Culture is such a large, multi-dimensional term. Apart from the obvious anthropological meaning where we think of large cultural entities (e.g. Balinese, Mexican, Ghanaian, Canadian), I am also reminded of the subtle, or not so subtle, cultural variations within a given culture – that could be rural vs. urban, working class vs. white collar vs. super-rich, consumer vs. artisan, frugal vs. spendthrift, environmentalist vs. energy glutton, born-here’s vs. come here’s, and so on.
These are a few images I found while looking through my multi-cultural archives; I’ve loosely organized them into the following (and by no means complete) slideshow categories:
Architectural Examples
Functional Art
In all religions, people enjoy creating beautiful images to express their connection to the Divine:
Devotional Art
We also create art just for the pleasure of playing with colors, textures, and shapes (in the case of superman, maybe I should have included that picture under devotional art instead?):
Art for Art’s Sake
Of course, Food can always be elevated to a cultural art form:
We are very lucky to have such a diversity of people, lifestyles, and customs on this planet! I can envision an almost endless number of posts on cultural diversity in clothing, tools, interpersonal relationships, non-verbal language, family events, cultural and religious celebrations, modes of transportation, housing, food and drink, dance, and so on. But this post alone took me all of a rainy Sunday to put together. So I will end it here.
The Beauty Along the Road 
I really enjoyed your photos. Thank you for organizing them into a slideshow and sharing them.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by a second time today, Charlie. This was my WordPress Sunday 🙂
LikeLike
I can see why this took you all day! I’ve never seen a split rail fence before. I just learned they’re good for hard/rocky ground where post holes aren’t easily dug. (Thanks, Wikipedia!) Nice post.
LikeLike
Hi Asia – Actually, split rail fences here in VA are the traditional form of fencing, using available lumber (locust) which is very long-lasting and rot resistant. I love the zig-zag pattern they create across the fields….
LikeLike
This is wonderful, Annette. I love the way you’ve organized cultures within cultures within cultures. So many interesting juxtapositions. And beautiful photographs. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Cathy. You, too, have become quite a “culture wizzard” yourself 🙂
LikeLike
brainy AND beautiful
LikeLike
Thank youc, Celia, and welcome!
LikeLike
These are beautiful!
LikeLike
O my God, this is so beautiful.
I love the way how you organize the album. Love it, love it, love it!!
And yes, I do agree with you that culture is in multi dimension term.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic response. Happy that you enjoyed it so much!
LikeLike
You’re most welcome. I’m the one who have to say hanks to you, because the way how you organize the photo album give me an idea that I never think of.
LikeLike
A very complete coverage of the topic: Culture. Nice!
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by, Katalina. I think we decided to follow each other’s blog almost at the same time! Cool….
LikeLike
Yes! Down to the nanosecond…
LikeLike
Thank you, Annette, for stopping by my blog and bringing me here. We could certainly continue the ‘culture’ discussion for days! I love how you have arranged the different components of a culture, and there are many! Have you ever heard of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions? Very interesting, when you get a chance.
LikeLike
I haven’t heard of Hofstede but did a lot of research on cross-cultural adjustment (actually my Master’s Thesis was focused on it). I especially love Peter Adler’s cultural adjustment model which talks about adjusting to another culture as a (possible opportunity for) identity change, or, as I would call it, identity expansion. Also having been married interracially and interculturally and having lived in many different places on this planet, I am keenly aware of cultures including, sometimes, how my own (German) culture wants to get in the way 🙂
LikeLike
What a beautiful post! The photos of the food are amazing, especially the one of the pizza, and the black forest cake! YUM! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Becky. The pizza, I made myself. But the Black Forest Cake was made by my expert sister-in-law who brought non-negotiable German ingredients all the way to Virginia to make this cake for me! Any American version pales in comparison – think real cherries, cherry schnapps, real whipped cream. I am salivating just thinking about it!
LikeLike
Ok, well that pizza is AMAZING! I think you might need to share your recipe with me! And…your sis-in-law, well she just rocks! I can honestly say I’ve never had an “authentic” black forest cake, so I’ve never been too impressed with them, but reading your description of that cake makes me want to go out and find one…just like what you described! It sounds delicious!
LikeLike
This was a brilliant and inspiring post! It gave me all kinds of new ideas about culture, how it is expressed in so many various ways, and the intention to look at my own photos from a very different angle (asking different questions about them) and to be more open to the world around me for new ideas.
That’s a lot of stuff. I thank you for your hard day’s labor!
LikeLike
Thank you, Touch, and happy that the post served a good purpose 🙂
LikeLike
I just love the functional art. The way you divided the different cultures into categories is astounding and creative. This is extremely well done. Love it ….
Isadora
LikeLike
Isadora – thanks for coming by and commenting…. I had fun with this post and it seems to have opened up new ways of looking at culture for a number of people. I am grateful for that.
LikeLike
Wow – very thoughtful and thought-provoking post. Great selection of photos and cultural elements.
LikeLike
Thank you, Anne, for stopping by and the positive feedback.
LikeLike
I honestly hadn’t really thought of fabric as culture for this challenge, but that is a great way to look at it.
LikeLike
Everything we create, wear, eat, say, think, and do is more than likely infused with cultural learnings and cultural preferences….thank you for your comment.
LikeLike
I love what you did with this post….your creative categories and amazing pictures. I feel like you were able to bring so many elements of culture that one photo could never do. Thank you for a visual delight this morning.
LikeLike
Thank you, Marilyn, for visiting…. I feel like I need to spend more time exploring your blog as well. Even your header picture drew me in and got me interested….
LikeLike
Beautiful! This was very entertaining, thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
Love your slide shows…I haven’t tried that yet…and the photos are all beautiful. My favorite slide show was the Devotional art, just so fascinating and evocative.
LikeLike
Slideshows are easy to set up, if you follow the “new gallery” links. It will ask you whether you want “tiles”, etc. or “slideshow”.
LikeLike
When I’m feeling adventurous I’ll give it a try 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for dropping into my blog. I am very impressed by the way you have organised this post. All that exotic colour. My, what a beautiful world we live in. Thanks.
LikeLike
Thank you, Caro. Yes, that was the intention of my blog – to highlight the beauty, for my own sanity (before there’s so much ugliness), but also to delight my readers.
LikeLike
A brilliant post, to illustrate diversity. Well done.
Thank you recently stopping by and your like of through the luminary lens. I look forward to more of your beauty along the road. Namaste.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Bruce, for stopping by and following. I had a lot of fun with my “culture” post. Namaste, back to you.
LikeLike
Pingback: Oh, The Places You’ll Go: My first blogging year in review | The Beauty Along the Road