Based on work by cruinne, modified by Juniper Jones Note: This template largely assumes a fantasy setting, and is still being modified for use in sci-fi settings.
REMEMBER THAT ALL ANSWERS MUST BE ABOUT THE CULTURE
Total Population:
Regions
Be sure to duplicate these for each country and province this culture is found in!
If this culture no longer resides in their ancestral home, what made them leave?
How recently did this culture branch out from their ancestral home?
What was/is the climate and geography like in this place? How did/does it shape the culture?
Arts, Entertainment, RecreationFine Arts
What is the status of the fine arts (painting, sculpture, etc.)?
How are these artists viewed?
Are these artists considered to be low or high class?
Who supports them?
Which disciplines are most highly valued and why?
What are the standards of beauty for paintings and sculpture?
What are some prominent themes in the most popular art mediums?
Folk Art
What defines an object as being folk art rather than fine art? Is there overlap?
What is the status of folk arts (quilting, furniture, embroidery, etc.)?
How are these artists viewed?
Are these artists considered to be low or high class?
Who supports them?
Which disciplines are most highly valued and why?
What are the standards of beauty for clothes and furniture?
What is their furniture like?
What is furniture commonly made of?
In what ways does furniture design reflect the customs of these people?
What is their clothing like? Use this as a broad overview, go into detail in the appropriate section.
What common motifs reoccur throughout their folk art?
Music & Dance
What are some of the most common instruments in this culture?
Woodwinds
Reeded
Stringed
Percussion
Other (portable)
Other (stationary)
Does this vary based on location or class?
Are there any instruments that require magical ability or augmentation to play?
Does their music tend to be more of a passive activity (recitals) or an active one (dances)?
Does this culture's music typically include lyrics?
If so, are they spoken word while music plays in the background, or integral to the piece?
What kinds of songs are sung in lower class areas?
What kinds of songs are sung in higher class areas?
Are songs the work of a performer or chorus, or is the audience expected to join in?
What kind of content does their music tend toward (tragic, romantic, epics, etc.)?
How important is music to the average person?
How many songs do they know?
Does everyone know how to play an instrument? If so, why?
Are dances participatory (contra-dance) or a performance (ballet)?
How important are dances to the average person?
If dances are participatory, do they involve the use of callers (someone calling out the dance steps as the dancers perform them) or are people expected to know the steps?
Does this differ based on class?
How much do dances vary based on locale? (i.e., Irish vs. English contra-dance)
Plays & Performances
Are there permanent theatres, concert, or dance halls?
What shape do they take (rectangular, semi-circle, full circle)?
Who owns and runs performance venues?
Are there travelling troupes of performers?
What tend to be their reputation?
Are there specific topics, genres, or individual plays that are not allowed to be performed?
Who restricts their performance, and what is the penalty for an infraction?
Is political satire acceptable within the bounds of a performance? (Essentially, can you insult the ruler inside a stage play without fear of reprisal?)
If so, what would be considered "over the line"?
Do plays follow a strict format, with specific characters or story contrivances (i.e., Comedia de Arte characters or the Greek chorus)?
Are plays and performances stratified? Is the audience divided based on class or social rank?
What role does comedy take in society? Is it reserved for children, considered dissident satire, or part of everyday parlance?
The Written Word
What role does literature play in the culture at large?
What's the most popular story right now?
Are books commonplace or rare?
How quickly can a book be made?
How many books does the average person read?
What genres of literature are available, or are books reserved for instructional manuals?
Are some topics banned or illegal to publish? Why? On whose authority?
If certain topics are banned, is there an underground marketplace for them?
What is the consequence for owning a banned book?
For printing or distributing a banned book?
Are there libraries? How are they viewed?
How accessible are they to the average person?
How is temporary information conveyed across long distances (i.e., letters)?
...to large numbers of people (i.e., newspapers)?
How is temporary information stored by the average person (i.e., notepads, clay tablets)?
How frequent and prominent is graffiti in this culture? What kind of subjects do they cover (i.e., Kilroy was here, For a good time..., Your mother..., etc.)?
Leisure
What do people in this culture do for fun? This may vary by region.
What sports, games, or pastimes are common?
Which leisure activities require skill, money, or ample leisure time?
What leisure activities are common among everyone?
What activities are limited to the peasantry?
To the nobility?
To children?
To specific genders?
Are any leisure activities considered illegal?
Is gambling on the outcome of a leisure activity illegal? (i.e., betting on dice games, horse-racing, etc.)
Are certain provinces or cities known for a passion or expertise for particular leisure activities?
Is there an attitude of competition or cooperation around leisure activities or sports?
Architecture & Infrastructure
See Writing About Architecture: Mastering the Language of Buildings & Cities by Alexandra Lange for more.
What is the most common building material? (WILL VARY BASED ON REGION)
Why is it used?
Does it have any major drawbacks?
How do urban houses differ from rural ones?
How are they similar? (i.e., similar motifs, building fixtures)
What kind of infrastructure is unique to this culture's region?
Urban
What are the differences in materials and appearance between lower-class, middle-class, and upper-class urban housing?
Lower-class:
Middle-class:
Upper-class:
Nobility:
How are buildings normally ornamented?
Are buildings normally built square? Domed? Organic?
How tall can a building be constructed at a reasonable cost and in a reasonable amount of time?
How large is a typical house?
What are the typical floor plans like?
Can people afford to waste space on hallways or do they just have a series of rooms opening into other rooms?
How are living quarters arranged?
Are parlors or libraries common?
Are there special rooms for guests?
Are parts of homes restricted to certain members of the household?
How many people usually live in a typical house?
Are people's businesses in their homes?
Rural
What are the differences in materials and appearance between lower-class, middle-class, and upper-class rural housing?
Lower-class:
Middle-class:
Upper-class:
Nobility:
Are buildings normally built square? Domed?
How are buildings normally ornamented?
How tall can a building be constructed at a reasonable cost and in a reasonable amount of time?
How large is a typical house?
What are the typical floor plans like?
Can people afford to waste space on hallways or do they just have a series of rooms opening into other rooms?
How are living quarters arranged?
Are parlors or libraries common?
Are there special rooms for guests?
Are parts of homes restricted to certain members of the household?
How many people usually live in a typical house?
Are people's businesses in their homes?
Daily Life
How do people in this culture feel about foreigners?
How do these people feel about nearby cultures?
How cosmopolitan is the average person?
How ready are people to accept different ideas?
How much social mobility is there?
What would it take for a person born in the lower class to advance to the middle class or beyond?
How much resistance is there to social mobility?
What things are considered luxuries?
Are certain goods reserved for high-status individuals?
What do this culture's people generally look like?
Who would stand out in a crowd?
How do people cope with various disasters (i.e., fire, flood, volcanic eruption, plague)?
How early do urban residents get up in the morning?
Rural dwellers?
What kinds of people are likely to face prejudice in this culture?
Is this discrimination institutionalized or is it more a matter of public attitude?
How often do people bathe?
How often do they wash their hair?
How often do they clean their teeth?
Are there certain rituals or expectations around hygiene?
Is shaving the face or body expected or restricted? Does it depend on gender, age, or social status?
Diet
What foods are staples and commonly eaten every day?
What foods are considered "peasant" food?
What foods are rare?
What foods are normally cooked and which are eaten raw?
What is the food like (i.e., dominant flavors, textures, variety)?
What foods and drinks are associated with particular holidays, events, or times of the year?
How many meals are considered normal in a day?
When are meals served?
Which meals are substantial, and which are light?
Are certain foods reserved mainly for a particular meal?
What dishes would be considered typical in the various areas?
What wines or beers are thought of as typical for various regions?
Is there a safe supply of drinking water?
Do people (including children) drink ale, beer, or tea exclusively?
Which herbs and spices are readily available, and which must be imported?
How common and expensive are imported foods and spices?
Do people tend to like highly spiced food?
How is food preserved for use during the off-season (smoking, freezing, canning, salting, pickling, drying, etc.)?
How reliable are the food preservation methods used?
How often do preserved foods spoil?
When food is limited in supply, who gets first dibs?
What things are never eaten? Why?
Are any classes of society artificially limited in what foods they may eat?
Do special circumstances (such as pregnancy) ever restrict diet?
Education
What is the literacy level in this culture?
Is literacy considered a useful or necessary skill for the average person?
What subjects are considered absolutely necessary knowledge for a courtier?
For a layperson?
For a member of the clergy?
Which areas of knowledge are nice but not necessary?
What areas of knowledge are considered embarrassing?
What areas of knowledge are restricted? Are any forbidden? Why?
How respected are teachers and scholars?
Are there anti-intellectual groups?
Ethics & Values
What will people swear a binding oath by?
Is it possible to get out of a binding oath?
What do people use as curse words?
When and why are curse words used?
What are the most desired and most valuable things in this society? Why?
Is there a sub-culture for whom non-material things are the most valuable? (i.e., information, time, spiritual enlightenment)
If these people value an immaterial thing, how did they get that way?
What kind of ideal life do people of this culture aspire to?
What kinds of people are the rebels, outcasts, and misfits of this society?
How does society perceive them?
Who are the arbiters of ethics (as opposed to law)?
How did they become the arbiters?
Taboos & Faux Pas
What is considered to be normal and acceptable in this society that might be considered abnormal or unacceptable by ours?
What is considered shocking in this society?
What are the reactions of ordinary people when someone does something shocking?
What are the acceptable limits to honor or honesty in society?
Are white lies socially acceptable? Expected?
What are general attitudes towards the ownership of material goods?
What are the most controversial subjects in this culture?
What topics will easily start a friendly argument in any bar?
What topics will automatically start an unfriendly argument?
What are the social taboos?
What topics are simply "not done"?
What topics are never talked about?
What topics or actions cause embarrassment or discomfort?
What would happen if someone did one of these socially unacceptable acts?
What are considered to be faux pas?
What are the biggest social faux pas?
Marriage & Family
What are this culture's mores regarding courtship, marriage, and family?
Is marriage primarily a civil or a religious institution?
Are marriages solely between two people, or can multiple people marry each other?
Why are people usually married?
Are marriages arranged or matched, or can couples marry for their own reasons?
Is there any situation which could force a couple to marry (i.e. pregnancy)?
Are couples expected to produce children?
How many? How many is considered "too many"?
If they are expected to and cannot, are they viewed with pity or suspicion?
Are there legal birth control methods? How effective are they?
Are abortions legal? What form do they take? (i.e., surgical, chemical, magical)
Does one or both sides of the marriage have to pay a dowry or marriage price?
Does the resulting couple reside on their own, or with one of their sets of parents?
How many generations are generally found living together? (i.e., grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, etc.)
Parenthood & Childhood
What responsibilities are expected of children to their parents?
When are children expected to fulfill these responsibilities?
What responsibilities are expected of parents to their children?
When do these responsibilities end, if ever?
How are children named? Do they retain the same name into adulthood?
What are some typical childhood activities (i.e., climbing trees, playing with dolls, etc.)?
Are these activities gendered in any way?
Are there penalties for participating in the "wrong" activities for one's gender?
How are children viewed in this culture at large?
Are they small adults, and expected to behave like adults?
Are they raised solely by their parents, or by the community at large?
Can anyone discipline a misbehaving child, or only their parents?
If a parent is considered unfit, what recourse do children have?
What would cause a parent to be considered unfit?
Who decides what is done with their children?
How is bullying viewed in this culture?
Is bullying based on gender norms, class, disability, neurodivergence, or is it more personal?
Is it ever appropriate for children to bully each other?
Does bullying ever go too far? If so, how so?
When are adults expected to step in to prevent further bullying, if ever?
When is sexuality explained to children, if ever?
When is considered a "normal" age to experiment, if any? (When in doubt, what is considered too early?)
Is birth control available for children who want to experiment?
Are traits like sexual preference and gender identity honored in childhood, or seen as a phase?
When do people come of age?
Does the age differ based on gender?
Is there a coming of age ritual?
Do these rituals differ based on gender?
Are newly-minted adults expected to decide their lives immediately, are they allowed to explore, or have they already done that exploring back in childhood? (i.e., apprenticeships, marriage, continued education, gap year, etc.)
Gender & Sexuality
What are this culture's mores regarding romance, love, and sexuality?
Does romance lead to marriage, marriage lead to romance, or do the two have little to do with one another? (for an example of these attitudes, see this video)
Is sex supposed to be only for procreation?
How is homosexuality viewed?
Bisexuality?
Asexuality?
Aromanticism?
Can people who are unmarried socialize freely?
Can they maintain friendships with their preferred gender? (video)
If they cannot socialize freely, are they required to have a chaperone present?
Who can qualify as a chaperone?
If homosexuality is approved, how common is it?
Do homosexual partners have expected "roles"? (i.e., butch/femme, bear/twink)
How common are they in actual relationships?
Are sexual partners expected to be monogamous?
If so, what constitutes cheating?
Can sexual partnerships be temporary?
Can sexual partnerships form without romance?
How are people who engage in these partnerships viewed?
What are this culture's mores regarding gender and gender expression?
What are the standards of beauty for men?
Do these standards differ based on sexual partners (gay vs. straight)?
What are the standards of beauty for women?
Do these standards differ based on sexual partners (gay vs. straight)?
Are there other genders, and if so, what are the standards for their beauty?
Can one gender transition into another?
Is this transition surgical, chemical, magical, and/or social?
Is there an approved way to transition?
Is there an unapproved way to transition?
Are transitioned individuals accepted as their new gender, or forever held apart?
How are intersex persons viewed?
Are they modified as infants to conform to one gender expression?
Are there performed gender expressions that differ from an individual's daily life (drag)?
Are there gender expressions that mimic the beauty standards of other genders (butch)?
Economics
What are people's attitudes towards money? (see video)
If this is a country or culture that doesn't utilize money, how do they feel about trade more generally?
What are people's attitudes towards wealth? (Obviously these will differ based on an individual's class, but what's the general attitude?)
What are people's attitudes towards poverty?
What are people's attitudes towards charity?
Do different genders have different relationships with money? (i.e., women being unable to own property, men being expected to work outside the home, etc.)
What is something that is improper to purchase with money?
Is money an acceptable gift? For anyone? For specific people?
Who is expected to work, and by what age?
If someone does not work, how are they viewed by this culture?
Is there a gendered difference in work expectations?
Is this culture known for any particular type of business or trade?
Disability, Aging, & DeathDisability
Who qualifies as disabled in this culture?
Are there any provisions made for disabled people:
How are people with genetic disabilities (i.e., Down's Syndrome, blind/deaf) treated in this culture?
What are some of the most common genetic disabilities?
How are people with acquired disabilities (i.e., permanent accident-related injury) treated?
How are people with mental disabilities (i.e., autism, dyslexia, schizophrenia) treated?
What are some of the most common mental disabilities?
How are people with temporary disabilities (i.e., pregnancy, temporary accident-related injury) treated?
Are children with permanent disabilities raised any differently than "normal" children? (Or are they raised at all?)
Is there powerful enough healing magic to regrow limbs, restore sight/hearing?
How does this affect the disabled community?
Does it cost a lot of money or require specific services? (i.e., the healed person has to serve the healer for a period of time)
Aging
How are older people viewed in this culture?
How old is "old"? (i.e., in some places, 50 is "old", elsewhere, it's more like 70)
Do older people have a unique role in this culture?
Does this role come with privileges or is there stigma associated with it?
Are elders expected to live with their extended families, who care for them until they die? Or do they gather in commune-like groups and care for one another?
How much resistance is there to being seen as "old"?
How common are age-related mental disorders, such as dementia or Alzheimer's?
How are elders expected to handle death? (i.e., wills, "death cleaning", confessions)
Death
What is this culture's attitude towards death? Is it a normal fact of life, or a tragedy?
Does this attitude change depending on who has died?
How common is infant mortality?
How common are fatal accidents, and what are they most commonly related to?
How common is suicide?
What are this culture's attitudes toward suicide?
Is assisted suicide legal? If so, how common is it?
Are there any other cultures that have fought, been allies, traded, or traditionally been rivals with this culture?
Where are such old events still important or still causing hard feelings?
Which cultures have been in conflict or have allied in the recent past and why?
How far back are there records or tales of historical events relevant to this culture?
How widely known are these stories?
Do average people believe the old tales, or do they dismiss them out of hand?
How important is this culture's history to average people within it?
How important is this information to outsiders?
Which people are considered the most and least civilized by this culture?
What is considered a mark of civilization?
Where is this culture's heritage site located, and what is its nature? (i.e., site of a battle, location of a famous speech, an out of place land formation with stories wrapped up in it)
Is this site destroyed or able to be destroyed?
If it has already been destroyed, how has this impacted the culture?
If it can be destroyed, how would this impact the culture?
Is there more than one heritage site? (If so, repeat the above set of questions for each site.)
Do all members of this culture speak the same language?
Do they all use the same script?
How common is literacy in this culture? Does it differ based on class?
Are dictionaries, thesauri, and other reference books available?
Are some or all people bilingual?
Is there a common second language many people know?
What are the variations in speech patterns, syntax, and slang from one social class to another?
Are there variations in speech patterns from one occupation to another?
Are there regional variations in speech?
What areas do local slang phrases come from?
What kinds of colorful turns of phrase do people use?
What do the people in this culture consider important enough to name?
What do people use as curse words?
How many languages are there within this culture?
Which languages are the most widely spoken?
Are there different languages for different races?
How close do people stand to one another when speaking?
Does personal space differ from place to place?
How do people with different ideas of personal space react to one another?
Specialized Languages
Are there words, phrases, or whole languages that are exclusive to specific classes or professions (i.e., legalese, technical jargon)?
How closely guarded is this knowledge?
Is there a trade language that facilitates commerce between countries that don’t speak the same language?
Is there a universal language spoken by educated or noble persons?
Is there a liturgical language?
What language are religious documents kept in?
Are there secret languages or codes known only by priests, soldiers, guild members?
If there are secret languages, why were they developed?
Are specialized languages fully functional (they can express anything one could normally express in language) or are they limited to a certain scope?
Is there a special language needed in order to talk with dragons or other creatures?
Do mages have a special language that is used for magic?
If magic is its own language, where do practitioners learn it?
Is it safe to chat in the language of magic?
Gestures
Are the gestures and body language in this culture generally subtle or overt?
Do people talk with their hands, or is that considered vulgar?
What gestures are insulting?
What do the insulting gestures mean?
Do some gestures differ in meaning depending on the audience or season?
How do overall gestures and body language differ between neighboring cultures?
Are there gestures that don't matter in one culture that are mortal insults in another?
What are the different ways of showing respect to another?
To whom is one expected to show respect?
How close are conversations expected to be held?
Are certain rituals performed when meeting someone? When leaving them? (i.e., kissing both cheeks, shaking hands, waving)
Manners
What are the rules of precedence in this culture?
Who gets to go through doors first?
Who gets introduced first in a social setting?
Do these rules differ in a formal setting?
Is there a distinction between formal good manners and informal, everyday manners?
When and where are people expected to be on their best behavior?
How important are good manners in this culture?
How do people react when someone has just been, by their standards, rude?
Are people shocked when an outsider learns their culture's manners?
Are they generally patronizing, condescending, or supportive?
Dining
Who dines together and who always dines separately?
Do men and women, parents and children, servants and masters eat together?
How is social status displayed at the table?
Are special dining customs observed on certain holidays or for certain events?
What distinguishes a formal or high-court dinner from an ordinary meal, besides quantity and variety of food?
How do formal table manners differ from everyday ones?
What eating utensils are used, if any?
Have utensils developed in the culture or been imported?
Does a typical upper-class meal have courses, and if so, in what order?
What shape are tables and eating areas?
Where is the place of honor for a guest?
Where do important members of the household sit?
Are special arrangements necessary for entertaining guests of different stations or cultures?
Greetings
How do people greet one another and how did this greeting originate?
Is there a special "I am not armed" gesture for mages or others with dangerous abilities?
Is there a difference between the greeting offered to an equal and that offered to a superior or inferior?
Are there different greetings offered to men or women?
Is there a way of changing a greeting gesture to make it insulting?
When meeting someone for the first time, how are they greeted?
Does this greeting differ if one already knows the person?
If you see someone you know on the far side of the street, how do you acknowledge them?
How are two people who have not met before introduced to one another?
What is the order of precedence when there are several people of differing sex, social status, or race present who must all be introduced to one another?
Are there people or beings who are never introduced to one another?
Are true names significant, and if so, under what circumstances would a person be told another's true name?
Are there customs involving the way in which someone is named when being introduced?
Visiting
Are there topics that can only be raised by the host?
By the guest?
Are there questions that must be asked or avoided by the host?
By the guest?
How seriously does the culture take the responsibilities of host and guest?
What rules define when someone becomes a host or guest?
What things are considered courteous to offer a guest (i.e., food, reading material, personal guards, attendants, entertainment)?
What is considered a courteous response to a host's offerings?
Are there things offered that are considered rude to accept?
Rude to refuse?
Rude to ask for?
When a guest arrives, is food or drink offered immediately, after an interval, or only on request?
Is there a particular food or drink that it is customary to offer a newly arrived guest?
Is there a traditional food or drink given to a guest who is departing?
How do the different customs of nearby cultures interact and conflict?
Religion & Philosophy
Do people pick one or more gods to worship and ignore the others, or do most people pray to whomever is most likely to grant results in their situation?
How do people decide which god to worship or which temple to be affiliated with? Is it even a decision or mandated by the culture?
What part does religion and philosophy play in public and private life?
Are philosophers and theologians considered academics?
How much influence do the theories of philosophers and theologians have on the way people actually behave?
Are priests or philosophers full-time occupations, or do they need day jobs?
If they are full-time, who supports them?
Are there actual gods or god-like beings? May be more of a world-building question.
If so, do they take an active role in the religions that worship them?
Do they take an active role in the lives of everyday people? If so, why?
If there are actual, demonstrable gods, what part does faith play in their worship?
Do people generally think of the temples and churches as parasites, or as useful parts of society?
What role, if any, does the church play in...
Social spaces?
Entertainment?
Life-defining rituals (i.e., coming of age, marriage, birth, death)?
Charity and philanthropy?
Trade?
Disadvantaged people (i.e., orphans, those with disabilities, the poor)?
Social Organization
This is internal to the culture ONLY.
Is there a hierarchical status within this culture?
If so, how did it come about and why does it persist?
Is it formalized, codified in law, or simply social in nature?
If not, how did this come to be and how is it maintained?
Is this state codified in law or limited to the social sphere?
What are the easiest and most common ways to advance in status?
Can one attain higher status by...
Amassing more money?
Marrying well?
Getting the leader's favor?
How much resistance is there to someone advancing in social status?
What are the various ranks and titles and proper forms of address for the aristocracy and nobility?
What is the proper means to addressing peers, social betters, or social inferiors?
Which occupations are the most respected? Why?
(See The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Jobs, Vocations, & Careers by Angela Ackerman, Becca Puglisi for more ideas.)
Which professions are the most looked down upon? Why?
How many levels are there in this society (i.e., caste system)?
How firm are the divisions between the levels of society?
Is it possible to move between the levels of society?
How difficult is it to rise or fall from one social level to another?
How much social mobility is there?
How much social mobility do people think there is?
Time
Is there a single, generally accepted calendar or do different countries, peoples, or races have different methods of measuring time?
If there are different methods, how do these different cultures communicate time?
How is the day divided into smaller time units?
What are the divisions of time?
Are the names of the time divisions relevant to anything?
Is the length of an hour fixed, or does it vary depending on the length of the day as the seasons change?
How do people tell what time it is?
What are the names of the months, and how many days are there in each?
How many days in a week? Months in a year?
Are there leap years?
Who keeps track of the calendar?
Who could make adjustments to the calendar, if necessary?
Which days are holidays or festival times?
What do the holidays and festivals celebrate?
Are there holidays that are only celebrated in particular countries, cities, or regions?
What events do people use to date years?
Are these events single occurrences (the creation of the world, the end of a war, the unification of the nation, the birth of a god)?
Are these events dated based on arbitrary things such as a king's reign, or a dynasty's years in power?
Are there any days that are considered to be "outside the year"?