Unit 1: Cultural Codes

The Nature of Culture

Definitions of Culture

High culture and popular culture

The relationship between culture and value

The meanings and practices of everyday life

Cultural Codes

Verbal/Non-verbal

Identity and self presentation

Group Communication

Reading Images and products

Codes are made up of the different elements we use to communicate with others. For example, we have dress codes, linguistic codes, codes of conduct and so on. Each code is made up of separate elements which mean something individually but much more when combined with other things. We call the separate elements SIGNS. You will look more closely at signs in the Reading Images and Products section on this unit.

Dress codes are made up of separate items of clothing which we combine to create different messages. Some of these messages are social rituals like getting married or showing grief, at funerals. All cultures use dress like this. Uniforms are also another way we use dress codes - to communicate authority, if you are a police officer or to communicate belonging if you are part of an institution, school or company. You will look more closely at codes such as this in non-verbal codes, but also in identity and self presentation, where you will learn more about how we express our feelings and beliefs through appearance.

Language itself is a code - a combination of separate words (or signs) into a huge variety of different meanings. Aspects such as your gender, class or ethnicity affect the words you choose and how you combine them.

Finally, the way that we combine all of these elements, language, clothing, body language etc when we are in groups, to show that we belong, to provide security and self esteem and to support our own identities is looked at in group communication.