Exploring the Unseen
May 6, 2010 There is something in the world that is found in everyone and everywhere, yet, we know very little about it. There is something in us, around us, and pervasive that is affecting people and the world. You could correctly respond that it’s the laws of physics. But I’m looking for another answer - - one that is seen but not often viewed as insightful into how the world works. I’m talking about culture and its role in the world. It has a huge role and there are probably only a few things in the world that are outside the scope of culture, such as the laws of physics or the weather, but even then you could probably still make an argument that culture affects these things.
So what is this thing called “culture” – what can we say about it other than it’s everywhere and in everyone? The word is thrown around often. You can see it used in the arts section of blogs or newspapers (for you Luddites out there) or talked about when discussing the artifacts of ancient civilizations. These are certainly parts of “culture”, but it’s really a small part.
There’s a greater part to culture that is less visible, that comprises basic assumptions about how life is and should be. This includes what people think is important (values), what people think holds true (beliefs) and what people think should be the “correct” way to live life (norms). It means that ideas about beauty, communication styles, perceptions about time, conceptions of justice, problem solving, handling emotions, definitions of cleanliness, politeness, are all a part of culture. This covers a lot of ground doesn’t it? What’s more is that we don’t often think about these things, we just live them. They are so natural and innate that we usually don’t talk about this stuff.
We were socialized into a certain way of “doing things” and we simply live that socialization out in daily life. However, in a multicultural environment, we need to talk about it and get this stuff out on the table so that we can know where similarities and contrasts are, so we can know where bridges need to be built, and so we can know who is better suited for certain roles and tasks.
When I worked in Japan, my colleagues would often ask me to go out with them after work. I would sometimes go, but being a new father, I would often choose to go home to see my new son. What I didn’t sufficiently realize was that going out with colleagues was not just to have a good time. It served a purpose and was the result of values for formality and status. Work time in Japan has a formality that undergirds efficiency and getting things done. But this formality also can inhibit relationship-building and lines of communication. Going out with colleagues after work is then a method for opening up those lines of communication so that formality and efficiency can start all over at work the next day. I knew this at a superficial level, but what I didn’t adequately realize was how it contrasted with my own values.
I had a value for a separation between work and family and less formality at work. If I had better known where the values contrast existed between me and my Japanese cultural hosts, I could have articulated the contrast to my Japanese cultural counterparts so that: 1) they would not interpret my declining to go out as a reluctance to bond with them or, worse, dissatisfaction with who my colleagues were; and 2) the prominence of the role of culture in an intercultural relationship could be illustrated.
Today, I have a much better understanding of culture. But I must admit, there’s a lot to explore. There are so many basic assumptions that we are socialized into. I would say exploration of culture is an ongoing process. The good thing is that culture is a big thing and it’s everywhere, meaning that we have plenty of places to discover its testament in daily life.