An agreed upon definition is culture is the shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive constructs, and effective understanding that are learned through a process of socialization These shared patterns identify the members of a culture group while also distinguishing those of another group.
Culture is constantly changing and easily lost, hence why some societies try to separate themselves in order to protect their culture, they are 'distinguishing' themselves from other cultures/societies. Whether this is entirely good or bad is debatable and a matter of opinion. In my opinion, people have the right to stay within their cultures as perhaps they feel safe in the 'known'. However in this increasingly globalized society, its harder for cultures to be entirely separate and today, you can mix in a multi-cultural society, and learn from others but not loose yourself. This is because in today's world there are more ways for diaspora/migrants/immigrants to keep in contact with their homeland.
Edward T. Hall's ideas and metaphors from 'Beyond Culture'
1. Culture = models and templates
2. Culture is the medium we live in, like the air we breathe
3. Culture is innate, but learned (i.e. we are born with the physical necessity and capacity to specialize our bodies, brains, hearts in line with cultural patterns.)
4. Culture is living, interlocking system(s)--touch one part, the rest moves.
5. Culture is shared, it is created and maintained through relationship.
6. Culture is used to differentiate one group from another. (In other words, division into groups comes first; deliberate differentiation via cultural symbols comes second.)
