40 Things that are Cultural

John Spacey, September 30, 2022

Cultural things are elements of life that emerge with the shared experiences of groups. Culture is beyond the stark realities of systems and economic production -- things that are pursued for joy, fulfillment and human expression. The following are examples of things that can be considered cultural.

Architecture	Art
Beverages	Celebrations
Coffee Shops	Costumes
Crafts	Cuisine
Cultural Products	Dance
Dining Customs	Entertainment
Events	Fashion / Clothing
Festivals	Film
Games	Hobbies
Humor / Comedy	Interior Design
Jewelry	Language
Literature	Media
Music	Myths
Nightlife	Norms
Pastimes	Performing Art
Pubs & Nightclubs	Restaurants
Rights of Passage	Rituals
Sensibilities	Sports
Stories	Symbols
Traditions	Video Games

Cultural products are commercially produced things that are nonetheless viewed as cultural. For example, a guitar could be viewed as a cultural item as it is surrounded in much tradition and lore and is used to produce music.

Cultural Things vs Social Things

Cultural things are defined by shared understanding that isn't formally documented or centrally controlled. For example, fashion trends that emerge somehow in a youth culture. Social things include culture but also include things that are formally defined and administered such as laws. Once something becomes systematic it ceases to be culture.