Chapter 4

1. Chapter 4 An Introduction to Human Geography The Cultural Landscape, 8e James M. Rubenstein Folk and Popular Culture PPT by Abe Goldman

2. What is culture? • From the Latin word, cultus, which means “to care for” which implies: • “to take care of” (cultivate)… material wealth including food, clothing, shelter, expressions of art, history and folklore • “to care about” (cult)… customary ideas, beliefs, communication, attitudes, perceptions and values derived from language, religion and ethnicity • The body of customary beliefs, material traits and social forms that together constitute the distinct tradition of a group of people

3. Culture is like an iceberg LANGUAGE HOLIDAYS ARTS HISTORY FOODS FOLKLORE COMMUNICATIONS BELIEFS ATTITUDES VALUES PERCEPTIONS

4. CULTURE CONFLICT? • Often occurs because of violation of an unspoken and unseen culture norm of the group • Some aspects of culture are not readily perceived by those outside the culture group

5. Origins and Diffusion of Folk and Popular Cultures • Origin of folk and popular cultures FOLK – often anonymous hearths on unknown dates and originators POPULAR – most often hierarchical diffusion from MDCs to the globe, product of technology and leisure time • Origin of folk music • Composed anonymously and transmitted orally • Content: derived from daily life, tells a story • Origin of popular music • Commercial endeavor, mass produced • Developed in NYC (Tin Pan Alley), music halls • NYC South Bronx, hip hop since 1970s, 1980s to pop culture – elements of folk culture

6. Tin Pan Alley and Popular Music Fig. 4-2: Writers and publishers of popular music were clustered in Tin Pan Alley in New York City in the early twentieth century. The area later moved north from 28th Street to Times Square.

7. Origin of Country Music Fig. 4-1: U.S. country music has four main hearths, or regions of origin: southern Appalachia, central Tennessee and Kentucky, the Ozark-Ouachita uplands, and north-central Texas.

8. A Mental Map of Hip Hop Fig. 4-3: This mental map places major hip hop performers near other similar performers and in the portion of the country where they performed.

9. Origins and Diffusion of Folk and Popular Cultures • Diffusion of folk and popular cultures • Popular Culture – hierarchical diffusion – MDC nodes out • Folk Culture – relocation diffusion - people migration • The Amish: Relocation diffusion of folk culture • Maintain traditional lifestyle • Farm communities • ≈70,000 (.03% of US population) • 17 states (1 community in Sarasota) • Originated from Switzerland, France & Germany • To US/Canada: Pennsylvania 1700s; Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and Ontario 1800s • Need for land (son’s inherit) and urban sprawl adds to migration today

10. KEEPING IT SIMPLE

11. Origins and Diffusion of Folk and Popular Cultures • Diffusion of folk and popular cultures Can originate as folk culture activity • Sports: Hierarchical diffusion of popular culture • Folk Culture Origin of Soccer (football) • Earliest documented: England 11th century • Standardized rules in the 12th century • Banned late 12th century – legalized 1603 • Globalization of Soccer • Began 1800s with increased leisure time and disposable income • 1863 formal professional leagues formed… popular culture • Sports in Popular Culture • Each country has preferred sports

12. Clustering of Folk Cultures Buddists – China (Tibet) Paintings: Idealized divine figures (monks/saints) some bizarre or terrifying perhaps reflecting the harsh environ • Isolation promotes cultural diversity • Himalayan art • Art influences • Culture: daily routine and religious beliefs • Environment: climate, landforms & vegetation Muslims - Pakistan Paintings: plants and flowers Muslims prohibits display of animated objects Hindu - India Paintings: everyday life & deities in domestic scenes & the region’s violent climatic conditions Fig. 4-5: Cultural geographers have identified four distinct culture regions based on predominant religions in the Himalaya Mountains. Animists – Myanmar (Burma) SE Asia Paintings: symbols and designs based on belief systems

13. Clustering of Folk Cultures • Influence of the physical environment Food, clothing & shelter choices folk society adaptations often responsive to environ due to lower technology base Environment only one factor of culture development • Distinctive food preferences • Plants and animals • Cooking methods dependent on fuel supplies • A persons dress, manners and speech may alter due to migration or other culture influence but food habits often continue • Food choice or taboo based on perceived benefits or harm • Taboo – any restriction on behavior imposed by social custom

14. Hog Production and Food Cultures Fig. 4-6: Annual hog production is influenced by religious taboos against pork consumption in Islam and other religions. The highest production is in China, which is largely Buddhist.

15. Home Locations in Southeast Asia Fig. 4-7: Houses and sleeping positions are oriented according to local customs among the Lao in northern Laos (left) and the Yuan and Shan in northern Thailand (right).

16. House Types in Western China Fig. 4-8: Four communities in western China all have distinctive house types.

17. Diffusion of House Types in U.S. Fig. 4-9: Distinct house types originated in three main source areas in the U.S. and then diffused into the interior as migrants moved west.

18. Diffusion of New England House Types Fig. 4-10: Four main New England house types of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries diffused westward as settlers migrated.