Rethinking The Titanic: Primary Factors Of Culture

As individuals, we are metaphorically the notorious iceberg that sunk the Titanic. However, we are cultural icebergs comprised of both primary and secondary factors that shape how each one of us goes about our day to day lives. Every iceberg, including our metaphorical cultural iceberg, has a visible component. In this instance, the visible attributes to culture are called primary factors, and they vary drastically. For example, I may observe someone eating a particular type of food and be able to infer some information on their culture. Another primary factor that may be an indication of someone’s culture is the language they actively speak. Engaging in a specific dialect show that it holds value to that person and their culture. Furthermore,
a person may dress a certain way based on their culture. As an American with no Japanese lineage, I would not wear a kimono because that would not be culturally appropriate (Kumar, 2016) and probably offensive to those that are of Japanese decent and hold value to wearing kimonos. If I witnessed someone wearing a kimono, I may be able to gather information on their culture based on their clothing choices. In addition to food, language, and clothing as primary factors, the music, dances, flags, arts, and festivals are also included. Primary, or visible, factors are simply that; the factors we are able to conclude upon merely by observation, but they are also unchangeable (Howe, 2014).
With that being said, we must be exceptionally sensitive of one’s primary factors of culture.
If everyone made assumptions on each other’s culture based solely on observation, we would be in a world of trouble. We may see that someone enjoys a certain kind of food, but who’s to say that my blonde-haired, blue-eyed, pale-skinned self cannot enjoy Mexican cuisine without someone confirming that I am a Mexican? Focusing exclusively on each other’s primary factors sets us up to fall victim to single stories. Chimamanda Ngozi, a dark-skinned, black haired woman with an accent, has personally been exposed to this unfortunate circumstance. Primary factors may implant certain ideas or expectations about another’s behaviors and interests. To illustrate this, Chimamanda came from Nigeria to attend school in the United States. While attending Chimamanda realized that her roommate had formed a single story about Africans. Her roommate had made the assumption that Chimamanda did not know how to speak English, listened to tribal music, and did not know how to properly use a stove (Ngozi, 2009). Conversely, that national language of Nigeria is English, Chimamanda enjoys music by Mariah Carey, and is confident in operating a stove. In the words of Chimamanda, “The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete; they make one story become the only story”(Ngozi,
2009).
Fortunately, there is a method to avoid single-stories. Just as the majority of an iceberg’s composition lies below the surface, so do the factors that contribute to our culture. Becoming aware of these secondary, or invisible, factors allows us to refrain from defaulting to single stories and making a fool of ourselves. The secondary factors of our cultural iceberg are typically more abstract. Beliefs, assumptions, perceptions, attitudes, and values are all expels of secondary factors. Additionally, these categories can be dissected and broken down even further! For instance, I may believe that the Montana State Bobcats are superior to the University of Montana Grizzlies. Whereas another belief that I may simultaneously hold is to treat others the way I want to be treated. Therefor demonstrating that there are no parameters when it comes to secondary factors. Because of this, secondary factors are a far more reliable foundation of gaining knowledge on an individual and their culture. When I talked about primary factors earlier in this paper, one have gathered that I have blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. However, after discussing secondary factors, one can conclude that I prefer the Bobcats over the Grizzlies and that I value mutual respect. Consequently, secondary factors allow for a deeper understanding of an individual and their culture.
All in all, the cultural iceberg is a tool utilized by humans to assist our understanding of the world around us. Primary and secondary factors alike may be beneficial, but it is of utmost gravity to be sensitive to them and how the contribute to each individual’s cultural identity.