Culture as civilization

Today, most people understand the idea of ​​"culture" that developed in Europe in the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century. The idea of ​​"culture" reflects an imbalance between the European powers and the power of the colonized areas.

They consider 'culture' as "civilization" as the opposite of "nature". According to this way of thinking, one culture with another culture can be compared; definitely one of the higher culture than other cultures.

In practice, the word culture refers to objects and activities that "elite" such as wearing clothes that are classy, fine art, or listening to classical music, while the cultured word used to describe people who know, and take part, of those activities in above.

For example, if someone had opinion that classical music is the music of the "classy", elite, and art flavor, while traditional music as music is considered tacky and outdated, the presumption arises that he is the one who is "culturally".

People who use the word "culture" in this way do not believe there are other cultures that exist, they believe that there is only one culture and a benchmark norms and values ​​around the world. According to this view, a person who has a different habit with their "cultured" is described as "not cultured", not as a man "of other cultures." People who are "not cultured" is said to be "natural," and observers often retain elements of high culture (high culture) to suppress the thought of "human nature".

Since the 18th century, some social critics have accepted the differences between cultured and civilized nation, but the comparison is-cultured and civilized nation can suppress interpretation-improvement and development of the interpretation of experience as a destructive and "unnatural" that obscure and distort the nature of the humans.

In this case, traditional music (which was created by the working class) is considered to express "a natural way of life" (natural way of life), and classical music as a decline and deterioration.

Currently mostly social scientists refuse to confront the culture with nature and monadic concept ever applies. They assume that culture previously considered "elite" and the "cultural elite" are the same - each community has a culture that can not be compared.

Social observers distinguish some cultures as popular culture (popular culture) or pop culture, meaning goods and activities that are produced and consumed by many people.