Ideal Vs Real Culture
Ideal culture refers to the practices, values or norms that
society is supposed to follow or desires to achieve. It refers to those goals
that a society considers ideal, or worth aiming for. We see what we want
to see and we say what we want to say instead of what the actual interpretation
of the society can be like. Ideal Vs Real Culture For example, when we say that crime and
violence rates are decreasing, we are seeing only what is positive. However, a
true or real picture will tell us that in reality, it has been increasing due
to the advancement of the society and the consequent competitiveness and
complexity it has brought about.
Ideal and real are different states that are different in
their connotations and meanings. Though people know that these two terms are
not the same, they might find it hard to determine a difference. Ideal Vs Real Culture The term
“real” is something that is permanent, and the term “ideal” relates to
something that is suited for a certain purpose.
Both “real” and “ideal” are used in various situations when
talking about culture, one’s self, life, and various things.
In metaphysics, the term “real” may refer to objects that
cannot be destroyed. It refers to that which is true, all pervasive, omnipotent,
all knowing, and ever existent. Ideal Vs Real Culture “Real” may also refer to a supreme entity which
can be even called as the “Absolute.” In metaphysical terms, “real” is one that
does not have birth or death. “Real” just means “reality.” On the other hand,
“ideal” refers to something that is suitable. Ideal Vs Real Culture For example, when one says that
all conditions are ideal for starting the game, it means that the condition is
suitable.
“Real” is a term that displays originality. If a thing is
described as real, it means it is very original and concrete.
When talking about culture, real culture means what happens
in everyday life, and ideal culture means how one is supposed to behave on the
basis of cultural values and norms.
With regard to the real self and the ideal self,
psychologists have different explanations. According to them, a person with an
ideal self is a dreamer who would dream about everything in life and
be happy. On the other hand, a person with a real self does not dream but sees
life in all its reality.
This can be distinguished from the real culture which refers
to practices and norms that culture actually follows. They can be the same at
times, but the ideal culture seems to be more ecstatic, optimistic and glowing,
distinguishing itself from the real culture, which is the actual picture of the
society. The gap between the ideal and real culture is wide. Ideal Vs Real Culture While ideal
culture involves an idealized and resolute value system that controls perfect
behavior, real culture involves a value system which is adaptable and serves as
a set of preferred guidelines. For instance, while ideal marriages
are thought to be the ones which are based on love and considered to continue
forever, real marriages often end up in divorces or family fights. Ideal Vs Real Culture Ideal values
are absolute with little or no exceptions, but real cultures contain exceptions
to solve the contradictions between ideal values and pragmatic realities. Ideal Vs Real Culture American values are often idealized considering them as the best ones whereas
the values which we uphold in our everyday lives are the real values. Another
example can be of a country which desires to achieve secularism. Ideal Vs Real Culture If
it does achieve it completely, which is highly unlikely, it can be called as an
ideal culture; otherwise, it is the real culture where somewhere or the other
events of communal riots will take place occasionally.
The difference between ideal culture and real culture can
also be explained through the example of marriage. While in the Hindu
society, marriage is considered to an auspicious, divine and indissoluble
occasion. So, in theory, the ideal Hindu society should not have divorces and
the marriage ties should be maintained forever. Ideal Vs Real Culture However, in reality (real
culture), in contemporary society there are numerous instances of divorces
happening in the country with marriage becoming a contract from a sacrament. An
ideal culture can never be realized because people preach what they never
practice.
Taking into consideration the concept of ethnocentrism,
we often tend to idealize our own culture or consider it as the ideal culture. Ideal Vs Real Culture When we are ethnocentric, we consider our own culture as the superior or the
better culture than any other culture. Ideal Vs Real Culture For example, America considers
itself as the hegemony, the superior nation. However, when looked carefully,
there lies, inequality, the poor lack proper education, and it has still not
been successful in providing its entire population with equal opportunities.
Poverty still exists, gun violence threatens the public, people lack good jobs,
and environmental conditions are degrading.
Any given culture contains a set of values and
value systems that determine what is important to the society as a
whole. Ideal Vs Real Culture When we talk about American values, we often have in mind a set of ideal
values. Ideal values are absolute; they bear no exceptions. These values can be
codified as a strict set of proscriptions on behavior, and those who hold to
their idealized value system and claim no exceptions are often referred to as
absolutists.
An example of an ideal value is the idea of marriage and
monogamy based on romantic love . In reality, many marriages are based on
things other than romantic love (such as money, convenience, or social
expectation), and many end in divorce. Ideal Vs Real Culture While monIdeal Vs Real Cultureogamous marriages based on
romantic love certainly do exist, such marriages are not universal, despite our
value ideals.
Few things in life exist without exception. Along with every
value system comes exceptions to those values. Ideal Vs Real Culture Abstract exceptions serve to
reinforce the ranking of values; their definitions are generalized enough to be
relevant to any and all situations. Situational exceptions, on the other hand,
are ad hoc and pertain only to specific situations. With these exceptions, real
values emerge. Ideal Vs Real Culture A realized value system, as opposed to an ideal value system,
contains exceptions to resolve the contradictions between ideal values and
practical realities in everyday circumstances.
Whereas we might refer to ideal values when listing American
values (or even our own values), the values that we uphold in daily life tend
to be real values. Ideal Vs Real Culture The difference between these two types of systems can be
seen when people state that they hold one value system, yet in practice deviate
from it, thus holding a different value system. For example, a religion lists
an absolute set of values, while the practice of that religion may include
exceptions.
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