Culture is the soul of human society — a dynamic expression of values, identity, memory, and imagination. At The Karachi Collective, we explore culture in its most expansive sense, from tradition and heritage to subcultures, social movements, and contemporary expressions in Pakistan and beyond.
What Is Culture?
Culture encompasses the beliefs, customs, arts, laws, and social behavior of a group or society. It is how people make meaning, pass on knowledge, and shape their worldview.
From language, rituals, and festivals to literature, visual arts, and performance, culture gives form to collective experience.
Culture in South Asia
In the South Asian context, culture is shaped by:
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Centuries of historical exchange and migration
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Religious and linguistic diversity
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Colonial and postcolonial narratives
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Contemporary questions of identity and globalization
We trace how culture in Pakistan intersects with tradition and resistance, hybridity and preservation.
Cultural Forms We Explore
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Material Culture: Textiles, crafts, architecture
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Visual Culture: Art, film, photography
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Preformative Culture: Music, theatre, oral traditions
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Digital Culture: Memes, internet activism, online identity
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Literary Culture: Poetry, fiction, zines, critical essays
Why Cultural Critique Matters
Understanding culture helps us:
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Examine systems of power
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Celebrate plural identities
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Archive vanishing practices
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Engage with art politically and historically
At The Karachi Collective, cultural critique is not about preservation alone — it’s about participation, dialogue, and change.
History of Culture
Culture has always been central to how humans understand and organise their world. Its history is the story of how communities create meaning, pass on memory, and shape identity through shared practices.
Early Human Cultures
From prehistoric cave paintings to burial rituals, early humans used art, tools, and symbols to communicate beliefs and values. Oral storytelling and mythology formed the first archives of human thought.
Ancient Civilisations
In civilisations like Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, Egypt, and China, culture became institutionalized through language, religion, architecture, and governance. Culture shaped legal codes, spiritual life, and artistic expression.
Religious and Philosophical Influence
The rise of major religions and philosophies — from Islam and Hinduism to Buddhism and Christianity — deeply influenced cultural forms: visual aesthetics, literature, ritual, and community identity.
Colonialism and Cultural Disruption
In South Asia, colonialism transformed cultural landscapes. Local knowledge systems were suppressed, languages were reshaped, and traditional art forms were re contextualised through the lens of empire.
Yet, resistance emerged through literature, music, and art — keeping cultural memory alive under occupation.
Culture in the Modern World
Today, culture is shaped by technology, migration, media, and political struggle. In Pakistan and the Global South, cultural production reflects both continuity and rupture, responding to globalization while reclaiming indigenous knowledge.
Why Cultural History Matters
Understanding the history of culture allows us to:
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Trace power and resistance
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Preserve collective memory
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Understand how identities are constructed
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Reclaim narratives erased by dominant systems
What is Pakistani culture?
Pakistani culture is a rich blend of ethnic, religious, and regional traditions shaped by Islamic heritage, Indo-Persian influences, colonial history, and contemporary urban life. It includes diverse languages, art forms, cuisine, and social practices across provinces.
How does culture change over time?
Culture changes through:
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Technological innovation
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Migration and globalization
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Political and social movements
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Generational shifts in values and beliefs
While some traditions are preserved, others are adapted or replaced in response to changing contexts.
