Building a Culture

Using cultures in stories

Every society is based on cultural practices. Culture is the common thread that binds a group of people together, or pulls them apart. Culture shapes the way people think, the way they view the world, and the way they view themselves.

When you are creating a world, you must take the time to think about the culture or cultures that exist. Because culture shapes the way people think, it's important to have an understanding of culture in order to realistically depict how your characters will react to a situation.

I think I can demonstrate how culture is important in determining how characters will act with a simple example. Let's say a bright light appears in the sky one day. The light is observed by three different people: a priest, a UFO conspiracy theorist, and a tourist in town to catch the local flavor. How would each of these people react to what they see?

Let's provide some background on each of these people and then examine their reaction. The priest was raised in a very strict Catholic family. He has a strong belief and conviction in the existence of God, Saints, angels and miracles. He lives in a town where everyone believes in God. Those who don't go to church are shunned and quietly forced out.

The UFO conspiracy theorist has no belief in God. In fact, she insists God is a mass hypnotic trance the aliens have place on people in order to psychologically prepare humans for the alien arrival, at which time the colonization begins and the human race will be pressed into slavery. This person has been to many conventions hosting experts on the subject of alien invasion, and surrounds herself with people who believe the same thing. Much like the culture in which the priest lives, the culture in which the theorist lives shuns anyone who does not believe. In fact, nonbelievers are viewed as being part of the conspiracy.

Finally, the tourist has led a humdrum life in a pretty boring town where nothing all that interesting happens. He doesn't really belief in God and he doesn't really believe in aliens. He comes from a town where most of the people are practical and down to earth. They stay out of each other's business.

How will these people react? Well, to follow the stereotypes, the priest might think the light is a sign from God. The UFO conspiracy theorist will see it as the first wave in the invasion. The tourist might just blow it off. It was a light, probably a reflection off a plane, or maybe the sun light hit a cloud in a certain way. Even if each of these people did not initially react in that way, chances are others within their would convince each person to think otherwise.

The point in this example was to try to demonstrate that culture, in large part, determines our overall perceptions of the world. Given that, it's important to create as much of your culture as possible when you sit down to write.