Got culture?
In his article “How to become a
marihuana user”, Howard Becker argues that both our genes (nature) and the
social experiences we go through in our lives (nurture) make us who we are. He
uses marijuana as an example to illustrate how we go from biological
individuals to become cultural subjects through a process called social
construction.
Social construction is quite powerful.
All the things we see on TV, all the things we are taught, all those things we
hear, it seems like almost everything around us participate in making us who we
are, but more importantly, it seems like they push us to take a position. I
came from a catholic family so, when I found out that Neil Patrick Harris –from
the epic TV show ‘How I met your mother’—was gay, my feelings got all mixed up.
On one hand, I had this amazing actor I really liked (yeah, Barney Stinson’s
Awesome!), but at the same time, I was taught that homosexuality was deviant
so, I had to take a position: either stick to my beliefs or go with my
feelings.
To this day, I still watch the show and
burst out laughing every time Neil Patrick Harris goes “what up?” or whenever
he says one of his many ecstatic lines. It’s not that my beliefs have changed,
but I’ve learned how to deal with ideas and beliefs that are different from
mine. I think being a cultural subject isn’t just about having our own
beliefs/opinions, but it is also about being able to accept others’ beliefs
even if we don’t necessarily agree with them, and that’s when cultural studies
come into play: to help us understand why we and our society act/think the way
we do in order to be able to live in harmony. I am pretty sure that I am not
the only straight catholic guy who enjoys watching Barney fool around, and if
the fact that he’s gay turns you off, then you should probably culture up!
I really agree with your statement. Culture doesn't mean we have to choose between what we believe and what others' are saying. Instead we need to take those things and learn how to combine them in a way that they can coexist. We shouldn't be closed off to things that we could possibly enjoy just because of a outside factor that really doesn't have anything to do with it.
ReplyDeleteI can relate when you talk about having to either go with your gut feelings or stick to the beliefs you were raised with; I think this is probably a situation a lot of people encounter when they come to college about something at one point or another. I actually had conflicting views about the topic of Becker's article, marijuana, for a long time. I was raised that it was completely unacceptable and I avoided everyone that had anything to do with it. (I know that sounds like I'm a prude or something, but it's just one thing I always felt strongly about.) Anyway, high school I could avoid it enough, but then I came to college and a lot of people I got really close to were into weed recreationally. I've come to realize that if I believe I should give up a great friendships over one thing that isn't even abused, then by belief is obviously too strict and I don't believe it's worth a sacrifice like that at all. So, like you seem to have done with your conflicting views about homosexuality, I've found a happy medium about weed.
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