GEOG 5405 - Culture, Power, and Dissonance

While culture can be difficult to define, it is everything to us. It may be facilitated by the environment, learned from family and friends, or adopted from external sources. It is inherently geographic, shaped by space and place. The impacts that culture has on our behavior are many. Why do we do what we do? Why are cultural and social rules so powerful? Is culture a good thing? We will discuss the many ways in which culture designates power and how it can create social dissonance. This class explores the many aspects of culture and cultural traits and hopes to promote cultural awareness and an overall better understanding of humans and their interactions.