Chapter 4 Folk and Popular Culture Lecture - legacyjr.net

Chapter 4: Folk andPopular CultureThe Cultural Landscape:An Introduction to Human Geography© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Culture• The combination of three things:– Values– Material artifacts– Political institutions• This chapter deals with material artifacts© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Material Culture• Two basic categories: folk and popularculture– Folk culture• Traditionally practiced by small, isolated, homogeneousgroups in rural areas– Popular culture• Characterized by large, heterogeneous groups of peoplewho share common habits despite differences in otherpersonal characteristics– Geographers are interested in two aspects ofculture:• Where cultures are located in space• How cultures interact with the environment© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Where Do Cultures Originate and Diffuse?• Origin of folk and popular cultures– Folk culture = hearth area; originators are usuallyunknown– Popular culture = hearth area comes from moredeveloped countries (MDCs)• People in MDCs have disposable income and leisuretime that allow for these innovations© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Popular Music MapFigure 4-2© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Where Do Cultures Originate and Diffuse?• Diffusion of folk and popular culture– Folk culture diffuses slowly, primarilythrough migration, and at a small scale• Example: Diffusion of Amish culture– Popular culture diffuses rapidly, viahierarchical diffusion, and over a largescale• Example: Sports© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Distribution of AmishThe movement of theAmish is based upon theconcept of handing downa farm to each of thesons. As farm land getsmore expensive inPennsylvania, the Amishare moving to where landis cheaper, thusspreading Amish culture.Figure 4-4© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Iroquois LacrosseThe story of the Iroquois Nation ( a group of six Native Americantribes) playing as a Nation equal in status with Canada or theU.S. in LacrosseFigureis4-5an example of a minority or Folk group findingacceptance or at least equality on the sports field.© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Why Is Folk Culture Clustered?• Influence of the physical environment– Folk culture = close connection to theenvironment• Most folk cultures are rural and agricultural– Clothing is often tied to environmental conditions» Example: Wooden clogs in the Netherlands• Folk cultures can ignore environmentalconditions© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.Designed to keep theirexpensive leather shoes outof the mud and muck.

Why Is Folk Culture Clustered?• Influence of the physicalenvironment– Food preferences and theenvironment• Food preferences are adapted to theenvironment– Example: In Asia, rice is grown in milder,wetter environments whereas wheat isgrown in colder, drier environments• Food taboos may be especially strong– People avoid certain foods because ofnegative associations with that food• Terroir = the sum effects of the localenvironment on a particular food item© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Istanbul Vegetable GardenWhat particular part of thediet is this illustration ofIstanbul, Turkey show is ofparticular concern?Figure 4-6© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Swine StockHalf of the World’sSwine Stock are inChina!Figure 4-8© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Why Is Folk Culture Clustered?• Influence of the physicalenvironment– Folk housing and theenvironment• Housing = a reflection of culturalheritage, current fashion, function,and the physical environment• Two most common buildingmaterials = wood and brick• Minor differences in theenvironment can produce verydifferent house styles© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

House Types in Four WesternChinese CommunitiesEach housing type is influencedby cultural as well asenvironmental conditions.Figure 4-9© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Why Is Folk Culture Clustered?• Isolation promotescultural diversity– Examples:• Himalayan art• Beliefs and folk house forms– Sacred spaces– U.S. folk housing© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Hearths of House TypesFigure 4-12© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Why Is Popular Culture Widely Distributed?40’s60’s50’s70’s• Diffusion of popular housing,clothing, and food– Popular culture varies more intime than place• Food customs: consumption oflarge quantities of snack foodsand alcohol• Clothing styles: reflectoccupation rather thanenvironment• Housing: reflects fashion trendssince the 1940s in the UnitedStates© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Canadian WhiskyConsumption of CanadianWhiskey and TequilaMexican TequilaFigure 4-14© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

U.S. House Types (1945–1990)Figure 4-16© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Why Is Popular Culture Widely Distributed?• Electronic diffusion ofpopular culture– Watching television• The most popular leisureactivity in MDCs• Diffusion from the United Statesto the rest of the world = 50years– The Internet• Diffusion from the United Statesto the rest of the world = 10years© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diffusion of TVFigure 4-18© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Diffusion of FacebookFigure 4-21© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Why Does Popular Culture CauseProblems?• Threats to folk culture– Loss of traditional values– Media imperialism– Satellites• Limit to government control of information© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Why Does Popular Culture CauseProblems?• Environmental impact of popular culture– Modifying nature• Golf courses• Uniform landscapes– Negative impacts• Increased demand for natural resources• Pollution© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Golf CoursesFigure 4-24© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

The End.Up next: Language© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.