Zambrano, N. (2016, May 1). What does Cultural Studies do [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQaNy5TmOFs