Dirk Van der Elst’s “Culture as Given, Culture as Choice” is a fascinating look at the role of culture in our lives. Van der Elst, an anthropologist and sociologist, argues that culture is not something that we are born with or predetermined by our genes. Rather, it is something that we learn and choose to participate in. This choice is what makes us human.

Van der Elst provides many examples of how culture shapes our lives, from the food we eat to the way we dress and behave. He also discusses how culture can be used to empower individuals and groups. For instance, he cites the example of how women in some cultures are able to use their cultural knowledge to gain more control over their lives.

Overall, this book is a thought-provoking read that will leave you with a new appreciation for the role of culture in our lives.

In this essay, Dirk Van Der Elst and Paul Bohanan discuss multiculturalism. The text claims that in the intellectual discourse of society, a distinct perspective on culture is required. Elst examines culture based on the example of sex research. In his study, Elst makes it clear that plurality is the norm, with everyone being multi-ethnic and multi-racial to some degree.

The text goes on to say that people should not have to choose one culture over another, and that it is possible to have more than one culture. The idea of “culture as given” is seen as problematic because it can essentialize cultures and make them seem static. The concept of “culture as choice” is much more fluid and allows for change and negotiation within cultures. This text is important because it challenges the way that society views culture and encourages people to think about culture in a more nuanced way.

It is commonplace to see culture as a static entity, even when discussing the current debate surrounding multiculturalism. In this text, multiculturalism is defined as the incorporation of more cultures into the framework of the dominant discourse, rather than deconstructing pre-existing perceptions of culture.

In other words, it is a political process that determines how various cultures will be allowed to interact with one another within the public sphere. In this way, multiculturalism can be said to be an extension of colonialism, which also often entailed the imposition of a dominant culture on others.

Dirk Van der Elst’s “Culture as Given, Culture as Choice” challenges this limited and dangerous view of culture. Instead, he argues that culture is always in flux, and that it is constantly being created and recreated by individuals. This means that culture is not something that can be used to essentialize or pigeonhole people. It also means that we have the power to change our cultures if we so choose.

This is an important book for anyone interested in Anthropology, Sociology, or Culture. It challenges the dominant view of culture and offers a more nuanced and complex understanding of its role in our lives.

Elst believes culture does not exist as one static entity, but rather is constantly changing and “constructed, socially produced norm.” From reading the book, I felt that the author’s purpose was to encourage individuals to study and examine their own cultures.

In other words, to not take cultural norms and values for granted, but to constantly be aware of the possibility that things could be different.

One of the main ideas in the book is that culture is not something that we are born into and cannot escape from. Instead, it is something that we actively create and reinforce through our actions and interactions with others. This means that we have the power to change our culture if we don’t like the way it is. However, this also means that we have a responsibility to make sure our culture is positive and supportive, rather than negative and harmful.

I think this book would be particularly helpful for people who are interested in anthropology or sociology. It provides a lot of food for thought about the nature of culture and how it affects our lives. It also offers some practical advice for people who want to make changes in their own cultures.

So I took a step back and asked myself, what does culture mean to me? How has it impacted my personal, political, and social life? The book claims that culture encompasses “everything that human beings have created and transmitted socially across time and space.” It goes on to say that people are said to “carry” or bear culture from one person or generation to another.

So in this way, culture is like a weight that we all have to carry around with us. It’s something that is passed down to us from our parents and grandparents, and it’s something that we pass down to our children and grandchildren.

When it comes to my person, I am very much influenced by my culture. I was born and raised in the Netherlands, so Dutch culture has had a big impact on who I am as a person. I am also of Indonesian descent, so Indonesian culture has also played a role in shaping me into the person I am today. I think that the combination of these two cultures has made me into a very open-minded and tolerant person. I am also very family-oriented, which I think is a result of my cultural upbringing.

When it comes to my political views, I am very much influenced by my culture as well. As I mentioned before, I am from the Netherlands, and the Dutch are known for being very tolerant and open-minded. This is definitely reflected in my political views. I am very liberal when it comes to social issues, and I believe that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Finally, when it comes to my social life, my culture also plays a big role. I am very close with my family and friends, and I think this is because of the strong family bonds that are common in Dutch and Indonesian culture. I am also very outgoing and social, and I enjoy being around people. I think this is because of the Dutch culture, which is known for being very social and outgoing.

All in all, I think that culture has a big influence on who I am as a person, both on a personal and political level. It is something that I carry with me everywhere I go, and it is something that I will pass down to my children and grandchildren.

Dirk Van der Elst’s “Culture as Given, Culture as Choice” is a fascinating look at the role of culture in our lives. Van der Elst, an anthropologist and sociologist, argues that culture is not something that we are born with or predetermined by our genes. Rather, it is something that we learn and choose to participate in. This choice is what makes us human.

Van der Elst provides many examples of how culture shapes our lives, from the food we eat to the way we dress and behave. He also discusses how culture can be used to empower individuals and groups. For instance, he cites the example of how women in some cultures are able to use their cultural knowledge to gain more control over their lives.

Overall, this book is a thought-provoking read that will leave you with a new appreciation for the role of culture in our lives.

In this essay, Dirk Van Der Elst and Paul Bohanan discuss multiculturalism. The text claims that in the intellectual discourse of society, a distinct perspective on culture is required. Elst examines culture based on the example of sex research. In his study, Elst makes it clear that plurality is the norm, with everyone being multi-ethnic and multi-racial to some degree.

The text goes on to say that people should not have to choose one culture over another, and that it is possible to have more than one culture. The idea of “culture as given” is seen as problematic because it can essentialize cultures and make them seem static. The concept of “culture as choice” is much more fluid and allows for change and negotiation within cultures. This text is important because it challenges the way that society views culture and encourages people to think about culture in a more nuanced way.

It is commonplace to see culture as a static entity, even when discussing the current debate surrounding multiculturalism. In this text, multiculturalism is defined as the incorporation of more cultures into the framework of the dominant discourse, rather than deconstructing pre-existing perceptions of culture.

In other words, it is a political process that determines how various cultures will be allowed to interact with one another within the public sphere. In this way, multiculturalism can be said to be an extension of colonialism, which also often entailed the imposition of a dominant culture on others.

Dirk Van der Elst’s “Culture as Given, Culture as Choice” challenges this limited and dangerous view of culture. Instead, he argues that culture is always in flux, and that it is constantly being created and recreated by individuals. This means that culture is not something that can be used to essentialize or pigeonhole people. It also means that we have the power to change our cultures if we so choose.

This is an important book for anyone interested in Anthropology, Sociology, or Culture. It challenges the dominant view of culture and offers a more nuanced and complex understanding of its role in our lives.

Elst believes culture does not exist as one static entity, but rather is constantly changing and “constructed, socially produced norm.” From reading the book, I felt that the author’s purpose was to encourage individuals to study and examine their own cultures.

In other words, to not take cultural norms and values for granted, but to constantly be aware of the possibility that things could be different.

One of the main ideas in the book is that culture is not something that we are born into and cannot escape from. Instead, it is something that we actively create and reinforce through our actions and interactions with others. This means that we have the power to change our culture if we don’t like the way it is. However, this also means that we have a responsibility to make sure our culture is positive and supportive, rather than negative and harmful.

I think this book would be particularly helpful for people who are interested in anthropology or sociology. It provides a lot of food for thought about the nature of culture and how it affects our lives. It also offers some practical advice for people who want to make changes in their own cultures.

So I took a step back and asked myself, what does culture mean to me? How has it impacted my personal, political, and social life? The book claims that culture encompasses “everything that human beings have created and transmitted socially across time and space.” It goes on to say that people are said to “carry” or bear culture from one person or generation to another.

So in this way, culture is like a weight that we all have to carry around with us. It’s something that is passed down to us from our parents and grandparents, and it’s something that we pass down to our children and grandchildren.

When it comes to my person, I am very much influenced by my culture. I was born and raised in the Netherlands, so Dutch culture has had a big impact on who I am as a person. I am also of Indonesian descent, so Indonesian culture has also played a role in shaping me into the person I am today. I think that the combination of these two cultures has made me into a very open-minded and tolerant person. I am also very family-oriented, which I think is a result of my cultural upbringing.

When it comes to my political views, I am very much influenced by my culture as well. As I mentioned before, I am from the Netherlands, and the Dutch are known for being very tolerant and open-minded. This is definitely reflected in my political views. I am very liberal when it comes to social issues, and I believe that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Finally, when it comes to my social life, my culture also plays a big role. I am very close with my family and friends, and I think this is because of the strong family bonds that are common in Dutch and Indonesian culture. I am also very outgoing and social, and I enjoy being around people. I think this is because of the Dutch culture, which is known for being very social and outgoing.

All in all, I think that culture has a big influence on who I am as a person, both on a personal and political level. It is something that I carry with me everywhere I go, and it is something that I will pass down to my children and grandchildren.