Share an experience that you have had with adapting to a new cultural environment.  Or share an experience where you helped a classmate or someone else with cultural adaptations.  Post once for yourself and two more times to classmates.  Simple statements such as "I agree" and "I think so, too" are not acceptable.  Expand on your feelings and circumstances where you have had opportunities to adapt yourself to a new surrounding, or have helped others adapt.

In this forum you will discuss the list of five things from the Chauvet cave video were "news to you." The images on the cave walls are not the kind of art we usually picture in our minds as cave art.  Here you will share your observations.  What do you think the artists are trying to tell those who view their work?  Post as often as you like.

Discuss with your classmates, if you think the lifestyle promoted in the video is practical in today's world.  Why or why not?  With six billion people on the planet, would it be possible to have a sustainable lifestyle as hunters and gatherers in the 21st century?  These are questions to think about critically as there is so much conversation about the environment and practicing more sustainable lifestyles.

Discuss with your classmates other cultural universals you have thought about, other than the ten in the film.  A hint:  what about pets?  Share with your classmates other commonalities that you can see around you everyday.  You should post a total of three times, once for yourself and one more time to two other classmates.  Remember this is a critical thinking exercise, try to delve deeper into how culture is a driving force in everyone's life, everywhere.

Discuss with classmates your thoughts on the film.   Studying culture gives students a larger perspective in the challenges pointed out in the film.  The caste system keeps people from being able to move up the social and cultural ladder.  This is a real problem, yet people still want to cling to their cultural traditions.  How can they structure a democracy around such cultural traditions? These are the things to discuss with your classmates, critically thinking these issues.

This discussion forum is to learn from your classmates.  We will not delve into the religious domination or its doctrines practiced in this region, but understanding of the Islamic Global Village requires review of the historic context of how Islam became the state religion in the countries within this culture region. There may be students associated with both this region and its religion.  If so, we can learn much through open questions and discussion.  Even with no experience with a culture, there are always questions that can lead to critical thinking.  Hopefully this will be a learning experience for all those participating in the discussion.

Discuss with your classmates a small event, which changed how you think or which made you change directions in your life.  This does not have to be an intimate event, but one that is easily shared with others.  Post a total of three times, once for yourself and one response to two other classmates.  Post early in the week to get the discussion flowing.  

Discuss with your classmates whether you think the Mekong River Project is a worthwhile project, even though  the project had to relocate villagers to different housing, education, and livelihoods.  Do you think such a project, even though it has the support from the local people, a good thing or not so good?  After all, it is changing peoples lives and they must give up traditions and the old ways of doing things.  Some scholars who research such ethnic groups, as the ones you watched being relocated, believe cultures should be preserved intact and the modern world should not interrupt their culture. Post a total of three times, once for yourself and once to two other classmates - a total of three posts completes this assignment.  Post early in the week to get the discussion flowing.

Discuss the video making hog-head cheese or the video about African music.  Both videos are in the Sub-Saharan Africa Global Village lecture. They demonstrate influences on two items of culture vital to all of us: food, and entertainment.  Have you been exposed to cooking in the southern U. S. (soul food), or the influence of African music? Which has impressed you the most?  If you have eaten hog-head cheese, share your experience with classmates.  Think about music you have listened to in the past, or music you listen to now.  Did you realize the amount of African cultural influence on the music that moves you?  Do you enjoy "soul food?" Please post early in the week to get the discussion going.  This should be a fun and interesting assignment.  Post three times: once for yourself and once to two other classmates.

This discussion forum is Step 4 in the study plan for Lesson One.  Post at least three times, once for yourself and twice more to others in the class.  Use the list you made from watching the video on "Cultural Differences" as a reference for your posts.

Discuss discoveries about cultural adaptations in your own culture.  Can you think of cultural adaptations that might be beneficial in your own "making a living" world?  Do you favor organic farming, as in the American farming techniques in the video, or conventional and intensive agriculture with mechanized methods, chemicals and pesticides that is now the norm?  Relate some reasons/documentations, related to the discussions .  Post early in the week to get the discussion flowing.

The What is Culture? forum requires that you find at least two internet sources on ethnocentrism and cultural relativism to share in this Discussion Forum 2 for this lesson. Read the other posts to learn what they have found, and respond to at least two other posts. A total of three posts.

Discuss with your classmates the cultural footprints you and/or your family are making.  If you have a job, how is the way you are making your living contributing negatively to this footprint? If you are not working at the moment, analyze a parent's or friend's footprint.  Which cultural practices might you or they give up, or replace, to make a smaller footprint, or maybe none at all?

Discuss with classmates experiences you have had in a similar situation in which the couple finds themselves.  If you have not tried to acculturate into another culture, there probably have been neighbors, friends, or associates you have encountered who may be having problems adjusting to your way of life, wherever that might be.  Suggestions for coping strategies, from personal experiences, are welcome in this discussion.  Post early in the week to get the discussion flowing.  Post a total of three times, once for yourself and once to two other students.

Discuss with your classmates one or two treasured food memories.  Are they happy, sad or indifferent?  Do they involve birthdays, religious holidays, or other celebrations?  What people do you associate with these food memories? This is a discussion that should be both a learning experience and a fun experience.  It may also be nostalgic.  If so, express the emotions that go along with the food memories.

After watching the film, "The Science Behind the Paleolithic Diet," comment on the discussion about grains in the interview.  Do you think his reasoning for not eating grains or seeds is convincing?  Why or why not?  Due to the number of famines and issues of food insecurity in underdeveloped countries, do you think omitting grains is a good solution for large populations that rely on grains as a staple in their diets?

Discuss with your classmates the dilemma of the homeless person in the Peace Corps story.  What do you think might be done to alleviate homelessness in America and other places?  What collective ideas and resources might be used to help these displaced persons?  How might you, as an individual, help these kinds of individuals in your community, city, or country?  Please post early to get the discussion flowing.  Post three times: once for yourself and one time to two different classmates.

Share your thoughts on the two gender-related videos.  This is a blog where we can have constructive comments and controversial views safely.  No view is right or wrong; and none should be criticized.  We will all  view all comments and responses with civility, respect and no profanity.