Culture and Margaret Atwood Understand

How Does Culture Shape Identity?
 What people do, make and believe.
 Beliefs are most important of the three.
 Different cultures have diverse beliefs and attitudes towards different situations.
 By observing other cultures we can become aware of our own cultural assumptions.
 Behavior that seems unique to us is what we tend to focus on.
 Culture affects growing up, race, gender, class, family and language.
Canadian Culture and Identity
 What does Canada mean to you?
 Hockey.
 Maple syrup.
 Tim Horton’s.
 4 seasons
 Groups of 7
 Snow.
 Margaret Atwood
 Understand your culture is important in understanding other cultures.
 Canada is a multicultural country.
 Literature is used to define a culture.
 It is easier to explain what we are not than what we are.
 Hard to define a culture.
 “You only know Canada by being away”.
Rites of Passage
 Ceremony or ritual that marks a change in life or status.
 Ceremonies to mark birth, adolescence, marriage and death.
 Cultures vary on how they celebrate occasions.
 Common rites of passage in Canada include: o Reaching puberty o First date o Driver’s license o Getting Married o Getting a job o Graduating
Three Stage Process:
 Segregation: o First stage o Person is separated from the rest of society o Includes geographical change and change in physical appearance
 Transition: o Liminal stage o Lasts a few hours, days, months, or years o Learning the new role o Guidance from instructor o  Incorporation and Reintegration: o Reintegrated into regular society o Marked by tattoos, scars, body paint, or new clothing o Gives up something symbolically indicating one role has ended and another has begun