Introduction 

The cultural gallery offers insight into the meaning of culture and attempts to provide examples of how cultural meanings are formed, maintained, and altered. The English word "culture" is similar to words which describe culture in other Romance languages; indeed, the concept has a similar history in many Western countries. In other parts of the world, however, the elements of learned behaviors and meanings systems which we identify as representing something called "culture" might not be grouped together the same way. Consequently, the definitions and discussions of culture in this Gallery hope to recognize and represent this diveristy of meaning and cultural perspectives.