Culture & Community: Learners Journey Log
- Poulomi Sen
- Nov 27, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 30, 2020
Illustrated Glossary
Culture: The essence of an individual showcasing the value system they have; It also gives people a sense of belongingness.
Holi is considered to be an essential part of the Indian Culture.
(Image Reference: Indian Folk)
Traditions: Customs, beliefs and values that have been passed on through generations.
Saree is considered to be a tradition for Indian women and is a part of the traditional wear for the entire community.
(Image Reference: CrazeDemand.com)
Symbols: A sign that holds a meaning or is a representation of something.
The following symbol is a sign to notify drivers that there is a pedestrian arriving.
(Image Reference: Indiamart)
Values: Cultural standards of discerning what is good and just in a society.
We have been taught since childhood that touching elders feet is a show of good values of a person.
(Image Reference: Jagran Josh)
Folkways: The traditional behavior or a way of life of a particular community or a group of people.
Hugging your friend every time you meet is a convention of daily life.
(Image Reference: drawingreff.com)
Mores: Social norms that are widely observed within a particular society or culture.
Wearing a burkha is a strong social norm for Muslim women
(Image Reference: SheThePeople)
Customs: Cultural idea that describes a regular, patterned behavior that is considered characteristic of life in a social system.
Asking before goin to the washroom is considered respectful.
(Image Reference: wikiHow)
MATERIAL AND NON-MATERIAL ASPECTS OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITY
A. What do you think is the non-material culture of the Social Media Community?
What are the norms, rules, rituals and practices adopted by the community?
Are there said / unsaid beliefs or values? If yes, name two-three.
Yes, there are certain said/ unsaid beliefs and values. They are:
Abide by the community guidelines
Do not indulge in cyber bullying or harassment
Always portray the best version of yourself
This is a modern culture - despite of that are there traditions or customs? If yes, name two-three.
Despite the fact that its a modern culture there are certain traditions and customs which do follow. Earlier communication was done via letters and now it is available through mail, WhatsApp, etc. keeping the idea behind it constant.
There are websites and apps for marriages now which has made the tiring process of clicking pictures and making biodata then sending it easier and connects people on a wide range.
There are online newspaper which is exactly the same as a physical one however the e-papers are more accessible (Depending on access to internet) and news travels faster across other platforms as well.
B. And, how are these evident in its material culture?
What are the artefacts (physical or visible or tangible entities) that members of the Social Media Community create to reflect the non-material aspects?
There is a level of judgment by the community members depending on the content that you post which can be sent through commenting or personal chats.
The members of the community create a set of rules and regulations which each individual should follow, failing to do so can have consequences such as banning sometimes jail.
Sometimes the members of this society show support to their own belief system by posting stories about it to create awareness. This medium is also highly used to show your talents and artworks
Crowd are directed to their desired websites and apps via advertisements on various social media platforms.
How do you feel about the Social Media culture? How is it impacting our non-digital life?
I feel the social media culture has both positive and negative affects, depending on the content you're consuming and the activities you indulge in. It is a good way to connect people and to understand their culture. You can also showcase your talents and get recognition or just satisfaction out of it. However everything has pros and cons; If the medium is used excessively or if the content is mentally straining then people might start having some problems around sleeping/insomnia, anxiety/ depression, body consciousness, unattainable standards of beauty, low self esteem, etc. This also impacts our non-digital life; where all of our actions and decisions are influenced by how it would look on our socials. The concept of living in the moment is slowly fading away. But not all of it is bad, people are more politically, environmentally aware. Sometimes people resort to social media to seek justice and public support to eradicate a certain crime.
Why do you think it is relevant for designers to understand about cultures?
I think it is relevant for designers to understand culture as the products are being made for the people and the closest why the understand them is through the cultures and belief systems they follow. A designer who is well aquept with the culture of the market he is supplying will automatically get good sales and support from people. long with that, it gives a level of authenticity and ideation behind a product.
Significant learnings, realization's and experiences gained through the project
I learnt a lot about the culture I belong to and why the things are done the way it is.
I got a deep insight about my own set of beliefs and value system which gave me a clearer understanding of myself as a person.
I gained a new skill of 5W1H which can be used in my future design studies.
Which aspects of the project delivery helped you in learning?
Peer Learning
Group Discussions
Discussion Boards
What did you most struggle with? What helped you?
I struggled the most while learning about a new community; Tuareg Community. They had a totally different set of cultural beliefs, value system and norms. The use of 5W1H was very helpful to analyze each aspect of their community along with mind maps. Working in groups also made it easier to discuss on any doubts one has and divide the work to get maximum material.
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