The topical culture encompasses topics such as customs, traditions, beliefs, festivals, ways of behaving, religion, society, among others. This classification distinguishes it mainly from historical culture, in which the study of culture is based on a temporal recount of events that are of human heritage.
Contrary to historical culture, topical culture allows dividing knowledge into specific topics that are taken independently, such as social organization, religion, or the economy.
The word culture comes from the Latin "cultus". This word in turn derives from the word "colere", which had a large number of meanings such as inhabiting, cultivating, protecting, honoring with adoration, caring for the fields or livestock.
It was in the Renaissance when the term culture began to be used to refer to the exclusive formative process of artists, philosophers, and writers. They wielded power and formed an elite group.
By then, culture had more to do with its meaning as a degree of artistic and scientific development.
Today, when we talk about culture, it refers to a set of ways of life, customs and knowledge. It refers to those values, beliefs and ways of thinking that are shared by members of the same organization or group.
The culture is taught to new members, where it becomes the unwritten and informal rules of organization. For its part, topic is understood as a synonym of the word theme, although the concept inherited from Aristotle spoke of the Topic as the doctrine of places.
Through these "topics" it is possible to know the culture and civilization of a people.
Topics in culture
When we talk about this topical culture understood in the symbols, rituals, values and beliefs of a separation from life, we must take into account the social aspects that compose it.
In approaches to alien or foreign cultures, students must divide culture into macro categories. So they can understand the ways of life in another place.
Shared values, culture, and education in particular social groups or levels, communities, or ideologies determine the relative worth of that society.
For example, to study German, it is essential to understand the spirit of order and work as a category within its social structure.
In the same way, the Italian has a fervor of his own. This is understood from the study of their literature, as when reading Dante or Pavese.
However, for culture not to become history, it must be practical and possess current knowledge. It is not possible to speak of topical culture when the ways of everyday doing are not involved.
Other types of culture
According to its definition, culture can also be divided into:
- Historical culture: study of solutions and adaptations to the problems of life in common.
- Mental culture: Culture is a complex of ideas that distinguish groups of individuals from each other.
- Structural culture: Culture consists of interrelated symbols, beliefs and behaviors.
- Symbolic culture: it is based on arbitrarily assigned meanings that are shared.
References
- Jiménez, V. The concept of "Culture" in the 18th century. Recovered from ugr.es
- Ramírez M. (2015). Topical and Historical Culture. Recovered from prezi.com
- Romero, M. (1996). Teaching vocabulary: cultural topics. Recovered from cvc.cervantes.es
- Sanchez, F. HISTORICAL CULTURE. Recovered from culturahistorica.es
- Quintero, E. (2006). CLASSIFICATION OF CULTURE. Recovered from culturaupt.blogspot.com.