Kliment Riabov

Edita Novakova

Nguyen Hanh

Antti Soini

Pavel Myshov

Matvey Titov

Cultural Iceberg

Why is culture like an iceberg?

When we see an iceberg, the portion which is visible above water is, in reality, only a small piece of a much larger whole. Similarly, people often think of culture as the numerous observable characteristics of a group that we can *see* with our eyes, be it their food, dances, music, arts, or greeting rituals. The reality, however, is that these are merely an external manifestation of the deeper and broader components of culture -- the complex ideas and deeply-held preferences and priorities known as attitudes and values

Why is culture like an iceberg?

Deep below the "water line" are a culture's core values. These are primarily learned ideas of what is good, right, desirable, and acceptable, as well as what is bad, wrong, undesirable, and unacceptable. In many cases, different cultural groups share the similar core values (such as "honesty", or "respect", or "family"), but these are often interpreted differently in different situations and incorporated in unique ways into specific attitudes we apply in daily situations. 

Why is culture like an iceberg?

It is also important to note that the core values of a culture do not change quickly or easily. They are passed on from generation to generation by numerous institutions which surround us. These institutions of influence are powerful forces which guide us and teach us. Although an economic system may change, or a new methodology in school may be adopted, or new definitions of "common and normal" may be perceived on the television, there are innumerable forces that continue to mold a culture as they have in the past.

So, like an iceberg, there are things that we can see and describe easily... but there are also many deeply rooted ideas that we can only understand by analyzing values, studying institutions, and in many cases, reflecting on our own core values.

Why is culture like an iceberg?

Cultural iceberg (Edward T. Hall)

Czech culture’s external part

Religion: Christian 35%, atheistic 60% , 5% unknown

Food and beverages: national dish - Roast pork with bread dumplings and sauerkraut or Beef Goulash with bread dumplings

Beverages:

* Beer – consumption 145 l per capita (2011) - 1. rank in the World (87 l in Finland)

* Spirit - (40%): Plum spirit, Becherovka (herbal spirit)

Sport: Ice hockey (WOG Nagano ´98), Football, Speed-skating (WR Sáblíková), Biatlon, Athletics (Zátopek 18x WR, Šebrle) etc..

Art: the world known painter and decorative artist Alfons Mucha – The Slav Epic; Composers: Smetana, Dvořák – From the New World, Contemporary Film directors: M. Forman- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Music band: Charlie Straight

Folklore: Mix of Christian and pagan customs – dance: Verbuňk (UNESCO Cultural Heritage)

Czech culture’s internal part

* Eccentric apperance is not very popular, especially among older generation

* Low tolerance for gay and lesbian couples among older people

* Infidelity like a social taboo

* Envy, jealousy still exist, hopefully it is a remain from the communist era (1948-1990) also „fear“ from to be different

* Everybody has his own opinion to everything – Global Economic Crises, World peace etc.

* No joke is inappropriate, black humour is very popular

* Complaining to everything, especially about money in each situation

* Gestures, body language: Eye contact, shaking hands, huging (between friends and family), personal space needed

Russian culture’s external part

* Folklore

* Literature

* Handicraft

* Icon painting

* Ballet

* Cuisine

* Traditions

* Sports

* Holidays

* Religion

Russian culture’s internal part

*Gender roles

*World view

*Personal space

*Friendship

*Pace of work

*Dating and courtship

*Low tolerance for gay and lesbian couples

*Great respect for the older generations

* Ideas about leadership

Russian culture’s internal part

* Respect to authority

*Eye contact in public places may be taken as a challenge

*Hospitality once Russians get to know you

*Russian language dominant despite many ethnic diversity

* Impression management and appearances matter; don’t be worse off than others

*Personal relationships and favors to be above law

*Value of education, science and high literacy rates

*Great sense of national pride

Russian holidays

*January 1-5 - New Year(the biggest Russian holiday)

*January 7 - Christmas (Orthodox Christmas)

*February 14 - St. Valentine's Day

*February 23 - Defender of the Motherland Day

*March 8 - International Women's Day

*May 1 - May Day, day of spring and work

*May 9 - Victory Day

*April 12 - Cosmonautics Day

*Varies - Maslenitsa, Maslenitsa Week

Vietnamese culture

What you see us

Harmony Filial Piety

DutyBuddism

Family

High expectation from parents

Karma Honor

Finnish culture

Little “task” for you guys

Here it is