Culture & Customs
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[edit] Culture: Introduction
Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate") is a term that has different meanings:
- excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture
- an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behaviour that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
- the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.
In creating a well defined culture for every region in your setting, you will give logic, definition and also future plothooks to the whole area. These are the little details that will start to matter in giving flavour in individual posts, as well as providing motivation for your various NPC's.
[edit] Values & Ethics
A value is a principle, standard, or quality considered worthwhile or desirable for maintaining a set of customary standards. It underlies the reason that people act, and is therefore intricately interwoven with politics and the economic system, but not quite the same. This undoubtedly is the most philosophical part of your game design. It will help you determine the motivation for most of your NPC's.
- Individualism or Collectivism? Free market? Socialism? See Also Economic System
- Is there discrimination on the basis of race or gender? How is that justified? All are equal under the law? Separate but Equal? Differences are God given? See Also Gender Divide & Sexuality
- Are children mini adults? A life form all of its own?
- Does the region consider itself military superior? Morally superior? A shining example to humankind, a guide to other regions? See Also Government & Politics
- What are the rules of honour? Are there rules governing war?
- Traditional? Futuristic?
- Risk or Safeguard?
[edit] Habits, Customs & Etiquette
See Also Gender Divide & Sexuality
Habits and customs are more like every day things. Etiquette is described as the practices and forms prescribed by social convention or by authority. Defined as the dignified propriety of conduct, manners, or appearance, decorum is by extension a social practice, part of the customs and observations of a polite society.
- What influence does the weather and/or climate have on habits & customs?
- How late do people on average go to bed? rise?
- What festivals and holidays are there to celebrate?
- What periods in the life of a person are of special significance(birthdays, coming of age, marriage, giving birth, death, burial)? How is that marked? Are there rites of passage or other rituals? Who are involved? What precisely happens?
- What kind of clothing is worn? Are some kind of clothing reserved for certain parts of society?
- What kind of food is eaten on normal days? On feast days? What is a festive drink? What is average fare? How does it vary between regions?
- What kind of utensils are used to eat & drink?
- What is never eaten?
- How is status displayed at the table?
- How is status indicated between classes? How does one deal with those of higher rank? Of the other gender?
- What gifts would be given?
- How do people flirt? How does an official courtship look like? Marriage negotiations?
- Is there special communication in colours, flowers etc?
- Are there questions that must be asked or avoided (how's the family, how's the business, never talk politics or religion, etc.)? Are there topics that can only be raised by the host? The guest?
- How are pregnancy, childbirth and the introduction of a new child in society dealt with?
- What is considered good luck? What is considered back luck?
- What is considered rude? Are there rude gestures?
- What is considered polite? How does one show respect?
- How does one greet each other? Special treatment for ladies?
- What are typical games for children to play?
- How are children dressed? Differently from adults?
[edit] Art
See Also Fine Arts
music painting & drawing theatre
