Culture as Text

"Culture as text" is an idea that views culture—like traditions, language, art, and customs—as a kind of written or visual story that can be interpreted much like a book or a piece of art. Just as a text holds meaning through words and symbols, culture contains messages and values that reveal how people think, believe, and live. By analyzing these cultural "texts," we can better understand the history, identity, and worldview of a community. It encourages us to read and interpret culture thoughtfully, recognizing its layers of meaning much like we do with written or visual texts.