{"id":1068,"date":"2016-05-10T03:41:49","date_gmt":"2016-05-10T03:41:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontosociology-waymaker\/?post_type=chapter&p=1068"},"modified":"2024-04-25T14:37:20","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T14:37:20","slug":"introduction-to-theoretical-perspectives-on-culture-and-technology","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-introductiontosociology\/chapter\/introduction-to-theoretical-perspectives-on-culture-and-technology\/","title":{"raw":"Introduction to Theoretical Perspectives on Culture and Technology","rendered":"Introduction to Theoretical Perspectives on Culture and Technology"},"content":{"raw":"

What you'll learn to do: contrast the various theoretical perspectives on culture and technology<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_5888\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"591\"]\"In Figure 1.<\/strong> Music fans connect in ways that overcome geographic, socioeconomic, and political differences. (Credit: whataleydude\/flickr)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThere are three major theoretical approaches toward the interpretation of culture. A functionalist<\/em>,<\/strong> or structural- functionalist,\u00a0perspective acknowledges that there are many parts of culture that work together as a system to fulfill society\u2019s needs and to promote stability. Conflict theory<\/em> focuses on populations that may be systematically disadvantaged while other groups are advantaged. It focuses on power and inequality within a culture. A\u00a0symbolic interactionist<\/em> is primarily interested in culture as experienced in the daily interactions between individuals and the symbols that have meaning in a culture.\u00a0If we think about technology as an overarching aspect of culture, we can utilize these theories to explain and even predict cultural patterns, including those regarding technology.\r\n\r\nThis section will further explore the relationships, opportunities, and issues related to media and technology.\u00a0Music, fashion, technology, and values\u2014all are products of culture. But what do they mean? How do sociologists perceive and interpret culture based on these material and nonmaterial items? Let\u2019s complete our analysis of culture by reviewing them in the context of the\u00a0three theoretical perspectives.","rendered":"

What you’ll learn to do: contrast the various theoretical perspectives on culture and technology<\/h2>\n
\"In<\/p>\n

Figure 1.<\/strong> Music fans connect in ways that overcome geographic, socioeconomic, and political differences. (Credit: whataleydude\/flickr)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

There are three major theoretical approaches toward the interpretation of culture. A functionalist<\/em>,<\/strong> or structural- functionalist,\u00a0perspective acknowledges that there are many parts of culture that work together as a system to fulfill society\u2019s needs and to promote stability. Conflict theory<\/em> focuses on populations that may be systematically disadvantaged while other groups are advantaged. It focuses on power and inequality within a culture. A\u00a0symbolic interactionist<\/em> is primarily interested in culture as experienced in the daily interactions between individuals and the symbols that have meaning in a culture.\u00a0If we think about technology as an overarching aspect of culture, we can utilize these theories to explain and even predict cultural patterns, including those regarding technology.<\/p>\n

This section will further explore the relationships, opportunities, and issues related to media and technology.\u00a0Music, fashion, technology, and values\u2014all are products of culture. But what do they mean? How do sociologists perceive and interpret culture based on these material and nonmaterial items? Let\u2019s complete our analysis of culture by reviewing them in the context of the\u00a0three theoretical perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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CC licensed content, Original<\/div>