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The Culture and Nation Outline
Basic Facts-
Culture’s anchor is in this nation:
The people call themselves:
Capital City: (mention locations and population. By a seaport? Riverside?)
Nation’ size and population: (what about it’s size compared to the other nations around it?)
They’ve been around for this long:
The language is this:
-What does the language sound like spoken? (French, German, and Chinese all sound very different. Think about this when writing what sounds the language uses.) Is there a clear accent? Could the people also incorporate gestures? Is the language a deviant of another language? Do the people also learn a world-wide ‘common tongue’?
History-
Basic Overview: (anything not covered below)
The people came to this area by the means of/ because:
-Did they master traveling across a desert? Maybe by sea? Did they leave because of religious persecution, drought, warfare, empire building, invasion? Or is it that they have just always been there? (Keep in mind that the last one isn’t very exciting nor is it very probable.)
How long did it take for this group of people to be seen as a sovereign nation?
-Was it after a war? Maybe they helped a neighboring country? By sheer population building? A strong government? Or maybe they are still seen as just a tribe of people?
Did this culture ever see a golden age?
-Was it because of a ruler? Maybe a sudden advancement in technology? An influx of income and employment?
This culture’s darkest hour was: (Mention the reason, the length, and any detail concerning it.)
This culture/ nation’s greatest embarrassment:
-Does it still affect them today? What are the views of it compared to the oldest generation to the youngest? Does the government even acknowledge it? (Think of Nazi Germany and America’s use of slavery.)
This culture/ nation’s greatest contribution to the world: (obviously can be more than one)
History of Warfare:
Religion- (Probably the most important factor of a culture next to history and government)
The Belief/ The story: (try not to over-simplify it)
-Is there many gods? Maybe one? Do animals or people represent them? Maybe there isn’t even gods in the religion (like Buddhism). For the love of Christ, try to avoid the use of ‘element gods’.
Is there a person/ object/ animal that is at the center of all religion?
Is it widely believed? (Think of generation gaps)
Is it believed in other nations and countries? (Do they make a point in trying to spread the religion?)
Does it support warfare, deviant sexuality, women in power? Anything controversial?
Is there one thing, above all, that is strictly forbidden?
Does it play a part in the government?
Is there a holy text? (Maybe they convey their beliefs though song? Something other a text?)
Is there a belief in prophets or Jehovah? (Are they still seen in the modern times?)
What details about the religious leaders should be noted?
-Are they gender specific? Is there special clothing? How powerful are the leaders in the community? Do they operate out of temples or buildings in the like? Is money involved in their work?
Are there rigid rules, ceremonies, and rituals that must be followed? (Human sacrifice, anyone? Holidays?)
Does this particular religion have conflictions with rival religions?
How does this religion treat death?
What is the outlook of the afterlife? Heaven? Hell?
Government-
Category: (Monarch? Democracy? Something unclassified completely?)
Basic Overview:
-This is basically all the components that are not detailed below.
Method of Secession:
Manner in which they solve problems:
-Do the people play a part in the law making? How fast do things tend to get completed? Do the proposed ideas tend to work?
Would the people consider it a successful government?
Do other nations mimic/ recognize/ or demean this kind of government?
How does the government treat their people?
-Heavy taxes? Maybe they kill unruly people to keep everyone in line? What about foreigners? People of a different religion? Do the heads even care about the people’s demands? Do the heads CAUSE the demands?
What would be the foremost goal that the government wants to achieve?
-Is it war? Why? Maybe it’s a public service? What’s holding them back from achieving this?
What is the nation’s standing with the rest of the world?
-Do they trade (greatest export/ import)? Would they aid their neighbors? Would they accept refugees? Is there a significant event that has benefited/ poisoned a relationship with a neighboring country? Is it too small to be influential? Too large to control itself?
How does the government treat crime?
Is there a symbol that represents the country/ nation/ government? (like an Eagle, an olive leaf, a bear?)
The People and Their Customs:
Basic physical traits:
-General height? Weight? Hair color? Male/ female? (think about a how different a Japanese athlete would be from a Russian athlete) Is there a desirable trait that is looked for in a person? Maybe it’s delicate hands or long hair?
Clothing:
-Does the clothing suit the climate? How does it differ from the rich to the poor? Do certain colors have meaning? Are the people easily influenced by outside trends?
Their day-to-day attitude:
-Ok, that was pretty broad, but work with me here. Are they genuinely an optimistic bunch? Are they downtrodden? Do they show it?
What are the professions like in this culture?
-Are they for profit or necessity? Does any job hold a high regrade? Is there one job, that should a person be removed from it, the whole nation would fall?
How do they treat each other and how does that compare to their real views of each other?
-Are they openly friendly, but secretly believe that everyone they met would swindle them? Or do they just tell you of their hatred straight up?
Their food, basic diet:
-Are they famous for any dishes? Do they eat anything considered odd? (Like horses?) How much is the diet affected by the area around them?(Try to think of the differences in German cooking and Korean food.)
Is there a gap between the economic classes?
-Is this only in populated cities? Who has the power? The wealthy? The smart? Is the gap adding pressure to the government? Maybe a rebellion or two?
Does their lifestyle support their health?
-Do they play sports? Or are they too busy working till they drop to spend time with the family? How many kids or in the average family? Is there enough food to feed the families? Maybe they bathe and eat healthy and that is reflected in their everyday lives?
One of the citizens has the day off. How would he spend his free time?
Is a particular aspect of life held in high regard/ concern?
-Does the culture value strong warriors? Maybe they invest their children in schools? Are they overly worried of sickness in the city?
Describe a day in the life of a commoner and a nobleman:
How does the overall population treat foreigners/ outsiders:
-Is there a reason for hostility? Generosity? Would they treat the outsiders to a banquet to welcome them? You the outsiders BE the banquet? This one detail can reflect an entire culture’s mentality.
What building would be at the very center of activity in any given city?
What kind of person would your people value most?
-Do they like manly men killing people? Maybe an educator? Is physical beauty factor? What about a particular profession?
What kind of person would be considered a social reject?
-How do they show their discontent? Banishment? Throwing rocks? Does the religion also have an affect on which people they reject?
Do the people retain their traditions, customs, fashion, religion, etc, despite outside trends?
The Setting-
How has the surrounding area affected the history of this nation?
-Mountains might thwart out war, but also keep out traders. Fertile land will beckon newcomers and a desert area will keep them away.
What’s the climate like and how does it affect the culture/ people:
Take a look at the ground. What do you see?
-Is it a rocky terrain? Grassy? Is it a littered street? This applies to any major settings used in your story.
It’s festival night!
-What do you see? Do you hear music or screams? What is the food? All five scenes!
Is their diversity in the terrain?
Is there a heavy populated zone and an empty space?
Is this nation divided in anyway?
-Is it divided because of a war or because of natural bearers (mountains, rivers, etc)? Is there conflict between the people of these different areas? (Think of the cultural differences in the United States between the North and the South. Colorado Springs is not New York, New York isn’t Savannah, Georgia, and none of those compare to Wisconsin.)
What does the architecture basically look like?
-Are the buildings meant to be in one place forever? Sometimes tents can be moved from place to place. Have the styles changed over the years? From fancy to cheap, perhaps? What can be found in the average person’s home? What are the buildings made of in the cities?
 Scarlett Foxx · Mon Feb 08, 2010 @ 06:33am · 0 Comments |
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