Culture and Identity Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Culture and Identity - Literature review Example To understand the significance of the representations of media and the culture is also the need to examine how culture and identity is defined and how this may be affected by media perceptions or conflicts. The question of how the media changed or portrayed culture through 7/7 events can then be understood by building a sense of how culture and identity fit into a given society. Defining Culture and Identity The concept of culture and identity is one that is based on perception and the way in which one interacts within society. Identity begins with an individual and how the one person understands their own realities, experiences and expressions. The personalities, behaviours and the association which one has with others become the main attributes of identity. The concept of creating labels at an individual level becomes the main component that is associated with personality and identity and changes the way that most associate with others. This begins with the psychological relationsh ip one has to the labels and the desire to be a specific identity. This mental decision then creates an attraction to specific groups and segments in society. It is the similarities that are a part of the individual and that create a relationship to others that creates the sense of culture, or belonging to a group that has the same identity (Postmes, Jetten, 12: 2006). As the concept of identity begins to form in groups, the culture is formed with specific behaviours and ideals. Physical, mental and behavioural similarities often relate to the group that has formed and which creates a culture. However, the similarity is that each individual believes there is a similarity within themselves that is reflected in the group, either physical or through behaviour. Acculturation and adaptation combine with this at a different psychological level to create a set of relationships that can work toward the same identity. For instance, religious changes, adapting to physical presence that is exp ressed by the group and associating with mannerisms are able to add into the reflection of the culture. The conceptualization of a culture from different perspectives creates the main changes that are a part of the group (Berry et al, 303: 2006). The process of building culture becomes associated with the basis of psychological relationships which are created and the defining of behaviours and interactions which are comfortable to various individuals. The reflection that is seen then becomes a part of a minority or majority group. If the comfort is from ethnicity or race, then defined behaviours are also known to associate with this. The relationship between the individual and a segment of society becomes important in defining the way in which the individual perceives their own identity and how this integrates into the building of various groups. When looking at the definition of culture, it can be seen that individual identities that find similarities integrate to create groups and segments within a given society. Communication and Culture The concept of culture and the way in which this is expressed becomes based on various levels of communication used among groups and to show identity. The communication is not only based on the language and basic affiliation with a culture. There are also purposes that are used behind the cultural connotations and