Cultural Determinism in Literature & Literary Theory

Cultural Determinism: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Cultural Determinism:

The term “cultural determinism” has its roots in the field of anthropology and sociology, where scholars have sought to understand the intricate relationship between culture and human behavior. The etymology of the term can be traced back to the mid-20th century, gaining prominence as a theoretical framework to explain how cultural factors shape and influence individuals’ thoughts, actions, and societal structures. Cultural determinism posits that the values, norms, and belief systems ingrained in a particular culture significantly determine the behavior and development of its members. This perspective challenges notions of absolute individual agency, suggesting that cultural influences play a pivotal role in shaping cognitive processes, decision-making, and social interactions.

Meanings and Concepts of Cultural Determinism

Aspect	Meaning/Concept
Definition	Cultural determinism is a theoretical framework positing that cultural factors profoundly influence and shape individual behavior, cognition, and societal structures.
Etymology	The term is composed of “cultural,” referring to the shared values and practices within a society, and “determinism,” implying the idea that cultural elements decisively influence human actions.
Key Tenets	1. Culture as a shaping force: Cultural determinism asserts that culture is a primary determinant of individual and collective behavior.
	2. Limitations on individual agency: It challenges the notion of absolute individual agency, suggesting that cultural influences constrain and guide human actions.
Critiques	1. Oversimplification: Critics argue that cultural determinism may oversimplify the complexity of human behavior by attributing too much influence to cultural factors.
	2. Lack of agency: Some argue that cultural determinism undermines the role of individual agency in decision-making and personal development.
Application	Widely applied in anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies to analyze how cultural contexts impact various aspects of human life, including language, identity, and social institutions.
Relation to Other Theories	Often contrasted with cultural relativism and cultural universalism, cultural determinism emphasizes the shaping power of culture, while the former theories focus on cultural diversity or shared human traits.

Cultural Determinism: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Cultural determinism is a theoretical concept asserting that cultural factors decisively shape individual behavior, cognition, and societal structures. It posits that shared values, norms, and belief systems within a culture exert a significant influence on the thoughts and actions of its members. This perspective challenges the idea of absolute individual agency, highlighting the pervasive impact of cultural influences on human development and interactions.

Cultural Determinism: Theorists, Works and Argument

Theorist	Key Works	Central Argument
Franz Boas	The Mind of Primitive Man	Boas argued that cultural determinism is essential in understanding human behavior, emphasizing the role of culture in shaping individuals.
Ruth Benedict	Patterns of Culture	Benedict extended Boas’s ideas, contending that cultures influence personality development, and cultural patterns shape individual worldviews and behavior.
Margaret Mead	Coming of Age in Samoa	Mead’s work supported cultural determinism by examining cultural variations in adolescence and challenging Western-centric views on human nature.
Clifford Geertz	The Interpretation of Cultures	Geertz emphasized the interpretive nature of culture, arguing that individuals make sense of their world through shared cultural symbols and meanings. Cultural context is crucial.
Marvin Harris	Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches	Harris focused on material aspects, proposing that cultural practices are shaped by environmental factors and adaptive strategies, aligning with a form of cultural determinism.
Edward Sapir	Culture, Language, and Personality	Sapir explored the intricate relationship between language and culture, contending that language shapes thought and influences behavior, contributing to cultural determinism.
Clyde Kluckhohn	Mirror for Man	Kluckhohn emphasized the role of cultural patterns and values in shaping human behavior, arguing that cultural influences are crucial for understanding the diversity of human societies.

Cultural Determinism: Major Characteristics

Characteristic	Definition	Examples from Literature
Definition	Cultural determinism posits that cultural factors significantly influence and shape individual behavior, cognition, and societal structures.	In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, the dystopian society exemplifies cultural determinism, where societal norms and values dictate individuals’ thoughts, actions, and relationships.
Cultural Influence	Cultural elements, such as language, customs, and traditions, play a pivotal role in shaping human experiences and shaping individual identity.	In Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, the cultural determinism of Chinese traditions influences the characters’ perceptions of self, family dynamics, and the intergenerational transmission of values.
Constraints on Agency	It challenges the notion of absolute individual agency, suggesting that cultural influences constrain and guide human actions.	In George Orwell’s 1984, the oppressive cultural determinism of the totalitarian regime limits individual freedoms, illustrating how pervasive cultural forces can suppress personal agency.
Cultural Relativity	Different cultures may exhibit distinct determinants, leading to cultural relativity, where behavior is understood within the context of specific cultural norms.	In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the clash between Igbo traditions and Western influences highlights cultural determinism and the impact of external forces on traditional societies.
Impact on Worldview	Cultural determinism shapes individuals’ worldviews, influencing their perceptions, values, and interpretations of the surrounding environment.	In Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, the protagonist’s struggle with identity reflects the cultural determinism of both American and Indian cultural influences, shaping his sense of self.
Adaptation and Change	Cultures evolve and adapt, and cultural determinism acknowledges the dynamic nature of cultural influences over time.	In Chinamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun, the impact of historical events on Nigerian society demonstrates how external forces can reshape cultural determinants and societal norms.

These characteristics provide a good understanding of cultural determinism, drawing examples from literature to illustrate how cultural factors influence individuals and societies in various ways.

Cultural Determinism: Relevance in Literary Theories

• Marxist Literary Theory:
  • It aligns with Marxist perspectives by emphasizing how societal structures and cultural ideologies influence literary narratives.
  • Literary works often reflect and challenge prevailing cultural norms, revealing the impact of social and economic factors on character motivations and plot dynamics.
• Feminist Literary Theory:
  • It is crucial in feminist literary analysis to examine how cultural expectations shape gender roles and influence character behaviors.
  • Feminist critics explore how literature reflects or challenges patriarchal norms, highlighting the impact of cultural determinants on female characters’ agency.
• Postcolonial Literary Theory:
  • It plays a key role in postcolonial theory, analyzing how colonial history and cultural clashes shape characters’ identities and societal structures.
  • Literary works are examined for their portrayal of cultural hybridity, resistance, and the impact of colonial legacies on cultural determinants.
• Psychoanalytic Literary Theory:
  • It intersects with psychoanalytic theory as it explores how cultural influences shape characters’ unconscious desires and conflicts.
  • Literary texts are analyzed for symbols, motifs, and cultural taboos that reveal the impact of societal norms on characters’ psychological development.
• Reader-Response Literary Theory:
  • It is relevant in reader-response theory by acknowledging how readers’ cultural backgrounds influence their interpretation of literary texts.
  • Reader responses are shaped by cultural context, impacting the understanding and reception of a work, highlighting the importance of cultural determinants.
• Structuralist Literary Theory:
  • It is considered within structuralism as it examines the underlying cultural structures and systems that shape narrative elements.
  • Structuralist analysis often explores how cultural codes and conventions influence the creation and reception of literary texts.
• Postmodern Literary Theory:
  • Postmodernism critiques in with questions fixed cultural meanings and challenges the idea that literature is determined solely by cultural factors.
  • Postmodern texts may play with or subvert cultural determinants, reflecting a more fluid and fragmented understanding of cultural influence.

In various literary theories, determinism provides a lens through which critics analyze the impact of cultural factors on literary works, characters, and reader interpretations.

Cultural Determinism: Application in Critiques

Literary Work	Cultural Determinism Critique
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez	Critics argue that Marquez’s use of magical realism may limit a straightforward application of determinism, creating a narrative that transcends cultural boundaries. However, some contend that certain character behaviors are overly shaped by cultural expectations, potentially simplifying the complexities of individual agency.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy	In Roy’s novel, the intricate caste system and societal norms in India are central to the story. Critics note that while determinism plays a significant role in shaping characters’ lives, there is a risk of presenting a deterministic view of Indian society that may oversimplify the diversity of individual experiences.
Blindness by Jose Saramago	Saramago’s exploration of societal breakdown in the face of a mysterious epidemic involves a critique of determinism. Some argue that the novel highlights how cultural structures can crumble, revealing the fragility of societal norms and the potential for individual agency to emerge in crisis situations.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini	Critics note that while The Kite Runner delves into the cultural determinants of Afghanistan, it simultaneously emphasizes individual choices and redemption. The novel’s exploration of guilt and personal responsibility challenges a simplistic view of determinism, illustrating the interplay between cultural influences and individual actions.

Cultural Determinism: Relevant Terms

Theoretical Term	Definition
Cultural Relativism	Understanding behaviors in their cultural context, avoiding ethnocentrism.
Structural Functionalism	Examining how cultural elements contribute to societal stability.
Agency	Individual capacity to act independently and influence choices.
Cultural Hybridity	Blending different cultural elements, often due to globalization or migration.
Social Constructivism	Emphasizing societal beliefs’ role in shaping individual perceptions.
Postcolonialism	Analyzing cultural dynamics post-colonial rule, exploring power imbalances.
Cultural Materialism	Studying how material conditions influence cultural practices and beliefs.
Semiotics	Examining signs and symbols in culture to understand meaning creation.
Postmodernism	Questioning fixed cultural meanings, embracing diversity, challenging narratives.
Intersectionality	Considering how multiple social identities intersect to shape experiences.

Cultural Determinism: Suggested Readings

1. Boas, Franz. The Mind of Primitive Man. Free Press, 1938.
2. Geertz, Clifford. The Interpretation of Cultures. Basic Books, 1973.
3. Harris, Marvin. Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture. Vintage, 1989.
4. Sapir, Edward. Culture, Language, and Personality: Selected Essays. University of California Press, 1949.
5. Kluckhohn, Clyde. Mirror for Man: Anthropology and Modern Life. McGraw-Hill, 1949.
6. Benedict, Ruth. Patterns of Culture. Mariner Books, 1934.
7. Mead, Margaret. Coming of Age in Samoa. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2001.
8. Orwell, George. 1984. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1949.
9. Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Penguin Books, 1989.
10. Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Anchor Books, 1994.