of life. On the other hand, the ‘primitive’ tribal communities in the islands like the Onges, Jarawas, Great Andamanese or Shompens who had no access to modern science and technology, foresaw the calamity based on their experiential knowledge and saved themselves by moving on to higher ground. This shows that having access to modern science and technology does not make modern cultures superior to the tribal cultures of the islands. Hence, cultures cannot be ranked but can be judged adequate or inadequate in terms of their ability to cope with the strains imposed by nature.
Commuter asks autodriver: “Indiranagar?” The verb that conveys the question — “ Bartheera ?” or “Will you come?” — is implied in the arch of the eyebrow. Driver jerks his head in the direction of the back seat if the answer is “Yes”. If it is “No” (which is more likely the case as every true blue Bangalorean knows) he might just drive away or grimace as if he has heard a bad word or shake his head with a smile that seems to suggest a “Sorry”, all depending on the mood of the moment. Discuss how natural settings affect culture Defining Culture Often the term ‘culture’ is used to refer to the acquiring of refined taste in classical music, dance forms, painting.
This refined taste was thought to distinguish people from the ‘uncul- tured’ masses, even concerning something we would today see as individual, like the preference for coffee over tea! By contrast, the sociologist looks at culture not as something that distinguishes individuals, but as a way of life in which all members of society habits acquired by man as a member of society” (Tylor ). Discuss how the visual captures a way of life Two generations later, the founder of the “functional school” of anthro- pology, Bronislaw Malinowski of Poland ( - ) wrote: “Culture comprises inherited artifacts, goods, technical process, ideas, habits and values” (Malinowski : - ). Clifford Geertz suggested that we look at human actions in the same way as we look at words in a book, and see them as