TEDx Talk: What Does Culture Look Like in Real Life?

What Does Culture Look Like in Real Life?

Introduction

Hi everyone, and thank you for coming to my TEDx talk today. I’m here to talk to you about culture, and what it looks like in real life.

As an expert in intercultural communication, I believe that culture is one of the most important things that shapes our lives. It influences the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we interact with the world around us.

But what exactly is culture? It’s a complex concept, and there’s no one definition that everyone agrees on. But for the purposes of this talk, I’m going to define culture as “the shared values, beliefs, and practices of a group of people.”

Culture as a Complex Concept

Culture is a complex concept because it’s made up of so many different things. It includes our language, our religion, our food, our music, our art, our values, our beliefs, and our way of life.

And culture isn’t static. It’s constantly evolving, as people from different cultures interact with each other and share their ideas and values.

The Diversity Iceberg

One way to think about culture is to use the analogy of an iceberg. The visible part of the iceberg is what people can see when they interact with you. It’s your language, your clothing, your food, and your other outward cultural markers.

But the hidden part of the iceberg is what people can’t see. It’s your values, your beliefs, your assumptions, and your unconscious biases.

The diversity iceberg is a helpful way to think about culture because it reminds us that there’s more to culture than meets the eye. It’s also a reminder that we all have a diversity iceberg, and that we need to be aware of both the visible and invisible parts of our culture in order to interact effectively with people from other cultures.

My Personal Diversity Iceberg

I’d like to share my own personal diversity iceberg with you. Here are five of the most visible characteristics of my culture:

1. I’m a white, middle-class American woman.
2. I was born and raised in the United States.
3. I speak English as my first language.
4. I’m Christian.
5. I’m a college graduate.

Here are ten of the less visible or not visible characteristics of my culture:

1. I’m a feminist.
2. I’m an introvert.
3. I’m a dog lover.
4. I’m a big fan of science fiction.
5. I’m a bit of a perfectionist.
6. I’m a good listener.
7. I’m a bit of a worrier.
8. I’m a bit of a dreamer.
9. I’m always learning new things.
10. I’m always trying to grow as a person.

My Cultural Autobiography

My cultural autobiography is a story about who I am in terms of the complexity of my personal culture. It’s a story about the visible and invisible parts of my culture, and how they’ve shaped my life.

I was born and raised in a small town in the United States. My family is white, middle-class, and Christian. I’ve always felt a strong sense of belonging to my culture, but I’ve also been aware of the ways in which my culture has limited me.

For example, I’ve often felt like I had to conform to certain expectations in order to be accepted by my peers. I’ve also had to deal with the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated society.

But I’ve also been grateful for the opportunities that my culture has given me. I’ve had the chance to get a good education, and I’ve been able to travel and experience different cultures.

I’m still learning about my own culture, and I’m still figuring out how to navigate the world as a bicultural person. But I’m grateful for the journey, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, culture is a complex concept that’s constantly evolving. It’s made up of both visible and invisible parts, and it shapes our lives in many ways.

I hope that my talk has given you a better understanding of what culture looks like in real life. And I hope that you’ll take some time to think about your own personal culture, and how it’s shaped you as a person.

Thank you for listening.