VALUES IN CULTURE
When Porter asked me to come on Transacting Values Podcast, I had to take a step back and ask myself some basic questions including, do I even know what I value? I began searching lists of values to determine what I felt were my personal core values.
Values are our fundamental belief about the world, what we hold as important vs. what isn’t. Our values influence our daily behavior in all situations, and yet they’re often buried deep down, left unvoiced.
It was an interesting exercise, because not only did I question what my personal values were, I was driven to explore values on a broader scale, a cultural scale, on a folkloric scale. What values did I inherit from my culture, and what differences in priorities were found in other places around the world?
In this article, we’re going to explore where values come from, how our culture influences our personal values and what they have to do with folklore.
Cultural influence on personal values?
Cultural values are shaped by a variety of factors and are developed through a complex weaving of influences such as economics, religion, social, and historical factors. The culture in which we are raised infuses us with its values and perspectives and can make it hard for us to divide the culture's values from our own individual values.
Here are a couple of examples of how values are formed within a culture.
- East vs. West: Individualism vs. Collectivism
One of the most prominent distinctions in cultural values can be observed in the contrast between individualistic cultures, often associated with the Western world, and collectivistic cultures prevalent in many Eastern societies. In Western cultures, individual freedom, personal achievement, and autonomy are highly prized. In contrast, Eastern cultures often emphasize the importance of the community, family, and social harmony over individual pursuits.
Historical Context:
- Western emphasis on individualism can be traced back to the Renaissance and the Enlightenment era, which championed reason, science, and humanism. These movements fueled the development of democratic ideals and capitalism, emphasizing personal rights and autonomy.
- Eastern collectivism finds roots in Confucianism and other ancient philosophies that prioritize family and social harmony. Historical events like the Chinese Cultural Revolution and Japanese feudalism further reinforced the significance of collective identity and responsibility.
- North vs. South: Work Ethic and Time Perception
Divergent attitudes toward work and time perception are evident when comparing cultures in the northern and southern hemispheres. Northern cultures, especially in Europe and North America, often prioritize punctuality, efficiency, and a strong work ethic. In contrast, many southern cultures, particularly in Latin America and parts of Africa, may place greater emphasis on interpersonal relationships and a more relaxed attitude toward time.
Historical Context:
- Northern work ethic can be linked to the Industrial Revolution and the Protestant Reformation, which influenced the development of capitalism and the rise of the modern work ethic. The Calvinist notion of a "calling" to work diligently has left a lasting impact on societies in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Southern attitudes toward time may be influenced by historical factors such as colonization and the impact of agrarian economies. Cultures with a warmer climate often emphasize the present moment and prioritize social interactions.
What do values have to folklore
Folklore is the means in which a group of people, a community or a society create identity and express who they are. We do this through our celebrations, our festivals, and our stories. The values of the people are reinforced through folktales, encouraging the values of a community.
Values play a significant role in a community's culture. The stories a culture imparts transmits cultural values, ethics, and moral lessons. As an example, guest Jack Zipes in Fabric of Folklore episode 33 talked about how Red Riding Hood is a universal fairytale found across the globe, in part because the story relays an important lesson for women and girls who even today need to be cautious of predators (wolves) , as violations against women are still a serious issue around the world.
- Wherever I go (in the world) I ask school children, ‘do you know Little Red Riding Hood?’ They all raise their hands. It's amazing. They know the tale and it's because the situation of women is still fraught with problems. Every day, and I don't have my historical book before me, but every four minutes in the world today, a woman is raped or violated in some way or another. It sticks with us because we need to deal with the problem of violation of women. There are thousands of folktales called Little Red Riding Hood, there's Little Green Riding Hood and so on and so forth.” - Jack Zipes (author of Buried Treasures: The Power of Political Fairy Tales (2023))
The traditions, festivals and rituals a society participates in also helps to form community identity and preserves heritage from generation to generation. Children in particular learn about the folklore of their community through fables, folktales, and family lore. As an example, African American Folklorist Lamont Pearly spoke in episode 27 spoke about being raised in New York, but raised with country values in the big city.
- “I realize that my family, even though me and my cousins and siblings were raised in New York, we still lived by country values, in the big city. So what was what my grandparents were doing in Louisiana and in Mississippi is how they raised us in Brooklyn, you know, right.” - Lamon Pearly (New York Blues Hall of Fame Award Winner)
The narratives that run through each culture helps to form and relate its world view and perspectives. This includes beliefs about the natural world, the supernatural, relationships, and the purpose of human existence. These beliefs are interwoven into the fabric of folk narratives. The Mahabharata is a sacred text in many places in the world including India. Parag Shan in episode 25 spoke to us about the writings of the book and its influence on Indian culture.
- “Despite all the diversity, despite the modernity, at the core of India is a spiritual Essence that believes that we are not the body, we are the soul. And the Soul has a journey that goes from one lifetime to another lifetime. It's a journey of evolution of the Soul. It's a journey of spiritual evolution that increases in love and spiritual wisdom.”- Parag Shan episode 25
When I lived abroad in South Korea, one thing that was pointed out to me was American’s tendency to dream. I am paraphrasing here, what was said to me in the comfort of my small apartment, “You Yanks are always working towards something. Always dreaming.” And although I saw that as important in my own personal worldview, my own personal values, it became apparent that this was likely a value I’d inherited from my culture. Folklore serves as a powerful medium for the expression, transmission, and preservation of cultural values within a community or society.
Values and folklore are closely intertwined. So closely, it is hard to pull apart what came from the culture and what came from personal experience. But because values are the roadmap for how we lead our lives, understanding your own values from those imparted on you is a valuable exercise.
What do you value? And how does it differ from the culture in which you were raised?
