- HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 3 Heroic Qualities.
Heroic Qualities
Culture particularly in the form of practices and ceremonies is essential in determining a society’s values. The assessment focuses on the Japanese tea ceremony and the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration to understand how both cultures pay respect, reverence, and acceptance of the impermanence of life through two cultural practices. In this way, the study will demonstrate how each culture respects ancestors and treats life and death, revealing differences and similarities in their general cultural values.
Comparing and Contrasting Cultures
The cultural artifacts I selected for this analysis come from ‘Japanese tea ceremonies’ and ‘Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations’. These are some of the cultural practices that are part of the two cultures as they have a strong foundation in their respective societies. The Japanese tea ceremony is called “Chado” and it is a formalized ceremony that is based on the principles of harmony, respect, and tranquility (Kevin, 2024).
On the other hand, the Mexican Day of the Dead, or “Día de los Muertos” is a colorful festivity associated with life and death and is marked by families creating altars for their deceased family members, food, and other offerings (Marchi, 2022). While both cultures have the importance of respect and reverence their actions and traditions are not the same. The Japanese tea ceremony is very serious and the aesthetics is quite simplistic so it represents the way of life; on the other hand, the Day of the Dead is very cheerful, full of colors, and very family-oriented. These differences demonstrate how each culture has its approach to the major life events based on the rest of their culture.
Analysis of Cultural Views
Both cultures value ‘respect for ancestors’ and ‘rituals’ as essential components of their customs and traditions. In the Japanese tea ceremony, this respect is observed in the preparation and presentation of the tea through appreciation of every process involved. Due to this, the ceremony is an indication of the transient nature of life and should act as a reminder of the importance of living each day to the fullest. Likewise, the Day of the Dead is focused on the ancestors but engages in activities that are fun and lively, hinting at the cyclical nature of life and death, indicating that both are inextricably linked (Torrecilla, 2022).
However, the way through which each culture operates is different. Japanese culture is characterized by ‘serenity and precision’ which also forms the basis of the country’s animation. On the other hand, Mexico’s ‘Day of the Dead’ is a symbol of rejoicing in death and the cycle of life which is accepted in Mexico. These differences explain different cultural attitudes to life, death, and togetherness.
Key Takeaways
Two key takeaways from this analysis are the role of ‘rituals in expressing cultural values’ and the contrasting ways in which cultures confront life’s impermanence. The Japanese tea ceremony shows values of ‘mindful’ and ‘discipline’ in its formalisms while the Day of the Dead is a ‘happy funeral’ of sorts. This knowledge has expanded my understanding of the role cultural practices play in civilizational perceptions. With this knowledge, I comprehend the different perspectives of different cultures as to how they make sense of the impermanency of life and the importance of rituals in establishing a cultural heritage.
Application to Personal, Academic, and Professional Life
Understanding these cultural similarities and differences can enhance my interactions across diverse settings. In my personal life, I can see how the ‘value of mindfulness’ & ‘celebration’ can be integrated into one’s life to provide a balance between deep thinking and positive emotions. From an academic perspective, learning such customs enhances my knowledge of cultural anthropology and sociology, as I establish better links between cultural practices and societal norms.
HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 3 Heroic Qualities
In a professional aspect, it will allow me to be a better communicator and team player due to the understanding of cultural differences. An understanding of rituals and traditions in various societies can help in creating a culture that embraces diversity and respect for other people’s values in the various practice settings (Markey et al., 2021). It is therefore important to have this broader perspective as one works in the global and multicultural workplace environment.
Conclusion
This assessment shows that cultural practices are closely related to social norms because of the comparison between the Japanese tea ceremony and the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration. From these practices, the assessment has depicted the differences in the ways of thinking and perceiving mindfulness, discipline, and even joyful acceptance of death. Apart from enriching the knowledge of cultural attitudes, these findings also stress the role of the ritual in the individual’s, academic, and working life, enhancing cultural awareness and cultural competence in various contexts. Read more about our sample HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 2 Comparative Analysis and Reflection for complete information about this class.
References
Kevin. (2024, February 19). Japanese tea ceremony: Ritual of harmony & respect – TeaKram. TeaKram.
https://teakram.com/tea-culture/japanese-tea-ceremony-ritual-of-harmony-respect/
Marchi, R. M. (2022). Day of the Dead in the USA, Second Edition. Google Books.
Markey, K., Prosen, M., Martin, E., & Repo Jamal, H. (2021). Fostering an ethos of cultural humility development in nurturing inclusiveness and effective intercultural team working. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(8).
https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13429
Milana. (2022, December 18). The way of the Japanese tea ceremony. Magnificent Japan.
https://www.magnificentjapan.com/japanese-tea-ceremony/
Torrecilla, A. C. (2022). Worshipping ancestors: A decolonized epistemology on death conceptions in indigenous Okinawan and Mexican Worldviews. Springer EBooks, 33(8), 159–182.