General definition of culture and Iranian culture

Definition of culture

There are many different definitions of culture available with various emphasis, however I personally mostly agree with Allan Blooms' definition: Culture allows rich social live at high level, it constituted humankind as one, his customs, style, taste, holidays, rituals, gods, virtually everything which bind individuals to group, to his origins. Its integrates people to community, which is expression of their common will and mindset, moreover community members are producing moral unity within group (Allan Bloom, as cited in Gazova, 2009, p.20.)

Keeping this in mind it obvious that even when individual could have his own culture as way of life without community, he is not able to reach high level of social life. For example, Muslim could have Islam as personal faith, but without interaction with another Muslims, he is not able to pray with them in Friday in mosque. So he is not able to fulfil his social needs as those actively engaging in community life.

In a nutshell, interactions between individuals, groups are creators of culture not individual parts, due to fact that culture is dynamic and not static phenomenon. As results customs, ritual of yesterday could be today obsolete, but in near future maybe will re-emerge and gain much more central position in cultural life as ever before. However, despite dynamic changes, culture and moral unity persist. Only it's shape is evolving.

Iranian contemporary culture

According to prof. Čukan (Ethologist, Culturologist) there are two most important elements of culture: Religion and language. For example, even person who consider itself as atheist, but live in Christendom is partly influenced by religious system which surrounds him.

Also, it important to note that language is medium of interpersonal communication and through it we are reproducing our culture and experiencing feeling of belongings to those we understand. Without it no significant bond could be made.

So, from my perspective after one year I am living in Iran, I could agree that Shia Islam and Persian language are two most significant elements of contemporary Iranian culture.

Persian language through esteem, which Iranians holds towards authors of Iranian literature as Hafez, Mawlana, Saadi. It is shared among vast strata of Iranians no matter, if they are Persians, Kurds or Luri. But, however some exceptions could be found, for example I personally did not find significant admiration, towards these authors between Turkman people in comparison with different other ethnic groups. But further research could possibly, refute my tentative conclusion.

Shia Islam is foundation of lifestyle for those strata of Iranian society, which consider themselves as religious. However, after my observation and other my classmates, I found out that distinctive Shia Muharram rituals are practicing by significant number of those which consider themselves as non-religious, but they like Imam Hussein as humanistic role model or they are seeking sense of belonging during mourning rituals.

As result, this interesting feature suggest that religion has central position in Iranian contemporary culture. Just the way, how it affects way of life of individuals is diverse.

Sources:

Cukan, J. (2012) Introduction to anthropology. (lecture)

Gazova, V. (2009) Introduction to anthropology. Bratislava: Narodne osvetove centrum.