Extra Thought: How is Culture Created?

  **Ok, I'm going to address the fact that it has felt like an eternity since my last post...because it has been.  Yeah, I didn't post anything, big whoop, wanna fight about it?!?!  I've been focusing on some other aspects of life lately, not that I couldn't have updated the blog...I just didn't.  So, that's my unapologetic way of apologizing, you're welcome** 

  Culture is not something that is as black and white as we make it seem.  If we look at a certain country, we'll say from a high level that 'this' is their culture, when in actuality, that's just what we know of it.  Depending on what region of the country the source was in to make those claims, the perceived culture could be drastically different.  Let's look at good ole Uh'Merica for a second. At a high level, our culture is that of excess, selfishness, blind nationalism, and ignorance of other parts of the world.  In general, most of this is accurate.  However, region by region the culture will shift and feel completely different.  From southern hospitality to the "get out of my way" aspect of the north east, cultures become unique as they are adapted & interpreted by those living it. 

  I'm curious about how these shared traits and values started though.  I'm not going to touch any of the actual sociology behind this (because I haven't studied it) but the way I see it, people will emulate others if they respect them.  Why do people follow & emulate celebrities?  Why does all it take for a new product to succeed is having the right spokesmen?  People see a lifestyle that they want and will do what they think it takes to emulate it so they can have that lifestyle themselves.  

Diddy Told Me To Drink Ciroc...So, I Drink Ciroc

  I find it funny to think how some cultural behaviors were passed on though.  The act of harakiri (stabbing yourself in the stomach and cutting left to right to die with honor) could've been started by one popular, ass hole samurai talking shit to another samurai that just messed up:  "You did what?  Wow, that's horrible. You lost all respect on that one. If I were you, I'd disembowel myself in order to regain some dignity in death.  I wouldn't want to live with that shame on me.  I couldn't do it. Nope, I'd kill myself...early!"  I'm sure the phrasing would be a little different, but you see where I'm going with this. 

  Culture evolves from a collection of simple ideas & values, more often than not, from  respectable/popular people that the masses accept and recreate.  One day, I want to be that ass hole that sparks the next step in our culture...hopefully without causing people to kill themselves...no promises though.