Wild Card Paper- Weird Cultural Practices and Rituals

     

 Culture is defined as the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievements regarded collectively.  Another definition for Culture is the custom of arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group. International Culture extends beyond national borders. Taking the subject and class of International Mass Media this semester has helped me explore more, as well as research about different cultures. Some international cultures that I have learned about and discovered come with the good, bad, and ugly, as many cultures do, but how does it affect and effect the media?

It is already evident that communicating culture through mass media gives the power to introduce, and alter certain things that could possible affect the dynamics of one’s society. It’s not surprising to know that International Culture can become Universal, thanks to mass media. There are many excellent examples of how International Culture is perceived in the media. For example, as an American some cultural aspects, international culture aspects may not seem as completely normal to me when I see it being broadcasted in the media. For example, Child Bride marriage has been normalized in the Indian society for years, it’s not looked at as a good cultural aspect to many Americans like myself, or even people in other international societies including their own.

         

Let’s talk weird cultures. One of the most reasons for traveling inexperienced is to learn about different cultures, practices, and rituals, but what do you do when they are relatively weird. The further you dive into some of these cultures the more interesting they become, no matter how weird and obnoxious they are or may seem. There are many Bizarrely cultural practices that are covered in the media, more are to be found on the internet. Weird and uncomfortable cultures and cultural practices are labeled as dangerous, and irrational by societies that differ. Though the media spends its time trying to expose unnecessary cultural acts, the societies that hold it near and dear to their hearts are most of the time offended and feel disrespected over their personal belief in their culture. 

      

Baby Tossing in India may not seem to be the safest and cultural act, but according to research it is a very common practice for many villages in the sovereign country of India. Their society believes it brings children good luck, and prosperity. It is also believed that it brings a long and healthy life to children, as well as intelligence. This ritual is performed by a newborn baby being drop from a tower while a group of adults at the base of the tower holds a rectangular sheet to catch the infant child. Of course it sounds ridiculously crazy to those who are dumbfounded and shocked, but it is completely normal to its society and culture. 

     Growing up in America, and going to an American school, food fights were a no-no, and if you started one, you would have to pay the ultimate consequences. In the town of Bunol, Spain food fights are essential. This is a tradition and it is taken to a higher level every year. Every year the town hosts an event named “The Biggest Tomato Fight in the World” where anyone is welcomed to join and enjoy a messy food fight, with of course the Arkansas fruit itself, a Tomato. Now, I do feel as of this could be normalized for a numerous amount of reasons, why? Well, it can be a good way for citizens to blow off some much needed stress. 

      As we continue to look at weird international cultures and their cultural practices, let’s take a look on a darker and creepier side. In Indonesia it is normal to live with the dead, strangely. Rather than burying the ones they love, they are taken back to the village for a final stay. This can be somewhat compared to a funeral or celebration of life in New Orleans, when a second line band takes the casket and dances through the city before the body is laid to rest, but the only difference is the Indonesian society doesn’t use a casket, they just simply carry the body around as if the person is still alive. I could only imagine a dead body being paraded around, without being in a casket, talk about horrifying. According to research, this is one of the weirdest, and of course scariest cultural practices and rituals known to man. 

     

Last but not least, and as if walking on hot stone wasn’t fair enough to be a part of the most horrible and painful cultural practices, the Chinese society does it, with people on their back. This ritual is connected to a commitment of love and marriage. According to research, after a groom and bride are married into holy matrimony, the groom is required to carried his bride on his back, as he walks on a pan of hot stone and then into their home. I don’t know about you, but that is love? Needless to say there are many different cultures, cultural practices, and cultural rituals that are labeled as normal and most of the time, international wise, abnormal. Some cultural practices carry myths, and others just are strangely mandatory to one’s society. Though the cultural practices I have researched and analyzed are relatively weird, the story lines of each oddly found cultural practices and rituals are what keeps the media alive to a certain extent. 

https://allthatsinteresting.com/7-bizarre-cultural-practices
https://garfors.com/25-strange-customs-and-traditions-html/
https://www.scoopwhoop.com/inothernews/weird-customs/