Module 7 Culture Role and Perception S

tudy

Department of Sociology

China Agricultural University

Module 7 Research background Research method Research results Conclusion

I. Research background ---China’s national culture

Modern China’s national culture is a complex culture developed by traditional agricultural culture and it also assimilate some worthy fruits of western industrial culture during its development.

Research background ---complex impact of agriculture on national

culture political patriarchy, economic autarky, closed way of production and life, practical value and social ethics value

system, so on.

II.1 Research objectiveTo assess how agriculture and the

rural world are perceived and represented by different social and ethnic groups in China’s national culture.

II.2 Research Method semi-structured interview of ten urba

n opinion leaders

focus group interview in He Bei Province and the suburb of BeiJing

collection of mass media information

III. Research Results

General Perception of the Role of Agriculture

The influence of agriculture and agricultural world on social cohesive force and cultural characters

The influence of agriculture on science, arts and leisure

The perception of the current situation and the future of farming

Agriculture and farmers in mass media

III.1 General Perception of the Role of Agriculture

economic role Environmental role Social role Culture role

the perception of economic role

Chart 1. The number of perception of the economic role ofagriculture of 64 FGs

64

710

0

22

48

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

food safety raw materialproduction

farmersincome

tax revenue labor supply no answer

The perception of environmental role

agriculture can benefit the environment;

agricultural activities can destroy the environment;

agriculture’s influence on the environment is decided by human being, and by the agricultural policies.

The perception social role

Under our revelation:

Poverty alleviation

provide rich labor source for society

the basis of social stability

The perception of cultural role Create civil arts; provide kinds of source materials for

arts; our customs, way of life, many festivals

and solar terms provide entertainments for people; promote the development of science

and agricultural education.

III.2.1 The influence on social cohesive force

rural social cohesive force is much stronger than urban one

But it became weaker after the reform and opening-up (economic interests; non-organizational state of villages)

it is not bad Behind it is the change of value

system

III.2.2 The influence on cultural characters

Land is the foundation of life Stable life generation by generation in one

place, no migration Family is the foundation of social life Man is higher than woman Be industrious, thrifty and honest Be Conservative and close----mode of

thinking Neighborhood is attached high importance

III.3 the influence on science, arts and leisure Farmers’ need of technology

promoted the development of science

Arts developed from agricultural activities

Tourist agriculture

III.4 The perception of the current situation and the

future of farming

The policy of Household Responsibility System---the 2000 year policy

The future---large-scale production

III.6 How mass media reflect agriculture and farmers? Not capable With strong family value Distinctive difference between

citizens and farmers Social ethics is more important

that laws

III.7 Conclusion people’s perception about the role of agri

culture is simple and unilateral Attitudes changed essentially on the percep

tion of the role of agriculture on science Farmers go out into cities----citizens come i

nto rural area Fei Xiaotong: “color of local land”--- 乡土

性

Thanks!