(This is beginning of a series of reflections drawing on the core values mentioned in the Diocese of CK pastoral plan)
One of the core values listed in the pastoral plan is Catholic culture. This is a broad term and has several meanings that we can explore. It is probably best to begin with the word “culture”. What does it mean?
Culture is one of those words that has many meanings. The broadest definition is from the anthropologist E.B. Tylor, it is “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.” It can be understood as learned behavior in a group of individuals that helps to distinguish that group from other groups.
So, in this part of the world, it is possible to speak of Palauan, Chamorro, Chuukese or Marshallese cultures. They refer to different groups of people from different parts of the Pacific. While they may share some characteristics common to most Pacific Islanders, each group has a different language, history, social structure, has special foods they enjoy, different types of traditional celebrations and different ideas about how to get along with one another.
Material culture refers to those objects made by members of a group that are used by the members of that group and are characteristic of that group. So, an archaeologist might find a pot buried at an excavation. She can examine the pot to see what it is made of, what designs are drawn on the pot and what use to which it had been dedicated. Since different cultures designed their pots differently, used different materials and used them for different purposes, it might be possible to determine from what culture the pot came.
There are also “subcultures”. These are groups within a general culture grouping that have practices and values reflective of their sub-group that are somewhat different from the general norm but still within the range of behavior and values characteristic of the broader cultural community. For example, “bikers” might be considered a subculture in the States. They share a common interest in motorcycles, of which certain bikes have more respect and value than others. They take part in shared social activities; cruising as a group, heavy metal concerts, etc. There are shared ways of dressing and grooming oneself; leather vests, emblems of their biker club, beards and rejecting the use of helmets.
The idea of subculture is largely a matter of perspective. For example, I spoke above of Palauan, Chamorro and other island groups as having distinct cultures. However, if we consider these cultures in relationship to other cultures of the world, it is possible to describe them as subcultures of a general Pacific Islander culture, as there are many cultural practices and values shared by all Pacific Islanders. Often these commonalities are imposed by the constraints of living on relatively small islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and sharing a common ancestry.
There is also “high culture” and “low culture” according to our common use of the term. They can be viewed as two subcultures. “High culture” refers to those aspects of the general culture that reflect the values and practices of the social elite of the community. For example, activities reflective of high culture in America might include attending the opera, visiting a museum, or attending a lecture on art or philosophy at a local college. It might also include certain foods that are prepared by skilled chefs and available only at fancy restaurants and for outrageous prices. The focus is on excellence and sophistication of skill.
Low culture, also referred to as popular culture, refers to those aspects of the general culture that reflect the practices and values of the common person, rather than the social elite. So, a popular television show or superhero movie are examples of popular/low culture, as are hot dogs, ice cream and peanut butter. In a high culture context, a person might get their news from reading the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. In a low culture context, a person might get their news from watching Fox News or reading blogs on the Internet.