If Culture is Ordinary...

Written 6 December 2016

“Culture is ordinary: that is where we must start. To grow up in that country was to see the shape of a culture, and its modes of change” (Williams 92).


Williams, Raymond (1989) Resources of Hope: Culture, Democracy, Socialism, London: Verso, pp.3-14.

When I thought about this further, I realized I agreed with it wholeheartedly.

Take, for example, my love of Japan. I have never been to Japan, but I desperately want to. When pondering this quote in relation to my yearnings, I wondered what exactly connects me to Japanese culture while I am here in America. Two of the closest things I have to Japan are anime/manga, and food. While the former is relevant to this specific country more than others, the latter is wholly ubiquitous.

Culture is ordinary. Food is ordinary. Food has to exist so that we may live. Food is in every culture, and often defines culture at first glance.

If         Culture = ordinary
And     Ordinary = food
Then    Culture = Food ☺