Fenway Park in Boston, a driverless car, a vegetarian hamburger, and a smart phone would all be considered examples of:
a. Argot
b. Material culture
c. Nonmaterial culture
d. Xenocentrism
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is b. Material culture.
Explanation:
Material culture refers to the physical objects, artifacts, and technology that are created by and used within a society. These tangible items reflect the values, beliefs, and practices of the people who produce and use them. Fenway Park in Boston, a driverless car, a vegetarian hamburger, and a smartphone are all examples of material culture because they are physical things that represent the culture of a society.
- Fenway Park is a physical structure that represents the culture of baseball in Boston and the broader American sports culture.
- A driverless car represents technological advancements and innovation in the automotive industry.
- A vegetarian hamburger reflects cultural changes in food preferences and the rise of plant-based diets.
- A smartphone is a product of modern technology that influences communication, entertainment, and daily life.
Material culture is important because it helps to show how societies adapt to their environment, create tools, and express themselves through tangible objects. These items can be symbols of the time period, region, or even specific subcultures, and they influence the way people live, interact, and view the world.
In contrast, nonmaterial culture would include beliefs, values, and norms that are intangible and not physically manifested. Argot refers to a specialized language or jargon used by specific groups, while xenocentrism is the belief that another culture is superior to one’s own. These are not relevant to the given examples, as they do not refer to physical objects or artifacts.