Understanding

Culture, Society
and Politics
Renee Christine Marie D.
Barcoma
Lesson 1: Society
and I
 Objective
Describe Analyze how Recognize Examine how
themselve
s
according
s
their
background
s influence
the concepts
of culture,
society, and
the cultural,
social, and
political
phenomena
to their their politics and happening
cultural, identity their around them
social, and (values, respective continuously
political beliefs, elements; an influence or
backgroun behavior); change them
ds; as individuals.
Sub-lesson 1: Shaping
My Identity
1. What do
you already
know about
your
2. What do
you want to
know more
about
 • Our identities are said
to be socially-
constructed.
• According to the social-
Do we create constructionist view,
our own one’s identity is formed
identities? through our interaction
with others and in
relation to social,
cultural, and political
contexts. In other
words, our identities are
 How does
society
i n fl u e n c e
individuals
(identities)
?
• Social groups and norms - the
social groups that an individual
belongs to also affect one’s
creation and maintenance of
identity as social groups and
their members practice specific
norms (family, ethnolinguistic
group, churches, schools,
fraternal relationships,
organizations
 Cultural and sociopolitical
changes/phenomena - events that
happened in history have been
continuously shaping the society and
subsequently, the individuals in it.
• History - The Philippines’ colonial past molded and
changed the Filipino culture, mixing together
Spanish, American, and indigenous cultures.
 National political
events
Example 1: Filipino-American ties kept politically and
culturally strong since the start of the American
colonization through US Military bases in the Philippines
• The intermarriage of Filipino and Americans
• Trade laws which swamp Filipino markets with
American goods
• Filipinos’ undying love for “imported goods” and
Duty-Free
Example 2: ABS-CBNs shutdown after the denial of
franchise
• The passing of the Anti-Terror Law
 Local events
• Example 1: Lumads evacuating from their
communities because of militarization and armed
conflict.
• Example 2: New policies enacted by school
administrators changing students’ level and
practice of freedom—stricter regulations on
uniforms, the creation of more student-led clubs and
organizations, and the practice of academic
freedom.
• Example 3: Barangay and SK officials involving the
locals in policy-making through consultations, or
 Sub-lesson 2:
Observing, Interacting
With, and Changing
Society
What can you say about
Filipino culture and
society?
 Culture
the ways of thinking, the ways of
acting, and the material objects that
together form a people’s way of life.
Culture includes what we think, how
we act, and what we own. (Macionis,
2016)
Elements of a. Symbols
anything that carries a particular
Culture meaning recognized by people who
(Macionis, share a culture
2016): b. Language
system of symbols that allows
people to communicate with one
another
c. Values
culturally defined standards that
people use to decide what is
desirable, good, and beautiful and
that serve as broad guidelines for
Elements of d. Norms
Culture rules and expectations by which a
society guides the behavior of its
(Macionis, members
2016): 1.Mores - norms that are widely
observed and have great moral
significance
⚬ e.g. gender roles or the concept
of pagkalalake and pagkababae,
reverence for the dead
2.Folkways - norms for routine or
casual interaction e.g. paggalang,
How can individuals
influence society?
Exercise of Power
the individual’s ability to
exercise power (the ability
to make others do what
you would have them do)
manifests in their identity
and vice versa.
Agent of Change
As much as the society
influences the creation of
individual identities and
individuals are members of
societies who continue and
sustain its existence, the
individual is recognized as an
agent of social change who has
the power (agency) to shape the
Lesson 2: How Social Sciences
Equip Us in Understanding
People and Society Better
 Objective
Recognize

s
the Differentiate Determine how
perspectives/ the
lessons from the theories theories/lessons Apply the
the three key and from the Social lessons of the
disciplines of methods Sciences can Social
Social employed better equip Sciences in
Sciences - them to their own
Anthropology by each
understand praxis.
, Sociology, discipline; people and
and Political society; and
Science;
 Sub-lesson 1:
Broadening My
Perspectives
 Social
the study of society, culture and
Sciences
politics based on social and political
philosophy (Scott 2006, p.9;
Retrieved from Lanuza and
Raymundo), offer multitudes of
disciplines with different
perspectives about people and
society -- three key disciplines for
UCSP: Anthropology, Sociology, and
 Moral Compass
signifies someone’s set of
values and beliefs that guide
them to what they believe as
right or wrong in life. These
beliefs dictate their actions,
which directly influence
others/society.
Different Kinds of
Change
 Social Change
the alteration in the structure or
organization in the society, may it be in
status, class, etc. (Encyclopedia Brittanica)
 Cultural Change
- the modification of a society through innovation,
invention, discovery or contact with other societies
(Merriam Webster). It is often caused by the physical
environment, population, war and conquest, random
events, and technology.
Political Change
the change in the
governmental and political
system of a state through
transition of leadership,
clash of ideologies, etc.
 Sub-lesson 2:
Praxis and
Methods of the
Social Sciences
 Praxis
an act of doing
something or practice
(application of
knowledge) in relation
to theory (knowledge),
informed and
committed action to the
search for truth and
Thank you!