CULTURALLY IN-DEPTH: ONIONS HAVE LAYERS, OGRES HAVE LAYERS, AND CULTURES DO TOO
There are truths on this side of the Pyrenees which are falsehoods on the other. – Philosopher Michel de Montaigne, 16th century i By Dr. Thomas J. Bussen
This article summarizes the inner and outer layers of culture. It emphasizes—through a lighthearted reference to Shrek—that through attention to the visible outer layers of a culture, one may learn invaluable lessons about the deeply held attitudes and beliefs of a society. Empirically grounded, this article nonetheless presents concepts of culture—often an ambiguously defined term—in concise, clear, and friendly terms, with easy actions items for readers.
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dward B. Tylor wrote in 1871, “Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by [humankind] as a member of society.” Or, as another put it more simply, “Culture is the way we do things here.” ii As articulated famously by the lovable ogre Shrek, ogres have layers, onions have layers, and, we would argue, so too does culture. iii The outer layers tend to be observable objects, such as the food, dress, and music of a society. The typical tourist to Paris or Rome rarely ventures deeper than this outer layer. The expression, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” usually means nothing more than try the wine or eat the gelato.
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2022 First Quarter
But at the inner levels of this onion, we have a more immovable culture, characterized by deeply held attitudes, beliefs, norms, and morals. Geert Hofstede refers to this inner level as a place of “mental programming,” a phrase that signals the deeply embedded nature of culturally infused attitudes and beliefs. Consequently, the inner layer is not simply the root of culture, it is the basis of misunderstanding and conflict between peoples, who may each view their own culturally infused attitudes and beliefs as universal truth. The inner levels and outer levels are, however, linked rather than distinct. Often, the outer layers signal changes that are happening or poised to happen at the inner levels. For instance, Russian men www.diversityjournal.com
