Semiotic Domains: Culture

The following comment is part of a reply from Kevin Leader to a Xanga entry I posted yesterday.

"We are all a part of a huge number of cultural groups, and you and I share enough of them (e.g. Malone, faith, Canton, music, Xanga) that I don't really think about the cultures that we don't have in common -- specifically, that my background is that of a white man and yours is of a black woman. I'm so used to not wanting to think of other people as "different", especially along racial lines, that I become a bit naive to the fact that people from different backgrounds face different challenges.

But that doesn't make us "different" in any way that needs to separate us, but rather we are different in ways that define our God-given individuality, which offers more opportunity to enlighten us than to divide. Reading about your challenges that fall so far outside my scope is really meaningful to me, so I appreciate it a lot. (Of course I'm thinking through this as I write, so forgive the ramble.)"

When I read this, I immediately thought of this class and semiotic domains and affinity groups. I also felt immediately compelled to consider what other cultural differences there are between my peers and I, and maybe explore them. What other differences are there because of cultures that I am and am not a part of? I have compiled this list:

I am:
- Nigerian American
- American Born
- A woman
- Twenty years old
- A college student
- A Christian

I think those things are just a small part of who I am, but I also think they're the biggest and most obvious parts of who I am. And they may make up the biggest cultural differences. So here are some things that I obviously am not.

- Caucasian
- Asian
- Nigerian born
- Chinese born
- In my thirties
- A high school student
- Muslim
- Jewish
- Atheist

I took each category from the first list, and named another type of the same category. But I didn't choose them randomly. I specifically chose categories that I felt that I would like to (am able to somewhat effectively) explore. I know people from each of these affinity groups and I will explore each of these the best I can. I will get back to you on this.

Here is a link in case you're interested in viewing the Xanga entry:
http://www.xanga.com/ScarlettHalo/572125280/item.html