Relationship between society and culture

[Angelina David]

Culture is the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters manners, scholarly pursuits etc. (www.dictionnary. Reference.Com/browse/culture). There are tow types of culture which are material cultural includes all of the physical objects that people create and give meaning to. Car, clothing, schools, computers, and books would be example. Non material culture consists of thoughts and behaviors that people learn as part of the culture they live in. It includes politics, economics, language, rules, customs, family, religion or beliefs, values and knowledge.
Society is a group of humans broadly distinguished from other groups by manual interests, participation in characteristics relationships, share institutions and a common culture (www.thefreedictionary.com/society). Society also is an organization, or association of persons engaged in a common profession, activity or interest.
Sociologist believe that human society have passed through certain broad phases of development. These include pre-modern, modern and post modern societies pre-modern society there are hunting and gathering society, pastoralist society and agrarian society (deals with cultivation of crops in feed themselves). Modern societies this included industrialism society and capitalism society. Post modernity they believe and began to lose their faith in science and technology because they are aware of damaging effect of science and technology like pollution, nuclear and risks of genetic engineering.
No culture could exist without society and equally no society could exist without culture. The relationship behavior culture and society based on its common elements of culture and society. Those common elements are:
Language: Language is a set of symbols used to assign and communicate meaning. It enable to name or label the things in our world so we can think and communicate about them. Member of society generally share a common language which facilitate day to day exchange with others. Language is both an element of culture and society, without language there would no culture and society. Example when you ask a hardware store clerk for a flash light, you don’t need to draw a picture of that instruments.
Beliefs and ideologies: Beliefs are the things members of a society hold to be true. They are the “factors” accepted by all or most members of society. Ideologies are integrated and connected systems of beliefs. Beliefs and ideologies be common element of culture and society for example North Nigerian society are Muslims their culture are beliefs in Muslims. No culture without beliefs and ideologies and no beliefs and ideologies without culture people share beliefs and ideologies in society.