1) “The American Dream” and “Gender” roles are both examples of Cultural myths described by Colombo et al. in the text. Select either of those two “Cultural myths” to use as your chosen example and answer the following questions:
a. How do “we” learn these myths? “The American Dream” We learn these from educations, media, parents, peers.
b. What do these myths “do” in society?
“The American Dream” it acts as a powerful motivator, encouraging others to strive for success, work hard and pursue better opportunities for better lives
c. What happens when someone or something violates the expectations or assumptions that are set forth in these myths?
“The American Dream” can lead to disillusionment and frustration. People who work hard but do
not achieve their desired level of success may feel like they have failed
d. Describe a “Cultural myth” from your own family or community? How/why do you consider the
idea a cultural myth?
In my family soccer is a big “cultural myth” where that is your one and only passion in sports, from the beginning of birth when we all knew you were a boy. I say this is a cultural myth because it places a significant emphasis on maintaining the tradition in soccer.
2) What do Colombo et al. mean when they write “Cultural myths are full of contradictions” and “Cultural myths are not always coherent or consistent”?
Cultural myths are full of contradictions: often have ideas or components that, when analyzed closely, appear to be in odds with one another. This is true because cultural myths are often influenced by social, cultural, and historical aspects rather than being based on logical principles
Cultural myths are not always coherent or consistent: They can change throughout time and be influenced by many cultural factors since they lack a constant and cohesive narrative structure. historical occurrences and perceptions by humans.
3) Define the term CULTURE in your own words. Your definition should draw on what you have learned through the materials you have engaged with in this class thus far this semester. Why might defining the word culture be difficult? If you are struggling, you may find it helpful to draw on a specific example from your own experience. To me the word CULTURE means the shared set of beliefs,values,customs,traditions, languages, etc. that characterize a group of people or society.
4) How did the armchair anthropology and the off-the-veranda approaches differ as methods to study culture? What can be learned about a culture by experiencing it in person that cannot be learned from reading about it? *This question draws on material from the Perspectives textbook Chapter on Culture that you are assigned.
Armchair anthropology is the study of cultures from a distance, frequently using secondary sources like reports, books, and articles. While Off-the-veranda involves fully participating in the culture being studied, frequently by residing with the locals and taking part in their everyday routines. Direct observation of conduct and interactions, which enables us to comprehend the
