Culture is a very dynamic element of the social setting of human beings. Culture is kinetic meaning that it is bound to constant modification and change from time to time. For example, when we consider the English language, we notice the constant and frequent adoption and addition of new words meant to describe varied situations in different cultures. These new words emanate from the frequent changes or social developments constantly shaping our world today. For example, one of the new words adopted as part of the accepted English words is the word ‘Photobomb’. A ‘photobomb’ is a verb meaning the ruining of someone else’s photo by appearing in it unexpectedly and without permission and thus destroying the intended appeal of that photo . The ideal of the photobomb is that it is a practical joke rather than a malicious intent . The origin of the word is linked back to the early 1970s whoever its widespread use is associated with the advent of the internet and the ability to share digital photos over the internet . The word found usage in the Urban Dictionary in the year 2008 and was nominated as the urban word of the day on 28th September 2012 by the same Urban Dictionary website . It is also said that Flicker opened a dedicated page for people to share photos with their photombombing experiences .
Like language and usage of new words, ceremonies like rites of passage and coming to age within cultural influences are also bound to change from time to time. This is due to the influences of mixing of culture from time to time due to effects of globalization. For example in the ancient Spanish society, the Fiesta de Quince ceremony marks a person of female gender transition to adulthood . It takes place when the female person marks her 15th birthday . The Fiesta de Quince ceremony is a religious ceremony that involves a church service and later on graced by feasting . Also known as the quinceañera ceremony, its etiology arises from the words quince which means 15 and años which means years to refer to the attainment of the 15th birthday in one’s life . Similarly, in the American society different cultural practices and ceremonies have been in practice over time. An example is the New Orleans Jazz Funeral colloquially referred to as the holiday for the dead . The holiday of the dead ceremony has experienced changing trends over time influenced by different societal backgrounds that have inspired it such as African roots, jazz music, Indian cultures, and New Orleans population’s love for parties to give it the look it has today . The ceremony involves bands marching while playing jazz music even as mourners view the deceased person inside the casket . The greatest similarity that the quinceañera ceremony and the New Orleans Jazz Funeral have in common is the fact that both have undergone enormous changes due to external cultural influences resulting in more modified ceremonies. Both the ceremonies are identifies with and also observed only with special occasions unlike other ceremonies that might take structured observance like annually or within a given period in time.
Works Cited
Hill, Jeff and Peggy Daniels. Life Events and Rites of Passage. Detroit MI: Omnigraphics, 2008.
Oxford Dictionaries. Photobomb. 11th April 2016 <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/photobomb>.
Quacker, Lone. Photobombing. 2010. 11th April 2016 <http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/photobombing>.
