Introduction
Culture is the representation of the totality of all socially conveyed or learned mannerisms, views beliefs ad interactions that result from human work and activity. The cultural traditions and historical concepts of the Middle East have over the centuries been characterized by a distinct sense of variety that stems from a whirlwind of customs and traditions. There has been little if any attempt to expose the cultural pollution that has over the years consumed the foundation of this ancient cultural base. In this study, I will interrogate the cultural pollution in the Middle East based on a comparative stand between the older and younger generation in as far as materialism, religiosity, and attitude towards change in technology, gender roles, and the environment.
Background
Like all other societies, the Middle Eastern culture suffers a great challenge of changing trends and mannerisms. This inevitable state of affairs calls attention to the value and relevance of these traditions and modes of practice. The foundations of culture are the individuals since culture is perpetrated by the individual.
Cultural pollution in the Middle East
Precise Opinion: The status and value as well as the importance that is accredited to culture have drastically deteriorated and have suffered marginalization by the general generation gap and change.
Reasoning: What people think imagine or conceive of others is contemptible to their religious preferences. The true meaning that was attached to material possessions has over the years changed to become an appetite for power and competition. Technology continues to compromise the cultural remedies methods and mannerisms the environment on the other hand presents new forms of challenges that are strange and beyond the reach of cultural provisions. The value attached to the environment borrows heavily on the cultural principles of self-preservation –live and let live. The modern-day scene has gone against these principles by exploiting the environment beyond its capacity. The importance of the cultural patriarchal society suffers the whims of the feminist movement that has underscored the cultural values and roles of women (Lerner pp 466).
The contrary argument by cultural scientists suggests that this is just an inevitable series of events that every culture goes through. They suggest that this was what happened to the primitive society at the onset of civilization. This argument would hold if there was a solid and viable replacement that would stand in the place of culture. This is however not the case singe the value attached to culture continues to deteriorate ( Fawcett pp 376).
It is common ground that the status of culture has been greatly deteriorating not only in the Middle Eastern society but also across the globe. I will justify this argument by providing the contrasting perspectives of the older and younger generation on specific cultural values and factors.
Plan for the project
I will begin by providing a background of the Middle East culture in as far as its sources authorities and references. This will provide an adequate explanation of the infrastructure of the culture as far as production and reproduction are concerned. I will then interrogate the perspectives of the older and younger generations in as far as religion materialism the environment gender roles and the attitude towards technology as a representative sample of the cultural factors and values that suffer pollution. I will then conclude by providing a substantive analysis of these perspectives in support of the argument that indeed cultural pollution exists in the Middle East.
References
Fawcett, Louise. International Relations of the Middle East. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.pp 376
Lerner, Daniel. The passing of traditional society: Modernizing the Middle East. New York: Free Press. 1958. pp 466