Final answer:
Marcel Mauss viewed culture as a complex system of exchanges that encompass social, economic, and moral dimensions, shaping the social structure and identity of societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marcel Mauss's perspective on culture revolved around the understanding of exchange systems within societies, particularly in his work 'The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies.' Mauss analyzed how the circulation of gifts among members of society was not merely an economic transaction but a critical component of social bonds and cultural obligations. His analysis extended beyond the material aspects to include moral, economic, social, and religious dimensions which intertwined to form the fabric of society. He implied that these exchange systems played a foundational role in constructing the social order and cultural identity.
The notion of culture, as seen through the lens of early anthropologists, evolved significantly over the 20th century. Figures like Franz Boas challenged the static, geographic-bound notions of culture, emphasizing its fluidity, subject to historical change and diffusion. Boas contended that culture evolves uniquely for each society based on their historical conditions and interactions with other cultures. The complexity of culture, therefore, encompasses the diverse ways people participate and experience their shared norms and practices, often leading to internal controversies and different perspectives within the same society.
In essence, Mauss viewed culture as a system of exchanges that go beyond mere economics to embody the entire social structure, underpinned by the relationships and moral obligations that these exchanges foster among people. The gift exchange becomes a lens to view the intricate workings of a culture and the social cohesion it engenders