The concept of culture is a widely used term in the field of sociology. There is often a presumption that it is equivalent to artwork, such as art, poetry, songs, and painting. However, sociologists’ viewpoint goes beyond such activities. Becker, the author of the article “Culture: A Sociological View,” observed that culture is a reflection of social patterns, which arise from community interactions (Becker, 1982). Sociologists use art, music, and literature to describe concerted activities, such as shared understanding or ideas about a group of people (sociology). Thus, it is a consequence of the presence of performing members of a group. According to Becker (1982), values do not have to be traditional, well-established, or hereditary. Besides, he notes that culture is a dispensable part of a larger system (Becker, 1982). In essence, culture plays a significant role in preserving the identity, beliefs, and norms of a society.
Cultural sociology is an area of study in human sociology, which demands further research. According to Becker (1982), human values encompass an intersection between philosophy, shaped by sociologists, and the increasing specialization of anthropology in which such researchers as Alfred Kroeber and Talcott Parsons established an ethnographic approach (Becker, 1982). It describes diverse human behaviors around the world by denoting culture to anthropology and society to sociology. Becker (1982) claims that the social order, just like culture, is a system of interrelationships, which bonds people together. In this regard, he argues that the members of a community who are prearranged in structured communal interactions based on their distinctive beliefs unite all societies (Becker, 1982). Therefore, no community exists without its unique ethos and identity.
Sociologists are concerned with the association of a cause with an effect. Becker (1982) employed a qualitative research methodology using an anthropological approach. In essence, Becker (1982) used participant observation and focused group discussion to describe the “Saturday night musician” story. In addition, he used the larger group in the “Employees of a factory” and the smaller group in the “Family” as focused group discussions to draw ideas about cultural sociology (Becker, 1982). Therefore, findings of cultural interactions and human behavior are discussed.
Reference
Becker, H. S. (1982). Culture: A sociological view. The Yale Review, 71, 513−528.