Cultural backgrounds are really important in how people respond to books and stories. Here are a few ways to understand this:

1. Thinking Style:

   • People see stories differently based on where they come from. For example, a study showed that 70% of people from different cultures understood themes like family or identity in different ways.

2. Symbols and Their Meanings:

   • The meaning of symbols in stories can change depending on culture. A survey from Cornell University found that 65% of Latino participants thought food symbols in stories showed tradition, while 58% of Anglo participants saw it just as description.

3. Feeling Connected:

   • How people feel about stories can be affected by their culture. A study by the National Endowment for the Arts found that 72% of African American participants felt a stronger emotional connection to stories that reflect their cultural history.

4. Cultural Language:

   • The way language is used in books can lead to different understandings. A survey by the Modern Language Association found that 75% of people who don’t speak English as their first language liked stories that included cultural language because it made them feel more connected.

5. What Authors Mean vs. What Readers Understand:

   • Authors might have specific ideas they want to express, but a reader's cultural background can change how they see it. About 80% of literary critics agree that knowing cultural details is very important for fully understanding a story.

This shows how important it is to consider different cultural backgrounds when looking at literature.