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Reflective Essay On Non Material Culture

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I often observe my peers and professor with great thought as to why they are currently at Shasta Community College. Then, as an extension of this thought, I ponder the reasons of why I am a student at Shasta. What forces were involved in this decision? In order properly and uniformly answer such a query, we have to analyze and dissect the culture of which provides the context for present existence, through examination of, not the physical material culture, such as clothes, but nonmaterial culture, which is intangible, existing in consciousness rather than physical matter. More aptly put, non-material culture refers to the abstract concepts that promote individuals to act in relative conformity to their christened or adapted culture; these concepts are beliefs, values, sanctions, norms and symbols. Norms are tacit and explicit social guidelines on how to act appropriately within the confines of the presiding culture. There are four different types of norms, folkways, mores, taboos, and laws though I will only be dealing with mores. Such societal rules that guiding me to Shasta College are that you have to do something after high school, you should not abuse the luxury of time and that you have to go to college in order to survive in modern day society, though the reality of this is insignificant to its effect. It is rather frowned upon both in my family and in American society to be idle after high school, you should be working towards your career in some way or another.

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