The world of cultural diversity

Culture: 

• A complex subject with many meanings. People and culture are inseparable and humans create culture and can change it over time. It is a system of shared meaning based on religion, ethnicity, language and tradition. They provide boundaries to behaviour such as the way we dress and more complex ideas such as relationships and marriage.

How it effects people and places:

• There are certain people/groups called "Separatists" who have minimal contact with other people and hibernate like loners, (they're basically hobbits!). E.G. The Amish in the USA (The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt many convinience of modern technologies). And the British expatriate villa enclaves in Spain ( Ex army servents who move to Spain and sometimes other parts of the world).
• Then there are "sub-cultures" who try to undermine (weaken) the core culture, they are often initialy seen as shocking and unorthodox but watered down versions and elements of their culture usually later on enter the mainstream. E.G. Punk rock and direct action environmentalists.

How it effects landscape:

• Cultural groups express themselves by constructing a built environment which reflects their values, beliefs and traditions. This is a cultural landscape. It transforms cultural ideas into distinct geographical spaces which are all around us.
• Detached suburban housing with gardens and garages, reflects the cultural importance of home ownership, the nuclear family and visible economic wealth.
• Urban subways and underpasses may be "claimed" by people using the tag symbols of the graffiti culture.
• Mosques, Synagogues, restaurants, shops and festivals in cities ensure ethnic minority spaces reflect the culture of…