Final answer:
Culture is a broad concept that defines a group's practices, values, and beliefs, shaped by shared knowledge and norms. It is dynamic, affected by geographical and historical contexts, and is an interplay between society's rules and individual agency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term culture encompasses a broad range of elements that define the way a society functions and expresses itself. Often described as 'the total of the inherited ideas, beliefs, values, and knowledge, which constitute the shared bases of social action,' culture is more than just a collection of practices; it is the underlying fabric that ties a group of people together through shared practices, values, beliefs, and the accumulated knowledge passed down through generations.
Culture includes everyday interactions, deeply held values, social rules, and collective conventions that govern behavior and thought within a group. This dynamic system of meanings and norms is not static but ever-evolving, influenced by various factors such as history, geography, and individual agency, which contest and shape the cultural norms of society.
Considering culture in this way allows us to understand that while cultural practices may guide behaviors and expectations, they are not fixed, and the interplay between societal structures and individual agency contributes significantly to cultural growth and change.