Repere ale modelului difuzionist asupra culturii
Reference points of diffuzal model of culture

Summary/Abstract: Having a museographic origin, diffusionism is one of the anthropological trends of the largest perspective, emphasizing the importance the diffusion of cultural elements has in the development not only of the human society as a whole, but also of individual cultures. The starting point is represented by the strong belief that societies are not “separate monads” or entities marked by a total discontinuity, but rather more or less evolved centres characterised by contacts or mutual exchanges of socio-cultural elements. The transfer of cultural elements between different societies is directed according to certain rules and priciples: the existence of a so-called “primary genesis centre” endowed with both an “energy of diffusion” and a “receiver”, having a main role in the process of diffusion; the contact between societies (cultures) or at least the stimulating influence of the creative centre; an adequate period for the conduction of cultural traits from the genessis centre towards more and more remote cultural areas. Regarding this matter, there have been brought up some important problems meant to lead to a better understanding of the diffusion phenomenon: the problem of ,,cultural losses”, the problem of the ,,degradation” of cultural elements throughout their expansion/spreading; the problem of selective integration of cultural traits by the receiving societies due to a ,,variable rate of responsiveness”. The diffusionists will introduce and put into practice within their study of culture a series of key-concepts such as: ,,cultural circle”, ,,cultural area”, ,,diffusion by means of contact”, ,,diffusion by means of stimulation”, ,,spontaneous diffusion”, ,,organised diffusion” etc. All these rules and priciples are to be encountered one way or another within the main orientations/tendencies of cultural diffusionism: the School of ,,cultural circles” from Vienna, the ,,hiperdiffusionism” in England, the ,,prudent” American diffusionism, the French diffusionism.

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