A Post Anthropologic Definition Of Culture

Really, Culture is too difficult and complicated to define, it would take 5 volumes to really get into it, and then you would spend half your time defining terms. To Philosophers it means one thing, to Religion it means something else, to Anthropologists who say they are the real definition; in studying them we will find the real world definition (that their definition has its own phonemes, ganglion, and terms anyway).

But for the sake of it, I'll take a stab at it anyway. “Culture” has most often in my experience, been defined as, “The views and beliefs that a Tribe (a group that lives together) holds that defines how it relates to the world, and how it views the world, and altogether holds their unique terms in a state of perfection idealized by its people.” Together, the collective whole has spent generations creating errors that differentiate this new collective human group soul as separate, better, and more privileged in all of its varied ways than those around it.

“My cow is my temple,” is an old saying. The old golden cow of definition, is to say that, culture is an expression of faith and a manifestation of the law of the land. Really what starts where? Is a definition of itself a definition, in and of itself. Or a pat answer that avoids philosophy, and defines the prophets and priests of our state as the legal system. Where there is a perfect analysis of the one only and most popular view of things. Or a perfect amalgam of the top 3? How many then?

Really we should evolve theism of any sort as a definition of state (excluding perhaps the atheism of communism). It can be held in high regard, yet it came as a result of consequences over thousands and not hundreds of years in many cases. And the idea of legal rules being the sole, agreed on manifestation, of the ideas, ideals, and soul of a people is wrong.

Tribes war with the tribe over, regardless of law. They measure their steeples and whoever wins in the polls, not in the seats of the MPs, (or other heads of state) rules over all. Cult is of course an important, and defining part of our individual human experiences on earth, but can change suddenly and savagely, and has more to do with race, ethnicity, and personal identity, and modern needs for social change, than a true Group Identity.

It is really funny to get into a definition of Culture, and leave behind your baggage at the door. That is why it take so long to define the background argument, the phrase and structuring of the central statement. And in the end we are fighting as much with colleges, and faculties, and who and where definitions were defined within a school of study... in so much as getting on with a clear analysis. I think we have to give Anthropologists at least a nod here, as the terms they define their field of study as: the study of culture.

In the past, culture has been defined by a shock of other tribal groups, that are more rustic, and one might say “red neck” than other tribes. (The term “redneck” comes from sunburn often seen as a lower class rite of passage to work in the sun, combined with “red” which is to mean, Indian, or in this case, partly tribal.)

As such I find it easier to get into the stream of a conscious flow and rendering of an item, if I can realize visually, exactly how such a thing was created, and the structure that it was created in. A belief in culture, is a belief intrinsically related to the value whereof where 90s Anthropology really went off a cliff with terms like: Enculturation: when a member of lesser tribal culture joins a new culture and relearns all that they have learned before. Often this creates a dual culture philosophy, and can in fact lead to brain damage and insanity. It is difficult to learn to change... etc.

How about Ethnocentricism: a belief in the cultural superiority of your people over someone else's. Possibly this could be one culture over any culture.

Now that we've determined the stumbling points, a path forward is a path through. And along these structured lines I will throw out the idea, that Culture is as much a Fantasy, as it is a Phallacy. In a world of infinite possibilities, let's all focus on one possibility, because not only would that be sane, and the very definition of sanity, amidst a world of complex and meaningful, but difficult to grasp constant re-definition. We make these choices, and we plant our banner here. I believe that a wasp is good, but we must avoid them, because I hate how I feel once their nest is disturbed. Chimbawahue had a problem here. But Terrence D'arby was okay with it, as was “Pink” Floyd. I personally love every animal, and could entertain the value of good. But I find personal problems with being able to avoid flies, and feel that this must bring a terror to my tribe, particularly when they eat outside, and engage in pick-nicking activity. The flies are not really the life of the party either, but we don't avoid flies... maybe swat at them.

So thus the tribe has decided. 3 out of 4 supporters is not bad. Let's not lean on the geniuses here, they have the rest of the generation, and their generation of great ideas may one day challenge our beliefs. But speed, and brevity are of the essence. If the group does not have quarum it must go, towards madness, and the dark. It loses points when it can not decide. And everyone who is wrong will lose social points every time they debate with each other. Let's just throw a party... and not avoid the wasps is therefore a heresy and one day we may against someone who keeps wasps or bees as pets. And move to stone someone at the gate (the traditional pre-Israelite place of trade and sacrifice) just in case. The beekeepers union has the most to lose with this law. Especially as in this tribe the term “Fhon-e” is used to denote any yellow and black creature flying creature, including bees of all varieties, wasps, or even “yellow jackets” (as wasps are called in America).

How can the Beekeeper Bob take off. He has a friend named Burt, but he lives miles away, and everyone he comes North of their tribal border someone tries to stave poor Burt in the eyes. Last time he lost one of his three wives, even if it was his sister which is against the tribal customs of Beekeeper Bob, he does not want to piss off Burt, and his union anymore. So call's up weird Uncle Al. And he agrees to invest, but only if he finds a replacement from Burt. After all this his society has now moved to the next stage and enculturated a religious law into their text “The Black Book of Doom” and in there, it states in a newly minted edition that, “None may pass the gates of the city who carries a Wasp on them.

For weeks Bob beats himself up in the mirror. He looks at himself not as a new man but as a prisoner of a mistaken culture. He can not change this culture. He could talk to the priests, but he has already been stoned twice. And this might perhaps be viewed as a pivotal imperfection. And he could loose his wife Penelope, as well as material goods.

Instead of invoking a class struggle, Bob decided to follow the law and stake out something in a small community. There is a mayor he can wine and dine. He will probably allow him to set something up nearby. They can not challenge religious law, but if he is wealthy, perhaps Bob can afford to have a son who is a priest, who will be successfully able to change the laws of the land before da-da-da. Legal structures take over and take this bizarre local custom of hating bees to the next level and pass a law over all the people of the tribe.

Fortunately the local magus is in. And in a good mood. They have a few drinks, and attend a popular local “Ga-hafta” at high noon, where all ritual dueling takes place.  After that they retire out to the hills. Where Bob shows diagrams and designs about his new craft, and leaves out sweet items until both wasps and honey bees appear. Yes! Not bumblebees, or African bees, or anything else! All is well, permission is approved.

After 50 years Bob's son Mopo, is stoned outside the gate for challenging another religious law: partaking in the act of moping about. He does not grow up to be a priest. But the practice of Bee-keeping has been made popular in the region, if illegal. Everyone loves the taste of this new nectar, the sweetest of all: called honey. And they don't want to hear or see how it's made, but it does catch on, and becomes used over sugar cane in many recipes.

Eventually the Beekeepers guild challenges the law. And thus religious law caves after an additional 20 years.

Thus we see how culture is a product of great and many heinous errors, and in its way some of these errors will be caught and changed at great travail. The entire work of changing culture in a way that will not enrage the locals and threaten, in a very real sense, to make the tribe of humans insane will work its way through the many systems which take place within the framework of that culture and all surrounding cultures.

It is difficult to fathom through this framework how an alien system can ever make perfect sense to our own. Also we quickly see the intrinsic problems with an error-based system, that can correct all errors in time, but does not have the general will or interest to do so. A high IQ in this time and error, will not be necessarily, merely an encumbrance when dealing with a highly antiquated tribe that preserves terrible philosophies and ideas more quickly than it will ever accept a tried and true methodology. As things change slowly, systems of change change even slower.

I don't see a lot of perfection in this model, and the idea that I have often heard of America being the Greatest Nation in the world, or at least in NATO, has always missed the mark. But at least we can be honest and say some people will not think that our nation is not the penultimate pinnacle and the adoration of all masses worldwide globally interplanetary and forever.

The greatest errors made, are in fact the greatest perfections. And we should all follow that idea idealistically and never question it ever, or be thrown in jail, Allah or Great Jove, or St. Benedict, or someone forbid it. Someone please forbid it? I'm all alone in here! I'm stuck in a tribe, please someone help me not to make up constant rules incessantly, help!