Understanding Misunderstandings by Robert L. Young

Author:Robert L. Young [Young, Robert L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780292759886
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Published: 1999-09-15T05:00:00+00:00

PART TWO

MISUNDERSTANDINGS IN CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT

CHAPTER SEVEN

Culture Clashes

England and America are two countries divided by a common language.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW, British author

Whenever they hear the word culture, most people think of museums, opera, and Shakespeare. Social scientists take a much broader view of the topic, however. In its broadest sense, culture is composed of all the products of human social life—from Van Gogh to gang graffiti, from Verdi to street corner rap, from Shakespeare to newspaper tabloids. Culture consists of the foods we eat, the clothes we wear, the way we smell, the way we talk, what we talk about, how far away from each other we stand when we talk, and more. In this broad sense of the term, to say that people lack culture is to deny their existence, for to be alive and human is to have culture. Thus, it’s not a matter of who has culture and who doesn’t, but a matter of which culture shapes our actions and interpretations.

Interpersonal understanding is hampered by the fact that culture doesn’t always travel well, either in geographic or social space. What is considered ideal in one place often will be scorned in another. Even in the same place, ideas and actions that pass for legitimate at one point in time will almost inevitably eventually fall out of favor. My students always get a kick out of hearing me describe the first white-collar work clothes I bought when I graduated from college in 1972. They consisted of a bright red blazer with very wide lapels, prominent gold buttons, and a mock belt panel along the backside; brightly colored shirts with very wide collars; large, colorful bow ties; brightly colored plaid, pleated, and cuffed elephant-bell pants; and black-and-white buckle shoes. I have to admit, in terms of fashion, the seventies were outrageous by almost any standard. In fact, looking back, it is hard to imagine how I ever found such a costume attractive. But I did, and so did most other young Americans. It seems reasonable, therefore, to conclude that in another quarter of a century we are likely to look back on today’s fashion with similar disbelief.

Although it is one of the most salient products of culture, fashion affects us in insidious ways. When a radical new style of clothing first emerges, most of us are certain that we will never be caught dead in it, and we are able to maintain that illusion for a period of time during which we cast disdaining eyes on those who are crazy enough to actually wear it in public. As the weeks pass and we see movie stars and gradually more and more normal people sporting a particular style, however, we begin to get used to it and eventually begin to think—maybe. It usually isn’t too long after that that we find ourselves doling out our hard-earned cash for something we once knew we would never want. What is most amazing about this, however, is that when we finally make

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