Building a Culture

Asking some questions

When you sit down to create your own culture, you should ask yourself several questions about it. What follows is a list of some possible questions. They are organized by the cultural components outlined in the What is Culture? article. Hopefully by answering these questions, your creativity will get fired up and you'll be able to uncover a depth and realism you hadn't thought possible.

Click on a cultural component below to jump to a list of questions about that component:

Adaptation	Enculturation	Aesthetics	Politics
Technology	Food	Sex and Marriage
Language	Religion	Family and Kinship
Community	Legend	Wealth

Adaptation

• What environmental conditions most affect the people? Is there a specific environmental condition that makes life for the people of the culture difficult? What is the problem? What causes it?
• What do the people have to do in order to survive in the environment? How have their ways of living in the environment changed or shaped their culture?
• Did the people cause the environmental problem? How? Did/will they try to fix the problem? How? What happened if they tried to fix the problem? Did they make the problem worse?

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Food

• What are the primary foods consumed by the people? Are these foods mostly animal, plant or something else? If they are animal, are they aquatic or terrestrial? If plants, are they fruits, vegetables, grains, or something else? If they are something else, what are they?
• Does the culture use domesticated plants and animals? How were these things domesticated? Is domestication common or rare? Is raising animals considered a woman's job or a man's job? Is raising crops considered a woman's job or a man's job?
• Does the culture gather plants and hunt animals for food? Who gathers the plants? Who hunts the animals? Are there ceremonies surrounding hunting and gathering? Is hunting and gathering rare or common? Is hunting considered a woman's job or a man's job? Is gathering considered a woman's job or a man's job?
• Who prepares the food? Is there a special way to prepare foods? Are their "recipes" that are popular? Are there restaurants? Is there fast food? How do people feel about food prepared in restaurants and fast food joints? Do they think it's better or worse than "home cooked" food? Who serves the food?
• How many meals does the culture eat in one day (on average)? Are there some foods that are only eaten at certain times of the day? What are these foods and when are they eaten? Is there a reason for this? What happens if someone eats a food at the wrong time of the day?
• What foods are considered taboo? Why are these foods taboo? Are there religious restrictions on some foods? Why? Are certain castes restricted from eating certain foods? What happens if someone eats these foods? How does the culture view other people who eat these foods? How does the culture view people who prepare taboo foods?
• Are there celebrations that involve eating food? What are they? Are they a part of seasonal changes (very common)? What kinds of foods are consumed at different celebrations? Are taboos on food overlooked during certain celebrations? When and why?
• Are there mind altering substances such as alcohol or drugs? What are these substances used for? Are they part of a ceremony? How often do people consume these items? What do people think about the consumption of these items? Are there some items that are illegal to consume? What are the consequences for consuming them? Who enforces these laws?s

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Technology

• What "level" of technology does the culture possess, for instance bows and arrows or energy pistols? Are their other cultures that have more advanced technology? Are there cultures with less advanced technology? Is the technology guarded as a secret?
• Is technology viewed as good or bad?
• Who controls technological development? How are new technologies discovered? What was the latest technology to be developed and how has that affected the culture (think about the cultural changes that have come about because of the Internet)?
• Have the people developed any special technology to help them survive in the environment? What is it? Who invented it? How does it work? Do people like using it?
• What sort of technology has been developed for food production?
• What sort of technology has been developed for warfare?
• How does the culture deal with trash (all cultures produce trash)? Are there special places for trash (a dump, landfill, the river)? What sorts of trash does the culture produce? Is it toxic? How is the toxic waster produced? How does the culture deal with toxic materials?

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Language

• How many languages exist in the culture? If there is more than one language, which is viewed as "high class?" Which language is viewed as "low class?" Who speaks the different languages? How did the multiple languages come to be? Is a centralized government trying to get rid of local languages in favor of a single language? What is the government doing to achieve this?
• Is there a "national" language? How do people in the culture feel about people who do not speak the national language?
• Is there a trade language (pidgin language)? Who speaks the pidgin language? What languages make up the pidgin language? Is there more than one pidgin language?
• Is there a "universal" language (a lingua franca)? Who speaks the language? How do people learn the language? How do people feel about the language (for it, against it, don't care)?
• How do people communicate with people outside of their culture? Do they use a pidgin or a lingua franca?
• How is the language taught to children? How is the language taught to foreigners? Are there schools that teach the language?
• Are there secret languages that only a few people speak? Who speaks these secret languages? Why are the languages secret? What purpose do the secret languages serve?
• Is there a writing system for the language? Is it phonetic? syllabic? semantic? pictographic? Who knows how to write? What are the laws concerning writing? Is it illegal to learn to write? How is writing taught? Who does the teaching? How do people feel about writing? Is it considered magic? Is it considered mundane? How long has writing been in existence?

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Community

• How do the people of a culture define themselves? How do they view themselves?
• How do the people of a culture define others? How do they view people who are not of their culture? Do they feel differently about different groups of people? Who do they consider friends? Who do they consider enemies? Why? How do the people distinguish themselves from other groups of people?
• Are there subcultures? What are the subcultures? How does the subculture view the rest of the culture? How does the rest of the culture view the subculture? Ask yourself the same questions of the subculture as you would ask of the culture.
• Does the community share a certain clothing style? a certain adornment? a certain language or code?
• Is there a division of labor between men and women? Are some jobs considered manly and other jobs considered womanly? Why? How does the culture view people who perform jobs that are considered only for the opposite sex?
• What happens if someone tries to leave the community? What happens if someone tries to join the community?
• Are there different classes of people (poor, middle class, rich)? How did the classes form? Does each class speak its own language? Does each class speak a different dialect? What does each class think of the other?
• Are there different castes? What are the different castes? How did the castes form? Does each caste speak its own language? Does each caste speak a different dialect? What does each caste think of the other?
• Is there a code of laws in existence? Who created these laws? Who enforces these laws? What happens if someone breaks these laws?
• Does the culture wage war (all human cultures wage war they jus vary in scale)? Is the culture a "conquering" culture? Who are the culture's traditional enemies? Who are the culture's traditional allies? Are there ceremonies involved in waging war? What are they? How did they come into being? Is there a military class or caste? Who are the military leaders? How much power do they have in the culture? What sorts of weapons does the culture use to wage war? How is war viewed by the members of the culture (good, bad, a necessary evil)? What things have happened in the couture's military history? Has it been successful?
• Has the culture been conquered by another culture? How did this happen? How do the people of the conquered culture feel about this? Has the culture been colonized? By whom? How did colonization take place?
• Does this culture use slaves? How are slaves acquired? How does a person become a slave? Is there a slave class? Is there a slave trade? Can slaves regain their freedom? How? What are the laws surrounding a slave's rights? What are the laws surrounding the ownership of slaves? How does the culture feel about slavery (good, bad, necessary evil)?
• Does the culture have any symbols it uses to identify itself (flag, coat of arms, etc.)? What are they? How did the symbol come into use and why? Who invented the symbol? Does the culture use symbols to identify other cultures? What are those symbols? What do they mean? Do the symbols show respect for the other culture or not? How?
• Do any subcultures have any symbols they use to identify themselves (flag, coat of arms, etc.)? What are they? How did the symbol come into use and why? Who invented the symbol?

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Enculturation

• How do the children of the culture learn about the culture? Do they go to school? Do they listen to stories told by their parents? Are their written records?
• Who controls the methods in which enculturation takes place? Does a centralized government control how enculturation takes place? Is it handled by local groups? Do religious groups handle the enculturation?
• Is there a religious element to the enculturation? Do religious organizations control enculturation?
• Are there multiple ways enculturation takes place (the answer to this is yes)? What are the major ways?
• Are children expected to learn certain things at certain ages? What are these things? What are the ages?
• What stories, myths and legends are taught to the children of the culture about the culture's history? How close to reality are these? Are these simply kid's stories, or do the adults believe them too?
• What does the culture consider the ideal time for children to start learning about sex? When do children actually start learning about sex? Who teaches children about sex? Do parents take the responsibility? Does the group? Are there specialists?

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Religion

• What type of religion is it?
• What are the core beliefs of the religion? What is the dogma? Where did these beliefs come from? How are these beliefs taught?
• What is worshipped (gods, spirits, ancestors, etc.)?
• What are the creation myths? How was the universe created? How was the world created? How was earth and sky created? How were plants and animals created? How were humans created? How do humans (or at least the believers of the religion) fit into the grand scheme of the universe?
• Who are the religious specialists (priests, monks, shamans, etc.). How does a person become a religious specialist? What do people think of these specialists. (In some cultures, the religious specialists are thought of as being able to cause both good and evil. If they're caught causing evil, they're dealt with in unpleasant ways.)
• What are the rituals related to the religion? Are there any special rites of passage? What are they? When are they performed? Who are they for (men, women, boys, girls)? Who performs the ritual?
• Is there more than one religion? If so, how do the religions differ? How are they the same? What does each religion believe about the other? What does each religion say about the other? What do the followers of each religion believe about the followers of the other religions? Are the religions antagonistic? Are the religions cooperative, or at least tolerant, of each other?
• What do people think about the supernatural world? Are they afraid of it? Do they feel it's just another part of their life?
• How does magic fit into the religion? How does witchcraft fit into the religion? How does superstition fit into the religion.
• How do supernatural beings fit into the religion? Are their ghosts? Are their spirits for each thing in nature?
• If there are multiple religions, what are they? How does each religion feel about the other? Is one religion more "popular" than another? Why?
• What religion do the people in power follow? Is this religion different from everyone else? Is one religion considered "low class" while another is considered "high class?"
• Are there any forms of entertainment that are a part of religious ceremonies? What purpose does this sort of entertainment serve? What are the rituals that go along with the entertainment? Do people dance at religious ceremonies? Do they sing? Are any forms of entertainment considered evil or morally wrong by the religion?

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Legend

• What myths surround the origin of the culture? According to myth, who gave birth to the culture? Did gods create the culture? How? Why? When? Do the legends say the culture was founded by a person or group of people? How? When? Why? How closely are these myths tied to religion?
• How are the myths, legends and histories transmitted from one generation to the next? Are they oral traditions? Are they written down? Are there schools? Who keeps the knowledge? Is there forbidden areas of knowledge? What happens if someone discovers this forbidden knowledge?
• Does the culture have a history (answer is yes)? What is the history? How do people within the culture talk about their own history? How close are the histories to what actually happened? How do people within the culture talk about the history of other cultures? How close to the truth is this?
• Are there any legends or myths that are kept secret? Why? Who keeps the knowledge? What happens if someone finds out about the myth?
• What actions or beliefs does the culture consider heroic? Does the culture have heroes in its legends? Who are they? Are they gods, humans, animals or something else? What did the hero do? When did he do it? What was the result? Do people worship the hero? Why? What are the ceremonies that surround the hero? Who worships the hero?
• What actions or beliefs does the culture consider villainous? Does the culture have villains in its legends? Who are they? Are they gods, humans, animals or something else? What did the villain do? When did he do it? What was the result? Do people worship the villain? Why? What are the ceremonies that surround the villain? Who worships them? Are there ceremonies to banish the villain?
• Are there mythical beasts or beings in the culture's legends? What are they? Where do they live? Are the considered good or bad? How do the mythical beasts affect the people of the culture? Do people worship the beast? Why? What are the ceremonies that surround the beast? Who worships them? Are there ceremonies to banish the beast?

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Aesthetics

• What colors, shapes, odors and tastes are considered pleasant? Are there reasons for this? What are the reasons? How did the belief come into being? How do people use these pleasant things in their everyday life? Are they used as decorations on items like pottery, weapons or space ships?
• What colors, shapes, odors and tastes are considered unpleasant? Are there reasons for this? What are the reasons? How did the belief come into being?
• Are there emotions associated with certain colors? What are they? Are there reasons for this association? Are there emotions associated with certain shapes? What are these association and how did they come into being? Are there emotions associated with certain odors or tastes? What are they and how did they come into being? Are certain colors, shapes, odors and tastes considered masculine? Why? Are certain colors, shapes, odors and tastes considered feminine? Why?
• What colors, shapes, odors and tastes are considered religious? Why are these things considered religious? How did the belief come into being? Are they invoked during certain religious ceremonies? How and why?
• practice mutilation (tattooing, scarring, piercing, etc.)?
• How does the culture define beauty in humans? What features make a man beautiful? What features make a woman beautiful? Which sex is considered the most beautiful?
• What body features are considered sexually appealing? Are these body features kept hidden or are they displayed? If they are hidden, why? If they are displayed, are the body features adorned? How? Does the culture
• Are there certain colors, shapes, odors and tastes that evoke sexual responses? What are they? Is there a reason for this? Are these just used by men, just used by women, or used by both sexes?
• What animals does the culture find cute, cuddly or otherwise attractive? Are these domestic animals or wild animals? What do the animals look like? Why are these animals considered attractive? Do the people in the culture try to emulate the animals to increase their own attractiveness? How?
• Does the culture have any symbols it uses to identify itself (flag, coat of arms, etc.)? What are they? How did the symbol come into use and why? Who invented the symbol? Does the culture use symbols to identify other cultures? What are the symbols? What do they mean? Do the symbols show respect for the other culture or not? How?
• Do any subcultures have any symbols they use to identify themselves (flag, coat of arms, etc.)? What are they? How did the symbol come into use and why? Who invented the symbol?
• What kinds of art does the culture produce (sculpture, painting, singing, storytelling, etc.)? What is considered artistic? What is considered bad art? Are there artists? Who supports the artists? How do they make a living? How does society view these people?
• Does the culture have entertainment (yes)? What does the culture consider entertaining? What forms of entertainment are there? Are any forms of entertainment illegal? Why? What are the penalties for taking part in illegal entertainment? Is the entertainment part of religious ceremonies? What purpose does this sort of entertainment serve? What are the rituals that go along with the entertainment?

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Sex and Marriage

• Why do people get married? Are marriages based on alliances? Are marriages based on wealth? Are marriages based on romance? How do couples meet? Are there go-betweens that set up meetings? Do there ceremonies? Are there special places for couples to meet?
• Are there laws governing who can get married? What are these laws? Who do they apply to? How are these laws enforced? Can only men have multiple wives (polygyny)? Can only woman have multiple husbands (polyandry)? Can either have multiple spouses (polygamy)? Does a person have to meet certain criteria before they are able to have multiple spouses (wealth, political power, etc.)? How does the society view a person with multiple spouses?
• Are there any marriage ceremonies? What are they? Are they religious? Who performs the ceremony? Who attends? Are there special clothes, food, words, places or things for these ceremonies? Where does a newly married couple live? Do they stay with the grooms relatives? Do they stay with the wife's relatives? Do they move out on their own?
• How do marriages end? On what basis can a person end a marriage? Are there ceremonies? What are they? Are there laws that provide for ending a marriage? What are they? How does the society view people who end a marriage (good, bad, neutral)? What happens when a married person dies? Is the marriage considered over? Is the surviving spouse passed on to the dead spouse's family? Does the surviving spouse also have to die?
• How does the culture view pregnancy? Are there ceremonies for expectant mothers? Are there ceremonies to prevent pregnancy? Is there technology that can prevent pregnancy? Are there certain times a pregnancy is terminated? Why would a pregnancy be terminated? How is it done? Are there laws surrounding when and how a pregnancy can be terminated? How does the culture view terminating a pregnancy? Is there a special place pregnant woman go while they are pregnant? Where is this place? Why do they go there? Is there a special place women go to during labor and delivery? Where is it? Why do they go there? Who delivers babies? Are there specialists? Are there ceremonies surrounding delivery and birth?
• What does the culture consider the ideal time for children to start learning about sex? When do children actually start learning about sex? Who teaches children about sex? Do parents take the responsibility? Does the group? Are there specialists?
• What does the culture consider to be "normal" sexual practices? Why do they believe this? What sexual practices are considered to be deviant? Why are they deviant? Are there laws prohibiting this deviance? Does the religion prohibit this deviance? What do people think about those who practice deviant sexual behavior? What sexual practices are considered abhorrent(all cultures consider incest abhorrent)? Why is it considered abhorrent? What laws are in place to prevent these practices? What do people think of those who practice abhorrent sexual behavior?
• How does the culture define beauty in humans? What features make a man beautiful? What features make a woman beautiful? Which sex is considered the most beautiful?
• Are there people who do not conform to the "normal" cultural ideas of gender (gay, lesbian, transvestite, etc.)? How does the culture view these people? Are there laws surrounding these people? What are they? What does the religion say about these people? Are these people a part of a subculture, or are they part of the mainstream culture?
• What body features are considered sexually appealing? Are these body features kept hidden or are they displayed? If they are hidden, why? If they are displayed, are the body features adorned? How? What traits are considered sexually attractive in men? What traits are considered sexually attractive in women?
• Are there certain colors, shapes, odors and tastes that evoke sexual responses? What are they? Is there a reason for this? Are these just used by men, just used by women, or used by both sexes?
• Are there animals that are thought of as more sexual than other animals? What are they? Do these animals have certain traits that are considered sexy? What are they? Are these animals or their traits invoked during sexual display or sex itself? How? Is this considered normal, deviant or abhorrent?

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Family and Kinship

• What defines a family? Does a family include just the parents and children? Does it include the grandparents? Does it include the siblings of the parents? Does it include cousins? Does it include more?
• What are the responsibilities a person has to a family? Do parents have a different responsibility from the children or grandparents? What is the difference? Do parent's sibling have a responsibility? What is it? If the parents die, who takes care of the children? If the marriage breaks up, who "gets" the children? Does the culture support the idea of stepparents and stepchildren? Do children of a previous marriage become the total responsibility of a new spouse?
• Is heredity tracked through the mother (matrilineal) or through the father (patrilineal)? Are there laws that define heredity? What are these laws? What are the criteria for establishing heredity? What happens to children conceived by someone outside of the marriage? Do these children still have hereditary rights? Can a person be granted hereditary rights? Are there ceremonies involved in this? What are they? Are there laws that govern this? What are they?
• How is wealth passed from one generation to the next? Are there traditions or laws that govern inheritance? Is there a trade of wealth when a couple gets married? How is wealth divided within the household? Who manages the wealth?
• Do the people of the culture trace their origin back to a common ancestor? Is this part of the culture's legends? Is it truthful (most likely not)? Does the culture claim kinship to another culture? Why? Is there a legend that explains this? What is it?

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Wealth

• What constitutes wealth? Does the culture use land, animals, possessions, spouses, money or something else to measure wealth? How does a person acquire wealth? Is the acquisition of wealth considered a good thing? a bad thing? just the way life is?
• Who is allowed to collect wealth? Are only men allowed to collect wealth? Are only women allowed to collect wealth?
• How is wealth passed from one generation to the next? Are there traditions or laws that govern inheritance? Is there a trade of wealth when a couple gets married? How is wealth divided within the household? Who manages the wealth?
• What role does wealth play in politics? Do the richest people have the largest say in politics? How does wealth affect power? Are their classes within the culture that are based on wealth? Are there castes in the culture that are more wealthy than other castes?
• How is wealth kept? Are there inheritance laws that help the rich keep their wealth? Are their marriage traditions or laws that help wealth stay in the family?
• Does this culture use slaves? Are slaves considered part of someone's wealth? How are slaves acquired? How does a person become a slave? Is there a slave class? Is there a slave trade? Can slaves regain their freedom? How? What are the laws surrounding a slave's rights? What are the laws surrounding the ownership of slaves? How does the culture feel about slavery (good, bad, necessary evil)?

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Politics

• Who has the most power in the culture? Is there a centralized ruler or group of rulers? How is power handed off from one person to the next? Is power inherited from a parent? Is power earned? Is power granted (an elected official)?
• Are there different classes of people (poor, middle class, rich)? How did the classes form? Are there classes that are more powerful than other classes? Does each class speak its own language? Does each class speak a different dialect? What does each class think of the other?
• Are there different castes? What are the different castes? How did the castes form? Are there castes that are more powerful than other castes? Does each caste speak its own language? Does each caste speak a different dial