CULTURE UNDER A HISTORICAL-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE: FIRST APPROACHES

Abstract

This paper derives from a study developed in a Masters Degree lato sensu course focusing the Historical-Cultural Theory, which was offered by the State University of Maringá-UEM. It is an investigation, in first approach, regarding the meaning of ‘culture’, according to what is postulated by the Historical-Cultural Theory. The aim of the study is to present the elements that make explicit the meaning of ‘culture’, on the light of the Historical-Cultural Perspective and based on Alexis N. Leontiev`s theories, in order to point out the elements that contribute to reflections concerning what the modern society seems to be living and discussing in terms of cultural differences. The text is organized in four different parts. In a first moment, a current meaning of culture, together with the lexicon definition, by contemporary authors, is presented. Following, the cultural meaning, based on the Historical-Cultural Theory is emphasized. In addition, in a third moment, a fundamental issue is presented; such an issue is present in the process of appropriation-objectivity of culture, that is, ‘the something’ of the human cultural legacy, which each individual appropriates along his own lifespan. Finally, in the last part of the text the final considerations are presented.