Thread:Culture is understood by living it. (2)

Pretty engaging! It seems I have a different background to yours, so could you please clarify the following?

What do you mean by centre of consciousness? Culture (language being a part of it) is embodied, modeling/shaping our body perceptions, movements, feelings,relationships. Can there be human self-consciousness without culture (whichever it is)?

Whom do you refer to by outsider? Language alone (e.g. ESOL/ELL)does not help develop cultural awareness, empathy and the self-reflexive process which is said to be the stepping stone towards cross-cultural (intercultural usually rather chimeric)communication. But I´m not so sure we can grasp a different culture without knowing the language; our appreciation is shaped by our own culture, i.e. we will feel, touch & listen to the new one according to our existing schemata & mindset. It is perfectly feasible to appreciate something new without understanding, it could well lead to some reflexivity re the culture of the origin, but does this develop knowledge on its own?

No intention to be itchy, but nation, nation-state and culture are different concepts which may overlap, coexist or not. There are cultures without nation (Romi), several nations & cultures within the same nation-state (Spain,under heated discussion)and one nation/culture/nation-state, though I´m quite skeptical about the latter for once you start scratching minority cultures tend to arise.

Can you please explain what you understand by the true experience of culture? Experience normally involves a subjective component which in social exchange undergoes a process of objectivizationto reach an agreement between intersubjectivities. To a certain extent this may apply to social truth, which is not necessarily the same as fact.

Can I develop without WE?

'Academically literate need not be culturally literate as it is often evident among the most civilized human beings. Academic literacy does not assure cultural refinement.' I envisage much scholarly production as a literary genre to show off citations and little content (if any). Can you please expand your argument? Really keen on your response!

Academic curriculum of culture'' Are you referring to cultural studies or any other specific discipline? Brave argument yours! In terms of experiential learning, the most interesting works I've come across are by academic researchers with a hands-on approach (outside the Ivory Tower).

Any plans to expand contents?

Alex