Folk and Popular CultureFolk and Popular Culture

World GeographyWorld Geography

Cultural LandscapeCultural LandscapeCarl Sauer was a geographer who changed the Carl Sauer was a geographer who changed the way geography is studied. way geography is studied.

He looked at the effects of people on the He looked at the effects of people on the landscape and the landscape on people. landscape and the landscape on people.

In other words, the cultural landscape is the way In other words, the cultural landscape is the way the land looks after people have lived on it the land looks after people have lived on it

(aka: built environment). (aka: built environment).

The landscape still influences what humans do to The landscape still influences what humans do to it because the resources they use come from the it because the resources they use come from the local environment and influence the buildings, local environment and influence the buildings, roads and other structures that humans create.roads and other structures that humans create.

Influence of the Physical WorldInfluence of the Physical World

climateclimate clothing clothing

vegetation vegetation Influence Influence foodfood

landscapelandscape sports sports

Environmental Environmental DeterminismDeterminism

The local The local environment environment WILL determine WILL determine local culturelocal culture

People in warm climates People in warm climates are friendlier than are friendlier than people who live in cold people who live in cold climatesclimates

Theories of Influence on EnvironmentTheories of Influence on Environment Possibilism

The local environment MIGHT influence local culture

The absence of Mountains and snow make it unlikely that skiing will become popular in Southern Arizona

Cultural Determinism

Humans WILL overcome the restrictions of the local environment through the use of technology.

Irrigation systems and hybrid grasses allow golf courses in St. George, Ut. and Arizona

More Key TermsMore Key Terms

Cultural TraitCultural Trait: a single attribute of culture : a single attribute of culture (bowing or shaking hands)(bowing or shaking hands)

Culture ComplexCulture Complex: the combination of all cultural : the combination of all cultural traits. (All things from samurai, to sumo to sushi traits. (All things from samurai, to sumo to sushi make up Japan’s cultural complex)make up Japan’s cultural complex)

Culture SystemCulture System: Incorporate variations in : Incorporate variations in cultural traits (southern accent vs. northeast cultural traits (southern accent vs. northeast accent) while recognizing similarities. Think of accent) while recognizing similarities. Think of perceptual/vernacular regions.perceptual/vernacular regions.

9 Nations of North America9 Nations of North America

World Geographic RealmsWorld Geographic Realms

Folk CultureFolk Culture

All culture starts All culture starts on a local on a local scale and scale and spreads. spreads.

Folk Culture is Folk Culture is local, specific local, specific and uniqueand unique

In Latin and German the word “folk” means people. As in the customs, music and dressof the common people. The livesof common people were, and many times still are, tied to the land. For example, it was common forpeople who lived in the desert towear turbans and robes to keep sand out of their hair and away their skin.

Folk Music and DanceFolk Music and DanceFolk music uses instruments that come from the unique materials that are found within an environment (biosphere). They are, therefore, usually acoustic.

The lyrics in folk songs address themes and reinforce values that are important to the the people of the local culture. There is often an element of story, that will teach the young what is important in a way thatis easy to remember.

Folk dances were created to go along with the rhythm and beat that these instruments produced

FoodFood

If people were limited to eat what grows in the If people were limited to eat what grows in the local environment, then it stands to reason that local environment, then it stands to reason that food and beverage is closely associated with food and beverage is closely associated with culture. culture.

baklava curry octopus, shrimp and clams

Food and Physical FeaturesFood and Physical Features

Terroir is a French term that explains how the Terroir is a French term that explains how the distinct physical features of a place give it’s food distinct physical features of a place give it’s food a unique flavor. Conniseurs of alcoholic a unique flavor. Conniseurs of alcoholic beverages are especially aware of terroir. beverages are especially aware of terroir.

Grapes=wineGrapes=wine rice=sakerice=sake

Barley & hopps=beerBarley & hopps=beer molasses=rummolasses=rum

Blue agave=tequillaBlue agave=tequilla corn=whiskeycorn=whiskey

Potatoes=vodkaPotatoes=vodka

Food Attractions & TaboosFood Attractions & Taboos

AttractionsAttractions

Eat jaguar, become a fierce warriorEat jaguar, become a fierce warrior

Eat mandrake, become a great loverEat mandrake, become a great loverTaboos Jews and Muslims don’t eat pork because the pig is sedentary whereas Hebrews were nomadic. Pigs also compete with humans for resources but can’t pull a plow. Hindus have a particular aversion for beef . Oxen (castrated male cows) are used to plow fields and pull carts. The monsoon rains in India require that all fields are plowed at a certain time of year. India has lots of people, requiring lots of fields, therefore, requiring a large supply of cattle.

HousingHousing

Housing often reflect the Housing often reflect the nature of the local nature of the local environment.environment.

HearthsHearths

A hearth is a place where important cultural A hearth is a place where important cultural traits began. traits began.

Notable Cultural ContributionsNotable Cultural Contributions

Wei Huang (China)- accupuncture, daoism, gunpowder, porcelain Wei Huang (China)- accupuncture, daoism, gunpowder, porcelain

Mesopotamia- Judaism, Christianity, Islam, arabic numbers, farming, reading Mesopotamia- Judaism, Christianity, Islam, arabic numbers, farming, reading and writing, chemistry, astronomyand writing, chemistry, astronomy

Mesoamerica (Mexico/Cenrtal America)- zero, Mayan calendarMesoamerica (Mexico/Cenrtal America)- zero, Mayan calendar

Indus/Ganges (India)-yoga, Buddhism, Hinduism, karma, textilesIndus/Ganges (India)-yoga, Buddhism, Hinduism, karma, textiles

Nile (Egypt)-astronomy, architecture, make-upNile (Egypt)-astronomy, architecture, make-up

Andean America- (S. America)- Llama/Alpaca, Andean America- (S. America)- Llama/Alpaca,

West Africa-yams, grains, goldWest Africa-yams, grains, gold

Relocation DiffusionRelocation DiffusionCultural Traits are adopted when people move from one part of the world to another.

Places that have a lot of migration will be influenced by the people that move there.

Folk culture spreads mainly through location

Migrant DiffusionMigrant Diffusion

Migrant diffusion Is a type of relocation Migrant diffusion Is a type of relocation diffusion where the innovation spreads and lasts diffusion where the innovation spreads and lasts only a brief time in the newly adopting place. It only a brief time in the newly adopting place. It then moves to another place where the then moves to another place where the phenomena peaks.phenomena peaks.

The fluThe flu

The excitement surrounding a concert or The excitement surrounding a concert or carnival. carnival.

Hierachical DiffusionHierachical DiffusionIdeas/things are incorporated into the fabric of Ideas/things are incorporated into the fabric of

society because they are mandated by a society because they are mandated by a government or other authority.government or other authority.

Cultural ConvergenceCultural Convergence

Cultural convergenceCultural convergence is when cultures or aspects is when cultures or aspects of culture are adopted by a group of people of culture are adopted by a group of people who live away from it’s hearth. Whether the who live away from it’s hearth. Whether the culture is adopted because it was forced culture is adopted because it was forced (hierarchical) or because it is practical, when (hierarchical) or because it is practical, when culture extends beyond the bounds of its native culture extends beyond the bounds of its native environment, it is considered to be “popular.”environment, it is considered to be “popular.”

Cultural AdoptionCultural AdoptionAccultrationAccultration is when a “weaker” culture adopts traits is when a “weaker” culture adopts traits from a dominant culture. from a dominant culture.

Often when people migrate to another country, the Often when people migrate to another country, the immigrant will adopt aspects of the new culture and add immigrant will adopt aspects of the new culture and add the new trait to the traits of their home culture.the new trait to the traits of their home culture.

AssimilationAssimilation: : Sometimes, the second or third Sometimes, the second or third generation most aspects of the home culture are lost and generation most aspects of the home culture are lost and cultural traits of the dominant culture are assimilated.cultural traits of the dominant culture are assimilated.

Trans-cultration: Trans-cultration: Two cultures that have equal Two cultures that have equal influence on each other with out the same effects influence on each other with out the same effects of accultration or assimilation. of accultration or assimilation.

Popular CulturePopular Culture

In order for culture to be appealing to large In order for culture to be appealing to large numbers of people, it must drop many of the numbers of people, it must drop many of the unique characteristics that don’t make sense to unique characteristics that don’t make sense to people outside of the original hearth. people outside of the original hearth.

Popular culture is therefore broad, general or Popular culture is therefore broad, general or heterogenous. heterogenous.

Popular Housing StylesPopular Housing Styles

Cultural AdoptionCultural Adoption

S CURVES CURVE late adopters late adopters

majority adoptersmajority adopters

early adopters early adopters

From Local to Global: Work From Local to Global: Work Clothing to Popular ClothingClothing to Popular Clothing

Most popular clothing styles and brands had practical Most popular clothing styles and brands had practical beginnings. beginnings.

Blue Jeans were invented by a merchant in San Blue Jeans were invented by a merchant in San Francisco named Levi Strauss. Francisco named Levi Strauss.

Miners in the area kept wearing out or tearing their Miners in the area kept wearing out or tearing their pants. pants.

He used a heavier, canvas like, material called denim He used a heavier, canvas like, material called denim and used copper rivets to reinforce the pockets. and used copper rivets to reinforce the pockets. These pants became popular, not only among miners These pants became popular, not only among miners but among many manual laborers who needed but among many manual laborers who needed durable pants. durable pants.

In the late 1960’s, middle class teenagers seeking their In the late 1960’s, middle class teenagers seeking their own identity, defied their parents by wearing Levi’s. own identity, defied their parents by wearing Levi’s. To make things worse, instead of wearing them up To make things worse, instead of wearing them up around the belly button, as was proper, they wore around the belly button, as was proper, they wore them around their hips. Thus, came the term them around their hips. Thus, came the term “hippie” to describe these rebels of society.“hippie” to describe these rebels of society.

Origins of Popular ClothingOrigins of Popular ClothingBlue Jeans------MinersBlue Jeans------Miners

Carpenter Pants--CarpentersCarpenter Pants--Carpenters

Painter Pants--- PaintersPainter Pants--- Painters

Quicksilver-----surfersQuicksilver-----surfers

Vans------------skateboardersVans------------skateboarders

Dickies---------manual laborersDickies---------manual laborers

Popular MusicPopular Music

..

Rock and Roll was influenced Rock and Roll was influenced by blues, jazz and folk by blues, jazz and folk music. The invention of the music. The invention of the electric guitar gave rock electric guitar gave rock music it’s distinct sound. music it’s distinct sound. Over the years different Over the years different bands stretched the limits bands stretched the limits of the genre to include new of the genre to include new themes and instruments. themes and instruments.

Of all it’s changes, one theme Of all it’s changes, one theme still dominates the majority still dominates the majority of songs. That theme is of songs. That theme is LOVELOVE

Rolling Stone Magazine’s Top Ten Rolling Stone Magazine’s Top Ten Influential ArtistsInfluential Artists

1.1. The BeatlesThe Beatles

2.2. Bob DylanBob Dylan

3.3. Elvis PresleyElvis Presley

4.4. The Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones

5.5. Chuck BerryChuck Berry

6.6. Jimi HendrixJimi Hendrix

7.7. James BrownJames Brown

8.8. Little RichardLittle Richard

9.9. Aretha FranklinAretha Franklin

10.10. Ray CharlesRay Charles

Origins of Popular Music: RapOrigins of Popular Music: Rap

Rap and hip hop can trace it’s influence back to Rap and hip hop can trace it’s influence back to West Africa. The rhythm and beats come from West Africa. The rhythm and beats come from the drum, an instrument native to Africa.the drum, an instrument native to Africa.

Rap and hip hop took their current form from the Rap and hip hop took their current form from the funk and soul music played at block parties in funk and soul music played at block parties in the Bronx. A Jamaican DJ by the name of DJ the Bronx. A Jamaican DJ by the name of DJ Kool Herc who started to isolate the percussion Kool Herc who started to isolate the percussion breaks and talk (rap) over the instrumental parts breaks and talk (rap) over the instrumental parts of the music. As this trend continued, DJ’s of the music. As this trend continued, DJ’s began to include new elements like using two began to include new elements like using two turntables (scratching). turntables (scratching).

While the themes of rap music are unique to urban While the themes of rap music are unique to urban environments, the ideas of resistance to environments, the ideas of resistance to authority, violence and sex are themes that authority, violence and sex are themes that appeal to many teenagers who are seeking a appeal to many teenagers who are seeking a separate identity from their parents.separate identity from their parents.

Stimulus diffusion Stimulus diffusion explains how new explains how new elements are born out elements are born out of some other original of some other original idea. idea.

Rap and hip hop led to Rap and hip hop led to a sub-culture that a sub-culture that included clothing, included clothing, dance and graffiti. dance and graffiti.

Stimulus Diffusion and RapStimulus Diffusion and Rap

Sports and Environmental Sports and Environmental FactorsFactors

Some sports are heavily influenced Some sports are heavily influenced by the local environment. Sports by the local environment. Sports such as hockey and skiing that such as hockey and skiing that rely on cold climates and rely on cold climates and mountain landscapes are limited mountain landscapes are limited as to where they can spread. as to where they can spread.

Sports that require a lot of Sports that require a lot of expensive equipment (polo, expensive equipment (polo, American football) will find it American football) will find it difficult to become popular difficult to become popular among poorer classes. (80% of among poorer classes. (80% of the world is poor)the world is poor)

Soccer, Basketball and Baseball Soccer, Basketball and Baseball Global SportsGlobal Sports

Soccer, basketball and baseball don’t require Soccer, basketball and baseball don’t require expensive equipment and can be played almost expensive equipment and can be played almost anywhere. These sports have spread to nearly all anywhere. These sports have spread to nearly all countries of the world. countries of the world.

Contagious Diffusion=Globalization=Popular CultureContagious Diffusion=Globalization=Popular Culture

Satellite and fiber-optic cables make possible, Satellite and fiber-optic cables make possible, instant communication via TV, internet and instant communication via TV, internet and telephone. telephone.

This allows cultural ideas to spread much more This allows cultural ideas to spread much more quickly than ever before. Now, instead of a quickly than ever before. Now, instead of a cultural trait becoming popular in a country or cultural trait becoming popular in a country or throughout a world region, popular cultural traits throughout a world region, popular cultural traits become popular globally in a very short time. become popular globally in a very short time.

GlobalizationGlobalizationThe Up SideThe Up Side

The more connected a person The more connected a person is with the rest of the world, is with the rest of the world, the more tolerant they will be.the more tolerant they will be.

Globalization can preserve Globalization can preserve culture by connecting people culture by connecting people who live far apart, thereby who live far apart, thereby keeping their common culture keeping their common culture alive.alive.

Improved communication and Improved communication and transportation lower prices as transportation lower prices as corporations compete to cut corporations compete to cut costs and improve qualitycosts and improve quality

Globalization: Globalization: The Down SideThe Down Side

Popular culture often spreads at the expense of local/folk culture. Many people are afraid that the spread of American material culture will erode local cultural values.Multi-National Corporations are becoming so powerful that they can dictate working conditions and influence governments.Whether it is through the media or via an MNC, many people see the spread of American culture as a form of cultural imperialism

Cultural Cultural DivergenceDivergence

Governments and organizations Governments and organizations often feel threatened by the often feel threatened by the influence of ideas that will challenge influence of ideas that will challenge their authority. their authority.

They will often use the following They will often use the following methods to resist unwanted methods to resist unwanted influences. influences.

1. Strike back against the perceived threat (terrorism).2. Limit the ability to access information (China’s state control of media).3. Limit the ability to travel (Berlin Wall/Iron Curtain).4. Create propaganda to spread false information against the perceived enemy and paint a positive image of the government or organization.