Reflection on 'What is Culture?' - Anthropology Assignment

This assignment is a reflective piece exploring the student's cultural identity, specifically focusing on their Hindu background and how it shapes their perceptions and beliefs. The student utilizes the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to analyze their feelings, evaluations, and biases related to their culture. They define culture, explain their own cultural background, and discuss how their Hindu cultural lens influences their thoughts and feelings. The reflection covers the impact of Hindu values like Dharma and Karma on the student's worldview, particularly regarding interactions with other cultures. The student acknowledges personal growth, recognizes past judgments, and highlights the importance of respecting diverse cultural perspectives. The assignment concludes with an action plan outlining how the student intends to broaden their understanding of other cultures and address any existing biases, aiming for a more inclusive and unbiased perspective. The paper makes references to the works of Coccia, Parkes et.al., and Weightman.

Running head: REFLECTION ON ‘WHAT IS CULTURE’?
Reflection on ‘What is Culture’?
Name of the Student
Name of the university:
Author note:

1REFLECTION ON ‘WHAT IS CULTURE’?
Description
Culture is the amalgamation of the ideologies and the behaviors of the individuals. It
involves the characteristics and the knowledge about a certain clan of people , encompassing the
language, the religion (Parkes et.al., 2015). Habits and social behaviors , including the arts and
the music of the group. I belong to the Hindu culture of South India. The Hinduism or the Hindu
religion is an Indian culture which describes the purpose of life in four folds- Dharma, Artha,
Kama and Moksha. To achieve the dharma, and obtaining the meaning of life to eventually attain
salvation is what defines life in Hindu culture (Coccia, 2014). Because of this, my feelings and
my thoughts are influenced by the Hindu Cultural lens.
Feelings
Hindu cultural lens have taught me to look at the others culture in an entirely different
lens and I agree with the idea that the culture plays an important role in determining one’s
identity and shaping the individual. This idea at moment it makes me judgmental towards others
but never uncomfortable or vulnerable.
Evaluation
The Hindu Culture has taught me to look at others in the most purest manner and the
culture teaches one not to differentiate between the other cultures. It teaches that every soul is
immortal and that truth is eternal. It has made me who in am today, comfortable with other
religions and treat the other cultures with immense dignity and respect the other individual
beliefs. The strong family faith that have been inculcated in me has made me look at the other

2REFLECTION ON ‘WHAT IS CULTURE’?
cultures with the family values and the long heritage of the Hindu culture has played a great role
in influencing my own identity (Weightman, 2017).
Analysis
Earlier I used to judge people and become uncomfortable if exposed to the people of
different cultures. Coming in close proximity to the religious beliefs of Hinduism and what the
main purpose of living is, I have started to respect the other cultures as well. Everyone has a
cultural identity of their own and having been inclined to their own customs and traditions is not
wrong. People have different beliefs and Hinduism has taught me to treat them with dignity and
respect their way of life.
Conclusion
One of the main principles of Hindu Culture is Karma. It implies that a person receives
the results of his or her own deed in their next life. This has influenced me a lot to see the world
through a different lens. Everyone is a being and people should perform good deeds throughout
their life and also influence the others to perform their work diligently. The beliefs of Hinduism
has made me look at the other people with respect irrespective of the fact that they perform
wrong deeds.
Action Plan
Cultural differences do exist but Hinduism has changed my views regarding
understanding different cultures. Hinduism has taught me to loo at the world without any bias
and in the future, it will help me to look at the people without any cultural bias. I would try to

3REFLECTION ON ‘WHAT IS CULTURE’?
involve myself into the other religion’s cultural situations so that I can learn the other cultures
and can mingle with them, widening my own beliefs and helping the others.

4REFLECTION ON ‘WHAT IS CULTURE’?
References:
Coccia, M. (2014). Socio-cultural origins of the patterns of technological innovation: What is the
likely interaction among religious culture, religious plurality and innovation? Towards a
theory of socio-cultural drivers of the patterns of technological innovation. Technology in
Society, 36, 13-25.
Parkes, C. M., Laungani, P., & Young, B. (2015). Culture and religion. In Death and
bereavement across cultures (pp. 9-20). Routledge.
Weightman, S. (2017). Hinduism. A new handbook of living religions, 261-309.