Culture is more than what happens in a Petri dish...

Culture is one of those things that, after you say the word a few times, it starts to seem like it's not a real word. But it really is a real word and one I've been thinking about a little bit lately. Now, this post definitely does not seek to delve into the deeper meaning of cultural what-nots. It's just more random ramblings by your humble author. That said, here it goes...

Culture's such a funny little concept. You can't really pin it down with an explicit meaning - it just "is," and it's very generalized. It's what a group of people do, say, feel, react to, believe in. It's a set of ideas that shape the way we think. It's natural when you're part of it and alien or even offensive when you're not. And it's a tangled web of things that influence each other even when they're unaware - like language and social norms, for example. Each one of those things depends on the other for its evolution, and most of the time we have no idea that it's even happening. I sometimes think I should have been a cultural anthropologist. But then again, I know in my heart that I'd probably have even less money than I do now if I had chosen that path, and so that's the way it goes... Now I just get to rant about these things in my little blog space. :D But I digress...

The lighter side of culture (or maybe darker...) is pop culture. Music, television, movies, fashion - all these things influence us daily - and sometimes without our knowledge. The more I think about it, the more I start to realize how very ninja-like culture can be - creeping inside our brains and making a home there until, before you know it, there's an idea in there that think is your own and really it's just the culture sneaking inside... like an invisible ninja parasite. Now there's a simile for your collection. Put that in your book and mark it. ;)

This ninja attack has happened to me so many times. One example in particular has to do with my dog and how culture has had an impact on our relationship and how I view her. My little animal is my precious, and I love her; I do, however, have to leave her at home - all alone - in her kennel while I am at work during the day. You might think this is really sad, and in a way it is, but my little dog does enjoy being snuggled up in her blankets, buried deep down in there. So, that is what she does, and she's quite accustomed to our little routine - go outside in the morning, get a hug from me, go in the kennel, sleep, go outside when I get home, play, eat, then snuggle until going in the kennel again. That said, I often recall the Smashing Pumpkins song from the late 90s "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" when thinking about Cookie the dog. I should mention here that my little dog is a black 5 lb. Chihuahua. And she looks like a rat. And I mean that in the most loving way possible.

   

"Despite all my rage I'm still just a rat in a cage..." Were it not for this song, how would I think about Cookie's situation differently? I more than likely wouldn't have come up with that meme all by myself. And I wouldn't have the regular giggle that comes over me when I think about it. "Cruel," you say? Nay - my little dog is a happy one. But she does have some anger issues, which is what makes this lyric  just that much funnier. You know you'd laugh too if you saw this:

  

And that's basically what she looks like. Except black. And a Chihuahua. 

Moving right along [before PETA gets involved]... 

Something else that I can't help but think about is this cultural phenom that makes itself known to me regularly -- "the hug." See, the funny thing about a hug is simply the way people feel about it. In France, for example, people kiss each other on the cheek - maybe more of an "air kiss," but this is irrelevant. This gesture involves putting your face right next to someone else's - even someone you don't know so well or have just met. Now while that strikes me as a little icky, I can also understand how some are weirded out by full-body contact in the form of a hug. I am not a person who lives in that camp, however. I give hugs. I will give you a hug even if we aren't particularly close. My first hug is like an invitation to be my friend and be nice. If you're not nice, no more hugs for you. If you are, you can expect that hug just about every time we meet. ;)

Of course, this is maybe a little awkward for some who don't really hug much. That's ok. It's a cultural difference we have. But this is my culture. And you want to be tolerant, don't you? You can't just flat out reject a hug from Stacie. It's warm and it loves you. Love it back. Embrace the hug. (Did you get how I was really punny right there? Ooohhhh yeeaaahhh :D).

Oh, culture, culture, culture... [Sounds weird, doesn't it? :P]

Now, at the risk of chopping this post off at the ankles, I've just got to add that I'm quite impressed that in this one article I have somehow managed to mention all of the following mostly-unrelated things: my dog Cookie, the Smashing Pumpkins, the French, and ninjas. All without even breaking a sweat. Take that Daniel Tosh. And for the last person remaining who actually still knows what on earth I'm talking about, *HUGZ*.