Understanding cultural complexity
Often, taking into account the context and culture is seen as an obvious fact that does not require a lot of exploration, at the risk of falling into stereotypes but also of not perceiving the added values and assets of various cultures.
Very often, cultural diversity is reduced, simplified to a few tangible aspects, representing the top of the cultural iceberg (such as clothing, culinary prohibitions, body language or modes of greeting) or to technical knowledge (construction traditional habitats, market gardening methods or linguistic details). This simplification is often done in the name of pragmatism or emergencies for programs. However, if an operational reading of culture remains necessary, it also requires taking into account different levels and layers of culture existing within the same context, to truly understand its social meaning.
Very often, cultural diversity is reduced, simplified to a few tangible aspects, or to technical knowledge
However, it should not be forgotten that culture is dynamic, even the most traditional culture, and that it evolves influenced by contact and shock. Among its influences, we find humanitarian cultures and also specific cultures of crises. It must also be taken into account that a culture is not monolithic. Within a culture, there are paradoxical elements in conflict due to influences, aspirations, various levels of development on which each one adapts his behavior.
