20 Best Examples of Culture (Tips for Students)

In this article, we will be discussing various examples of culture and what they represent.

Culture is a natural identity and belief of an individual. When a person doesn’t identify with a particular culture, it’s difficult to determine their true identity.

The world has always been a place where people have and practice different kinds of cultures. The culture of a particular ethnicity remains in existence today because it has been passed to the next generation.

We are able to know a few things about our culture because it was preserved by those who came before us.

New cultures have emerged over the last few decades and we will be discussing more of them in this post. Stay with us as we discuss the best examples of culture.

What Is Culture?

Culture has been defined over and over again by various scholars. Culture is the identity of a particular group of people, which consist of language, belief, music, cuisine, value, and social habits.

All ethnic group found on the surface of the earth has their history. It’s easy to identify which ethnic group someone belongs to once we know their name, the language they speak, or their belief.

Although it’s becoming difficult these days to identify a person’s ethnic background, due to a change of identity through medical procedures.

But, we can still identify a Christian, Muslim, or Jew by simple interaction or individual attire. (Ref)

Also Read: What Is Cultural Diversity And Why Is It Important?

What Are the Elements of Culture?

Besides, sharing the same language, social habits, music, and religion, there is so much more about culture. The elements of culture include the following’

Symbols

Every culture existing on the surface of the earth today is filled with symbols or things that represent something important. There are symbols that represent types of nonverbal communication and other symbols are material objects.

Generally, there are several nonverbal symbols. The one that is very common is the shaking of hands. We have seen people shake hands to agree on a deal or show friendly acts to others.

This is very common in many societies but there are those who do not accept or use it. Shaking hands depicts an act of friendship and acceptance.

We have seen sportsmen and women shake hands after a competitive game. Soldiers at war accepting a truce also shake hands as a sign to accept peace.

Shaking hands is also a sign of greeting a friendly fellow.

This one is very common but other societies around the world have their nonverbal symbols. The Chinese and Japanese are known to bow their heads as a sign of greeting.

Other cultures around the world also have theirs. It could be moving a particular part of the body, or raising hands to convey emotion or ideas.

Language

Language is one of the most important factors in identifying a person’s ethnic background. Nations around the world speak different languages. When a non-native speaker of English speaks the language, we are likely to identify their nationality through their accent.

Throughout human history, language has been a barrier. Despite that, people were also able to trade centuries ago. The human brain is unique and has a way to understand others, even if they don’t speak the same language.

Language is no longer much of a problem since we can translate languages we don’t understand using our phones.

Norms

We are still on the subject of the best examples of culture.

Norms emphasize an individual’s behaviour. It’s the formal and informal rules on what type of behaviour is appropriate and acceptable within society.

Rituals

Cultures around the world perform different rituals and they have significant meaning. A child must accept the next transition of his or her life through a ritual.

In many cultures, rituals are performed to reveal an individual gender identity. In some cases, tribesmen must initiate young men of a particular age to mark their transition into adulthood.

20 Best Examples of Cultures

It’s important for a person to identify with a particular culture. Culture naturally identifies which ethnic group a person belongs to.

Let’s explore the best examples of culture.

#1. Traditional Culture

Before the world became a global village, people were living in isolation and there are those who still maintain things that way. Back then, cultures were defined within a geographical area.

People accepted their traditions back then. It was more of listening to traditional music, wearing traditional attire, and cooking and eating traditional foods.

Interacting with the outside world created a gap and today, many people don’t celebrate their traditional culture. They only identify as people from that region but know little or nothing about their traditional culture.

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#2. Indigenous Culture

Indigenous culture is about the culture of the aboriginal people living on a continent before the arrival of colonizers. An example is the Sioux people of North America before Christopher Columbus landed on the continent in the 15th century.

The Aboriginal people of Australia and the Maori people of New Zealand had their indigenous cultures before the arrival of the Europeans. We have also seen this play out on the African continent during the 16 century.

#3. Internet Culture

The Internet culture came into existence in the 1980s, but it became more popular in the mid-1990s. Since the mid-1990s, the internet has grown massively, connecting people, and making the world a global village.

Internet culture refers to the new development and how people around the world connect with each other. We don’t have to worry about distance or language being a barrier to communication.

The introduction of social media in the early 2000s has allowed us to connect with people of different nationalities. It has also been a source of livelihood for millions of people out there.

#4. Dominant Culture

The dominant culture is one of the best examples of culture.

A dominant culture represents the values which are relevant within a society. Take the United States for example, where the dominant culture is Western culture.

But let’s not forget that the United States is a multicultural nation, so there are other cultures existing within America. They include African-American, American-Italian, Mexican-American, Asian-American, and Irish-American cultures.

#5. Counterculture

Countercultures are oppositional and will resist dominant cultures accepted by many. Subcultures are often accepted or tolerated by the dominant culture, to say the least.

During the late 1990s, there was an anti-globalization movement and it represented a prominent counterculture.

#6. Chinese Culture

China remains one of the ancient nations in the world with a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries. The Chinese invented gunpowder, tea, fireworks, and paper.

Chinese culture and Western culture can be compared. Both cultures are dominant and are widely celebrated across the world today.

Western culture is different from Chinese culture, as the latter is a much more hierarchically oriented society.

#7. Islamic Culture

Islamic culture is one of the best examples of culture.

It’s a religion practised by billions of people around the world and has a rich cultural history. The Arabic world gave us algebra, surgery, and university.

Islam is widely accepted in the Asian continent and some parts of Africa. A religion that allows us to identify those practising it through their attire and music.

#8. Western Culture

Western culture has influenced billions of people worldwide. The Western world is believed to be intertwined with Christianity and European values.

The Western world played an important role in promoting liberty, secularism, feminism, and democracy.

Slavery has been the dark side of Western world history. They were the oppressors in the 16th and 17th centuries.

#9. European Culture

The European culture also influenced Western culture in a manner. Explorers who came to the new world in the 15th century were Europeans.

The European culture introduced exciting arts, food, and music to the new world. Sports is also one of the best things the European culture introduced to the new world.

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#10. Nordic Culture

Nordic countries are within Northern Europe but have their unique cultural orientations.

Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Faroe Island are all Nordic nations. These nations share a common Viking history, as well as traditional music.

Nordic nations are some of the world’s most progressive countries with good social democratic traditions.

#11. Global Culture

Global culture is one of the best examples of culture. It emerged in the late 20th century and people around the world were accepting it.

Generally, global culture is widely promoted with the help of international institutions. An example is the United Nations (UN) and Amnesty International.

These international institutions share a common goal and that is to protect fundamental human rights, geopolitical norms, and social respect.

#12. Amish Culture

The Amish culture resists the new world of technology and totally embraces the old ways of Christianity.

The orthodox cultural group believes that technology is a corrupting force that should be avoided. They believe in dwelling in an old-fashioned world, rejecting all forms of technology.

Since they don’t accept or use modern equipment, you can only imagine what their attire would look like.

#13. Popular Culture

Popular culture is comparable to low culture. However, it’s generally used to refer to popular music and entertainment.

An example is the kind of music commonly listened to by millions of people. Another example of popular culture is television shows widely accepted and watched by many.

American Idol and Britain’s Got Talent are TV shows that embrace pop culture. Blockbuster movies are also typical examples of popular culture.

#14. Subculture

Subcultures generally emerge within a dominant culture.

An example of subcultures include hipsters, hippies, punks, and graffiti artists. Subcultures usually last for a couple of years and then disappear.

However, subcultures sometimes become very popular and emerge as the dominant culture.

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#15. Syncretic Culture

Syncretic culture is a result of the combination of two cultures. It exists as a brand-new culture but it’s influenced by the two parent cultures.

The Metis people of Canada are an example of syncretic culture. The Metis came into existence due to the merger of the indigenous cultures of natives in North America and European.

Metis people practice their culture, have their food, and their traditional dance. Cohabiting with the Europeans gave birth to the mix of indigenous and catholic religious traditions called Santeria.

Santeria is a religion where traditional indigenous spirituality is celebrated and catholic saints are also worshipped.

#16. Gamer Culture

Since gaming has become profitable for several professional gamers, the gamer culture has become something big.

Gamers earn money playing games online with a large audience joining online. There have been major concerns about the effect of spending hours in front of the computer playing games online.

The mental health of professional gamers remains a major concern.

#17. Youth Cultures

Kids born in the 80s had a different experience compared to those born in this millennium. Every generation of youths develops its trends and cultures.

Youth in this generation create their slang, music, fashion, and dance moves. The older generation may feel that these new trends don’t represent good morals.

Every decade comes with a new trend, dance moves, words, fashion, and music.

#18. Media Culture

The early 20th century was the period when mass media became more popular in the Western world.

Other nations accepted mass media as images and relevant information was transmitted to the masses. In cultural studies, media culture is used to represent how mass media changed the Western world.

#19. Italian-American Culture

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who journeyed to the new world. Today, Italian-American culture is very popular in cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago.

Many Americans identify with their Italian heritage. The mass migration to the continent during the 19th century remains one of the most important in American history.

Pizza is enjoyed by many Americans all thanks to the great migration in the 19th century.

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#20. Punk Culture

Punk culture is one of the widely recognized subcultures to emerge in the 20th century. Although it’s becoming an insignificant culture, it enjoyed success and popularity during the 70s.

The Ramones were a rock band that promoted punk culture in America back in the 1970s. Punk culture vanished over the next decades and today we can hardly hear anything about it.

Conclusion

Culture naturally identifies the true identity of an individual. Its element includes language, ritual, norms, and symbols.

There are multiple examples of culture and each identifies a group that a person belongs to.