Cultural Geography
Recent trends in Cultural GeographyBikash Das4th SemesterDept of
Geography & Disaster ManagementTripura
[email protected]
What is culture?Culture is The Sum of All Learned Behaviour of
People Reflected in The Way of Life.
Culture is a Latin word derived from Cultura mean cultivation.
This word first used by Roman orator Cicero.
Culture is integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief and
behavior that is both is a result of and integral to the human
capacity of learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding
generation.
Culture thus consists of language, ideas, beliefs, customs,
taboos, codes, institutions, tools, techniques, works of arts,
rituals, ceremonies and symbols. It has plays a crucial role in
human evolution.
Language, Ideas & Beliefs, Codes, Institutions, Tools &
Techniques,Works of Arts,Norms & Values Culture consists
of:
Culture consists of:Religion,Customs, Rituals &
Ceremonies,Symbols. Norms & ValuesTaboos,
Are you A taboo?Do you eat pork/beef?Have you ever kissed in
public?Should you have more than one wife or husband?Do you eat
with your left hand?Do you eat fertilized duck eggs?Do you wear
shoes in the house?Have you ever talked back to an adult?
Notes on CulturalLearned. The process of learning ones culture
is called enculturation. Culture is not merely passively absorbed,
but rather taught and learned by agentive individuals with
differing levels of power.Shared. Members of a particular society
have their culture in common.Patterned. People in a given society
live and think in distinctive and describable ways.
Mutually constructed. By means of constant and ongoing social
interaction, individuals create, recreate, and change the nature of
a particular culture.Symbolic. Those within a particular culture
possess a shared understanding of meaning.Arbitrary. Culture is not
based on natural laws but rather is created by human
beings.Internalized. Culture is habitual, taken for granted, and
perceived as natural.
Culture and GeographyCultural geography is the study of cultural
products and norms and their variations across and relations to
spaces and places. It focuses on describing and analyzing the ways
language, religion, economy, government and other cultural
phenomena vary or remain constant, from one place to another and on
explaining how humans function spatially.Cultural geography is the
study of product and norms and there variation across and relation
to spaces and places.
Cultural geography is define as the study of the patterns and
interactions of human culture both material and non-material, its
evolution, culture oriented space, organization etc.
Cultures and EnvironmentEnvironmental Determinism - human events
can be entirely explained by the effects of the environmentCultural
Ecology :is two-way relationship. Cultural Ecology is the study of
the cause-and-effect interplay between cultures and the physical
environmentChallenge-Response Theory (Toynbee) : a difficult
environment causes people to build a civilization. People need the
challenge of a difficult environment. Weather of the middle
latitudes led to more determined and driven work ethics
Cultures and EnvironmentPossibilism : Physical environment
influences, but does not control, human events, choices and
constraints are based on cultural, economic, political and
technological factors
There is no necessities...
Nature does not drive a man..
Evolution of cultural geographyThough the first traces of the
study of different nations and cultures onEarthcan be dated back to
ancient geographers such asPtolemyor Strabo, cultural geography as
academic study firstly emerged as an alternative to
theenvironmental deterministtheories of the early Twentieth
century, which had believed that people and societies are
controlled by theenvironmentin which they develop. Rather than
studying pre-determined regions based upon environmental
classifications, cultural geography became interested incultural
landscapes.
Cultural landscapeCarl Ortwin Sauer(December 24, 1889 July 18,
1975)The Father of Cultural Geography
Cultural landscapeThe concept was led byCarl O. Sauer. Sauer
defined the landscape as the defining unit of geographic study. He
saw that cultures and societies both developed out of their
landscape, but also shaped them too.This interaction between the
'natural' landscape and humans creates the 'cultural landscape.
The Earths Surface As Modified By Human Action
Creating cultural landscapes
Recent Trend inCultural Geography
Modern cultural geographyMany Ideas was brought from RATZALS
Anthropogeographie.This branch of geography has influenced two
group of GeographersFrench Regional Geography SchoolCultural
Landscape School (Berkley School of California, USA)
The major tradition of Cultural Geography in the 20th Century
has been Americans, the courses in cultural geography common in USA
and Canada.Relatively rare in European Geographical Teaching
outside Germany. Cultural Geography in Europe was developed in
English Speaking world by Carl O. Sauer. In India it is relatively
New Branch. A.B. Mukerji Student of Sauer was the Pioneer. Sauer's
work was highlyQualitativeand descriptive and was surpassed in the
1930s by theRegional Geographyof Richard Hartshorne, followed by
theQuantitative Revolution. Cultural geography was generally
sidelined, though writers such as David Lowenthal continued to work
on the concept of landscape.
themes in cultural geographyCultural Ecology
Culture Realm
Landscape Studies
Cultural Interaction
Cultural Diffusion
Cultural EcologyEcology is two-way relationship between Organism
and Environment. Cultural Ecology is the study of the
cause-and-effect interplay between cultures and the physical
environment.
To what extent does the environment affect
culture?EnvironmentCulture
To what extent does culture rework the
environment?CultureEnvironment
Culture Regions/ RealmsCultural Regions is a distinct,
culturally discrete spatial unit; where certain cultural norms
prevail.
Types of Cultural Regions:Formal RegionA area inhabited by
peoples who have one or more cultural trait in common. Ex: Bengali
spoken Region.Cultural region also depend on multiple related
traits. Ex: An Eskimo culture region might depend on language,
religion, type of economy, type of social organization and typical
form of Dwellings. Functional RegionDenotes an area that has been
organized to function politically, socially or economically. Ex:
Newly formed Telengana State. TTAADC, Tripura. Formal cultural
region is abstract rather than concrete but functional cultural
region is not culturally Homogeneous.
Traditional Rural Formal Culture Regions of North America
Forces that Stabilize Culture RealmsDespite diffusion, cultures
remain fixedHistorical GeographyStudies the past and how geographic
distributions have changedHow people have interacted with their
environment, and created the cultural landscape.Historical
Consciousness (self reflection on history)Fixed Assets
(Infrastructure)Values - Preserve key aspects of culturePassed down
from generation to generation
Aerial view of Denver. Can you see any boundary zones?
Culture complexesA culture complex is a closely related set of
culture traitsSome links are historicalGermanic language Protestant
religionRomance language Catholic religionSome links are
causalurban culture tolerance of lifestyle diversity
Cultures change in two ways:Cultures change internally
Technology plays an important roleCultures change externally by
borrowing of cultural elements from one society by members of
anotherCultural Diffusion process of spreadingAssimilation process
of adoptingEvolutionismDiffusionism
Culture HearthThe source areas from which radiated ideas,
innovations, and ideologies that change the world beyond.
Example of cultural Hearth & DiffusionDoraemonNoodles
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Cultural InteractionCultural Interaction is when two or more
cultures of different origin interact with one another. Cultural
Interaction enhances development when interaction is in a positive
way.
Cultural DiffusionThe process of spread of cultural attributes
from Cultural Hearth to new places.
In todays world there are different cultures which are coming in
contact with each other either in one way or the other. Cultural
diffusion involves the spreading out of a culture among a greater
population. It can also include the distribution, intentional or
not, of cultural traits or cultural behaviour from a particular
locale to other places.
One of the important goal of Modern Cultural Geography is to
analyse the diffusion pattern. When, from Where, Why, and How one
Culture traits is diffusing from its hearth over new spaces.
Trade & Cultural diffusionDiminishes isolationTriggers
change - Important force of diffusionTrade, economy, and culture
intertwinedPart of Economic GeographyStudy of how various people
make a living, how economies develop, and tradeExport surplus,
Import Luxuries
War and CultureIntroduce New CultureNew Social FormationNew
Cultural RitualsDiffusionAssimilationDestruction of Old
CultureTechnological AdvancementChange in Cultural LandscapeNew
Ideology, Norms, Values
Folk CultureCultures that preserve traditions often bound by
distinctive, religion, nationality, or languageRural, cohesive,
conservative, largely self-sufficient group, homogeneous in
customStrong family or clan structure and highly developed
ritualsTradition is paramount change comes infrequently and
slowlyUrban folk culturesImmigrant groups preserving native
culture
Popular CultureCulture of people who embrace innovation and
conform to changing normsRapid diffusionMass cultureFood, clothing,
items that are mass producedMass taste = some loss of individuality
and cultural identity Marketing of popular cultureOften highly
individualistic and groups are constantly changingMoney based
economy prevailsReplacing folk culture in industrialized countries
and many developing nations
AcculturationExchange of cultural features that results when
groups come into continuous firsthand contactImmigrants adapt to
cultural change resulting from contact with the dominant group by
using one of four strategies: Assimilation (adopting)Integration
(multicultural)Segregation (separate)Cultural Leveling
Cultural divideAcultural divideis "a boundary in society that
separates communities whose social economic structures,
opportunities for success, conventions, styles, and norms are so
different that they have substantially different psychologies". A
cultural divide is the virtual barrier caused by cultural
differences, that hinder interactions, and harmonious exchange
between people of different cultures. For example, avoiding eye
contact with a superior shows deference and respect in East Asian
cultures, but can be interpreted as suspicious behavior in Western
cultures.
Culture, Technology & Globalization
Electronics Revolution
Concept of Global Village
World at a single click
Culture of the Entire Globe Affected Once More When
Culture and Technology
GlobalizationThe increasing interconnectedness of different
parts of the world through common processes of ECONOMIC, POLITICAL,
AND CULTURAL CHANGE. Cultural globalization is happening
fastest.
Culture and technology of Today's India
Cultural ImperialismEuropean ways are superiorChristianity a
major catalyst (conversion)Economic & military
superiorityMethodsForceTraining/schoolingReference Group Behavior
(desire to belong)RewardingDegrading
Westernization TodayDiffusion continuesWealthy buy Western
productsYoung adopt western stylesMedia & TV increase rate of
diffusionTourismNon-Western Professionals (Europe &
U.S.)Transforming traditional cultures/folk culturesCULTURAL
LEVELLING
U.S. InfluenceVery strong9/11 Ripple EffectNegative views of
American policiesDrugsPeace-KeepingSpread of U.S. CultureEconomic
Power
Do you know the origin of these brands??
Me Also Dont Know.........
CinemaChange in ThinkingCultural MixingDimension of
RelationshipWestern InfluenceFood Habit, DressingMusicSocial Values
& Moral Changes
Globalisation-Culture-TerrorismSome groups of Orthodox
Mohammedan peoples of Middle-East countries are spreading terrorism
worldwide which is called Jehadh by them. It is nothing but a
struggle in their own way to preserve their cultural heritage and
restrict the diffusion of western culture amongthem.
Individuals and communities have their have their own values,
meanings, customs and knowledge system that affirms identity and
diversity and play a key role in sustainable livelihoods. However,
such features have been frequently ignored in developmental
planning. Geographers apply the cultural ideas and try to explain
all sorts of man-made spatial system.Cultural Geography
demonstrates the significance of understanding the interface
between Culture, Community, Livelihood, Sustainability , Planning
and Development.Why Cultural geography???
Darwin...........Survival for the FITTEST......
I think the Greatest innovation among the theories of Social
Science.........
In a New Environment....
Animals survives through Physical Adaptation.....
We with our CULTURE........Why Cultural geography???
ReferencesAhamed, A. (1999); Social Geography; Rawat
Publications; Jaipur.Bhattacharyya, D.C. (2010); Sociology; Vijoya
Publishing House; Kolkata.Hamnett, C. (1996):Social Geography: A
Reader, Arnold, LondonHusain, M. (1994); Human Geography; Rawat
Publications; Jaipur.Norton, W. (2000) : Cultural Geography, Oxford
University Press, New YorkPeet, R.(2004): Modern Geographical
Thought, Blackwell Publishers, Massachusett, USARobbins, R.H.
(2001): Cultural Anthropology, Thomson & Wardsworth, Belmont,
USASen, J. (2011); A Text Book of Social and Cultural Geography;
Kalyani Publishers; New Delhi.Vincent, J. & Del, C.J.(2009):
Social Geography: A Critical Introduction, Willey Blackwell, West
Sussex, UK www.jstor.org_stable_pdfplus_10.2307_20002771
www.jstor.org_stable_pdfplus_10.2307_20002425 www.google.co.in
Thank You....
