Society is made up of socially learned and shared ideas, behaviors, and material components. Commonly referred to as culture, aspects of it permeate our lives in ways far beyond what we imagine. Sometimes, culture is mundane, such as a Bic pen or a potato chip. On the other hand, culture can also be imaginative and even spiritual. We use culture and revere culture, yet we also tend to take it for granted. A few recent stories in the news highlight the breadth and depth of what is considered culture. With this in mind, let’s consider Stanley Tumblers, French baguettes, and the war in Ukraine.
