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Essay
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Now, Show us the Colors of your Rainbow
In Clyde Kluckhohn’s passage, adapted from his book,
Mirror for Man, we are given an illumination of anthropology on
the concept of culture. He explains that culture is not only
derived by “the way we are brought up,” but also personal past
experiences arid the biological properties of the people con
cerned. As humans we have learned to adapt to our own
personal surroundings and have conditioned ourselves and our
life styles to revolve around such surroundings by the most
comfortable means possible.
As Kluckhohn describes, the technical term of culture has.
a broader meaning to the anthropologist than the “humble
cooking pot”, arid the “people of culture.” He implies that the
anthropologist needs to be concerned with all aspects and
bV’ 9ical conditions involved that have shaped a society.
.ns can be easily understood just by studying their sur
aundings, and as Kiuckhohrr has stated, “they can also be
3asiy predicted by knowing a people’s design for living,”
Kluckhohn describes, that as Americans, we strive for our
own personal individuality and appearance, but yet as Amencans, or for that matter any nationality, we still basically follow
the same given patterns throughout the day. We have condi
boned ourselves to such an extent, that our personal routines
are done unconsciously As a society, though, we reflect that
given pattern, and when comparing itto another society, we are
able to see how the cultures are individual and unique from one
another Such uniqueness is what Kluckhohn is refenng to, the
Amencan plural wives belief of Siberia compared to the single
wife in Amenca, the cultural training and mannerism of the
Chinese, and the eating mannerisms of a wife in Arizona.
Basically, all of these cultures live under the same laws of
nature, and are equlped with the same biological tools. Their
uniqueness arises from the IndMdual conditions that their
surroundings offer, and their means by which of adapting to
them.
Having lived in London last year, for my junior year, I am
able to relate to the viewpoints of Kluckhohn; as I traveled to
many places dripping with their own uniqueness and culture. In
London, I experienced the afternoon tea break and although not
conforming to it, the societies acceptance of bathing only a few
times a week. In Holland, I depended on bicycles as my main
source of transportation for miles around, and viewed the old
windmills and thatched roofs that are so typical in the country.
In Spain, I watched the old women with carved faces from the
intense sun and bandanas tied around their heads, hearding
their goats in the fields. In Switzerland, I experienced the
uniqueness of the quaint villages clinging to the hillsides, with
little houses made to resemble gingerbread houses. Their only
means of transportation was the narrow train that went up the
mountain twice a day, as they prohibited cars. Therethey had
the old men hearding their cows down the hillsides, proud of the
leader; the one with the biggest bell around Its neck. I even
feasted on the traditional fondu and sausage that is found to be
so typici I of SwltzertancL
Each of their cultures and customs were unique from one
another, as they relied on theirownsurroundingsand the values
passed on from their forefathers. The facts of the nature
surrounding them, limited their abilities, and each society adapted
to it the best they knew how. Although, today, we are smuthered
with modern conveniences and technology, these societies
conditioned themselves long ago and are continuing to live by
their traditional standards.
In Clyde Kluckhohn!s passage, we are able to interpret and.
understand the definition of culture through the eyes of an
anthropologist. It is a mixture of the way we were brought up (as
the traditions of the past directly effect us), our IndIvidual past
experiences, and the potentialities found in the equipment that
nature and biology have given us. With these experiences and
limitations, we have adapted to our surroundings to such an
extent, that our personal routines are done almost automati
cally.
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and the different food and how they are prepared
In many cultures one may speak and write differe
ntly. The
appearance of the cultures are different. But
along with the
many cultures we are all humans we wash and put
on clothes.
We do the same things but in a different culture.
In Kluckhohn passage he sates that the American
women
could not understand how one can share their
husband with
another mate which is very true. When the Koryak
or Aftican
women could never be selfish.
The people of all human groups have the same
biological
equipment. All people undergo the same life expe
riences birth,
helplessness, illness, old age, and death.
The differences are between the sexes, the ages, phys
ical
strength, and skills of an individual. The facts of nstu
re limits
the understanding of the cultural forms. For instance one
may
laugh or make rude accusations toward anot
her culture be
cause of their ignorance of the culture. Many
cultures have
been taught to despise other cultures. And
so many will never
know the interesting things of other cultures.
ssay
In Kluckhohn passage he states how people think, feel
and
ehave from different cultures. How the hum
an being trys to
nderstand themselves as a people. Thei react
r
ions and
ehaviors. He explains that people of diffe
rent cultures react
ifferently because of the way one has been
raised. It is a life
ne process it is passed on from generatio
n to generation.
ow one is raised during their childhood would
mostly reflect on
they will raise their own children. Also
the Environment
s a major role in the many different
1
cultures. The living
nditions such as: shelter, transporta
tion, education, work
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and the different food and how they are prepared.
In many cultures one may speak and write
differently. The
appearance of the cultures are different. But alon
g with the
many cultures we are all humans we wash and put
on clothes.
We do the same things but in a different culture.
In Kluckhohn passagehe sates that the American
women
could not understand how one can share their
husband with
another mate which is very true. When the Kory
ak or African
women could never be selfish.
The people of all human groups have the same biolo
gical
equipment. All people undergo the same life expe
riences birth,
helplessness, illness, old age, and death.
The differences are between the sexes, the ages. phys
ical
strength, and skills of an individual. The facts of natu
re limits
the understanding of the cultural forms. For insta
nce one may
laugh or make rude accusations toward anot
her culture because of their ignorance of the culture. Many
cultures have
been taught to despise other cultures. And so
many will never
know the interesting things of other cultures.
ssay
In Kluckhohn passage he states how people think feel
,
and
ehave from different cultures. How the human bein
g trys to
nderstand themselves as a people. Their
reactions and
ehaviors. He explains that people of different cultu
res react
ifferently because of the way one has been raise
d. It is a life
iie process it is passed on from generatio
n to generation.
ow one is raised during their childhood would mos
tly reflect on
they will raise their own children. Also the Envi
ronment
,s a major role in the many different cultures.
The living
)nditor1s such as: shelter, transportation, educ
ation, work
13
Essay
Clyde Kluckhohn, in his passage from the book Mirror for
Man, defines what anthropologists mean by culture and ex
ins the differences and similarities among the world’s people.
uS view, one that I find to be true from my own experiences, is
that cuthiro is the social legacy individuals acquire from their
group.” Simply put, people act and react the way they do
“because they were brought up that way, not due to biological
differences.
changes in the human eye for thousands of years. Earlier
civilizations would have seen the same work, but different
upbringing would have changed their perception of it.
Kluckhohn is careful to point out that human biology and
natural laws limit culture. No culture on earth raises their
children to fly. The tribes of the desert regions are not familiar
with fishing. Aside from this limitation, culture, the total way of
life of a people, is derived solely from the patterns and customs
of their specific group.
On a recent trip to Spain I was surprised to find that nearly
beaches were topless. The women seemed perfectly
the
all
comfortable being in public almost nude, but more surprising
was the fact that no one stopped and stared or took the event
to be shocking or indecent. Had a similar scene taken place on
a California beach it would have soon become at least a point
of interest and curiosity. These people did not neglect to wear
their tops due to any severe climate change from America to
Spain that makes tops unbearable. Their is no biological or
anatomical difference that causes this varying custom. It is
simply the way they w&e brought up.
The same applies to my surprise at their 9ndecency.
Seeing nude women at a beach was not something I had been
accustomed to. However, I am accustomed to seeing nude
women from African tribes in National Geographic and similar
documentanes, and these nude women, biologically similar to
those of Spain, had never shocked me. The reason for my
differing views was an acquired, not an instinctive one.
In Kluckhohn’s essay he cites the example of a traders wife
in Arizona that fed guests rattlesnake flesh without alerting
them to the nature of the meat. The guests would eat the
sandwiches described as “delicious and reminiscent of chicken
and tuna fish. None complained until they were told what they
had eaten, and then they would vomit instantaneously. Their
bodies were adapted to the digestion of the meat, but their
minds had not.
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the main character is
confronted by the ghost of this father and told to revenge his
murder. The audience of the day accepted the event unreserv
edly. The question was not whether the ghost was real or not,
but whether it was actually the ghost of the dead King or the devil
in disguise trying to trick Hamlet. If a similar scenario were
presented today the audience would be much more reluctant to
accept the idea of a ghost. They would question Hamlet’s
sanity, perhaps his sobriety, and speculate on the seriousness
of the work. This is not due to a change in the human mind that
has taken place over the years, but a change in the way people
are raised to view such events.
The same concept applies to another area of culture, art.
Dunng the earlier ages of civilization artwork strived for realism.
The greatest artist was the one who could reproduce reality the
-st accurately. The pain-filled works of Van Gogh and the
,mbolic renditions of Picasso would have been scorned and
eected, and certainly not accepted as the masterpieces they
ae day However there have been no major anatomical
it
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