Cultural divergence
Religion is a part of many people's lives. Religion can be very influential to a culture with the values and moral standards outlined in the belief system.
Sometimes religious beliefs can clash with popular culture, forcing the faithful members of certain cultures to practice cultural divergence. A good example of this is the Amish culture in the United States.
The Amish are a type of Christian religious group. Part of the belief of this culture is that they must reject modern conveniences and luxuries.
Amish Transportation
Source: Lancaster County Amish 03, Wikimedia
The Amish are mostly farmers and woodworkers. The Amish have their own communities that are fairly separate from modern towns and cities. They grow and make just about everything they need for living themselves.
Amish Farming
Source: Amish family, Lyndenville, New York, Wikimedia
You can see in this picture, the Amish have adopted some modern technology, like the tires on this farm machine.
Amish Girls in Traditional Dress
Source: Lancaster County Amish 02, Wikimedia
The Amish have their own schools and churches within their communities. Outsiders are not free to join, as they worry about the influence of modern society, which they see as sinful, on their community. The separation the Amish keep between themselves and other communities is an example of cultural divergence.
Activity: Use your knowledge of the Amish to test your understanding of cultural divergence based on religion.
Cultural convergence
The United States has more cultures than any other nation on Earth! This nation of immigrants was built of cultures from all over converging here, and living together.
Example 1
Source: Tacobellsunnywale, Wikimedia
Mexican style food is popular all over the U.S.
What is actually popular is "Mexican-American" food.
It is based on Mexican food, but with some changes to appeal to more people's taste.
Taco Bell food is based on foods found in Mexican culture, but the menu items are modified to appeal to the tastes of more people in the United States. The change of Taco Bell's menu items is an example of cultural convergence.
Activity: Compare the pictures of the tacos below. Note the differences and similarities between them. Then answer the multiple choice questions to test your understanding of cultural convergence with food.
Source: Taco Bell tacos, Wikimedia
Source: Taco de suadero, Wikimedia
There are examples of American cultural convergence in other countries. McDonald's serves food that is considered American, but the menu changes in other countries to appeal to the tastes of each countries' cultures.
Example 2 – McDonald's Restaurant
To be successful in other cultures, McDonald's has adapted its menu to the types of foods and tastes of the people in the cultures they serve.
Source: McDonald's in Israel, Wikimedia
Source: McKosher, Wikipedia
Examples of changes McDonald's adapting the menu items for local cultural tastes:
Source: McDonald's MEGA Teriyaki 2007, Wikimedia
Source: McDonald's Chinese New Year set meal, Wikimedia