Introduction
This essay seeks to explore the concept of culture through a personal lens, focusing on my Korean heritage and its profound influence on my identity, thought processes, and consumption patterns. Culture, as understood in cultural anthropology, is a complex system of shared meanings, values, and practices that shape human behaviour and perceptions of the world (Guest, 2021). Drawing on this framework, I will reflect on what culture means to me and my family, how it manifests in our daily lives through norms, values, and mental maps of reality, and how it influences my consumption desires. Additionally, I will assess how my understanding of culture has evolved through my engagement with the course ANTH001-UC1. By employing key anthropological concepts such as enculturation, symbols, historical particularism, and unilineal cultural evolution, this essay aims to provide a nuanced reflection on how culture molds my lived experiences.
Defining Korean Culture in My Life
To me and my family, culture encompasses the Korean language, food, media, and the community that surrounds us, forming the bedrock of our identity. Growing up in a Korean household, culture matters deeply as it ties us to our roots and provides a sense of belonging amidst a globalised world. It is empowering to witness the global success of Korean music, television dramas, and films, as it instills pride in seeing individuals from our cultural background achieve recognition. For instance, the rise of K-pop groups like NewJeans serves as a powerful symbol of Korean cultural influence, reinforcing a shared sense of achievement and visibility (Guest, 2021).
Culture manifests in my everyday life through specific norms, values, and mental maps of reality, which I have come to understand through the process of enculturation—the gradual acquisition of cultural knowledge through socialisation (Guest, 2021). Firstly, norms such as respect for elders and communal dining shape our family interactions. For example, we always wait for the eldest family member to start eating before we begin, a practice that reinforces hierarchy and respect. Another norm is the expectation to excel academically, which often dictates how I prioritise my time and resources. Secondly, values play a significant role; the value of filial piety means caring for and honouring my parents, often influencing decisions such as staying close to home for university. Additionally, the value of community over individualism encourages participation in family and cultural events, fostering a sense of collective identity. Lastly, mental maps of reality—culturally constructed ways of perceiving the world—guide my outlook. One mental map is the belief that hard work inevitably leads to success, which drives my academic and personal ambitions. Another is the perception of beauty as tied to skincare and appearance, a cultural ideal that influences my daily routines and consumption, as I will discuss later. These elements, rooted in historical particularism—the idea that each culture develops uniquely based on its historical context—demonstrate how Korean culture operates distinctly, avoiding assumptions of unilineal cultural evolution where cultures are presumed to progress along a singular developmental path (Guest, 2021).
Culture and Consumption Patterns
Building on this reflection, my Korean culture significantly shapes my desires and consumption patterns, aligning with the anthropological insight that consumer culture is a product of social practices and influences (Guest, 2021). Following the exercise in the Cultural Anthropology Fieldwork Journal, I have identified three items I need—textbooks, a laptop, and basic clothing—and three items I want: Korean skincare products, fashion items influenced by streetwear brands like Chrome Hearts, and access to Korean dramas such as *Reply 1988*. These choices are not arbitrary; they reflect deeper cultural forces at play.
The desire for Korean skincare products, for instance, stems from a cultural emphasis on appearance as a symbol of self-care and social status. This value, reinforced through family teachings and media portrayals of flawless skin, has cultivated a personal routine of investing in specific brands that promise authenticity and quality. Similarly, my interest in streetwear fashion, particularly brands like Chrome Hearts that are popular in Korea, emerges from a peer and media-driven culture that equates trendy clothing with social acceptance and modernity. Watching Korean dramas like Reply 1988 is another consumption pattern influenced by family traditions of bonding over shared cultural content, reflecting a need to connect with narratives that resonate with our experiences and history.
These consumption desires are produced through various forces, including family expectations, ethnic identity, and media exposure. For example, commercials and social media play a pivotal role in creating a culture of consumerism by presenting these items as essential to maintaining cultural relevance. Furthermore, as a college student, I participate in this culture by engaging with peers who share similar tastes, thus reinforcing the cycle of desire and acquisition. Indeed, my choice of specific brands over generic alternatives highlights how deeply embedded consumer culture is within my Korean identity, showcasing how I, too, contribute to its perpetuation. This interplay between heritage and contemporary influences like college culture illustrates the dynamic nature of consumerism beyond a singular cultural framework.
Evolving Understanding of Culture
My engagement with ANTH001-UC1 and readings such as Chapter 2 of Guest’s *Essentials of Cultural Anthropology* has profoundly altered my understanding of culture. Initially, I viewed culture as a static set of traditions and practices specific to my Korean background. However, the course introduced me to the idea of culture as a fluid, holistic system that encompasses symbols, meanings, and interactions. This perspective encouraged me to question how deeply enculturation shapes my worldview and to critically assess why certain values, like academic excellence, hold such significance in my life (Guest, 2021).
Furthermore, the “College Students and Consumer Culture” exercise prompted me to analyse the societal forces behind my consumption patterns, moving beyond personal choice to recognise broader cultural influences. I now appreciate how historical particularism explains the uniqueness of Korean cultural traits without assuming a universal progression, challenging outdated notions like unilineal cultural evolution. This newfound awareness has made me more reflective about how culture operates subtly yet powerfully in shaping my thoughts and behaviours, fostering a deeper self-understanding through an anthropological lens.
Conclusion
In summary, this essay has explored how Korean culture—encompassing language, food, and media—profoundly influences my identity, consumption patterns, and perspectives. Through norms like respect for elders, values such as filial piety, and mental maps linking beauty to appearance, culture manifests in my daily life and guides my behaviour. Moreover, cultural forces drive my consumption desires for items like Korean skincare and streetwear, highlighting my active role in consumer culture. Finally, my understanding of culture has evolved through ANTH001-UC1, shifting from a static view to a dynamic, holistic appreciation informed by anthropological concepts like enculturation and historical particularism. This reflection underscores the relevance of anthropology in decoding personal and collective experiences, offering insights into the intricate ways culture molds our worldviews and actions.
References
- Guest, K. J. (2021) Essentials of Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for a Global Age. 3rd edn. W.W. Norton & Company.
Self-Evaluation
Reflecting on this draft, I believe I have effectively addressed the key components of the assignment by providing a personal reflection on my Korean culture, linking it to consumption patterns, and showing how my understanding has evolved through the course. My use of anthropological concepts like enculturation and historical particularism demonstrates a sound grasp of the material, and the examples of norms, values, and mental maps are relevant and detailed. However, I recognise that my critical analysis could be deepened, particularly in evaluating the limitations of my cultural perspective or exploring conflicting cultural influences. Additionally, while I incorporated feedback from the Cultural Anthropology Fieldwork Journal, I could further elaborate on how specific peer or media influences shape my consumer choices to enhance the depth of my argument.
In terms of structure and academic skills, the essay is logically organised with clear headings and transitions, maintaining a formal tone suitable for an undergraduate level. I have adhered to Harvard referencing, though I acknowledge the reference list is limited and could benefit from broader sources to support my points. Overall, I believe this draft meets the expectations for a 2:2 standard by showing a broad understanding of cultural anthropology and personal application, but there is room for improvement in critical engagement and source diversity during the revision process.
