Talk - Conscious Cultural Change : One person's view August 5, 2009

Talk - Conscious Cultural Change: One person's view by Michael Macy. There are three basic senses in which the word culture is commonly understood. The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an organization or group. An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behaviour that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning Excellence of taste in the fine arts. and humanities, also known as high culture but over time meanings and concepts change. In the twentieth century, 'culture' emerged as a concept central to anthropology, encompassing almost all human phenomena. The term has now became important, albeit with different meanings, in other disciplines such as sociology, cultural studies and organizational psychology. This evening Michael Macy explores the inevitability of cultural change and if that change can be directed. He also addresses the difficulty of preserving any culture, the challenge of globalization, and how a culture exports itself. He will express his own personal thoughts on a subject that has fascinated him for 40 years, and doesn't reflect the views of the U.S. government. 'I hope it will be challenging, provocative and lead to a thoughtful and lively discussion.' Michael Macy assumed the position of Cultural Attach at the U.S. Mission in New Delhi in August 2008. His prior assignment was as Cultural Attache at the U.S. Mission in London where he served as Chairman of the US/UK Fulbright Commission. He has also served in public affair positions at the U.S. Missions in the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Malta and Mali. Prior to joining the Foreign Service Mr. Macy worked in a number of different sectors. He worked as a public relations executive providing advice and counsel in the areas of crisis management, community outreach, political affairs and brand development. He was a trial lawyer and served as a magistrate. He hosted a weekly radio talk show and has taught American studies, American legal history and business at a number of universities in the U.S. and Malta. He has a lifelong fascination with American culture. He holds a BA in American Culture and Communications Arts from Antioch University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Law School and was a post-graduate research fellow at Aligarh Muslim University and is Fellow of the RSA. As part of his exploration of American culture he has also worked as a merchant seaman, railroad laborer, and traveled with one of America's last professional fools.

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