Cultural Concerns The end of folk culture?

Part I: Societies Group: Set of people who interact on the basis of shared expectations and who possess some degree of common identity The largest and most complex groups that sociologists study are societies Preindustrial vs. Industrial/Post-Industrial \

Part 2: Preindustrial Definition: Food production is carried out through human and animal labor Food production is main economic activity

Preindustrial Types of Preindustrial Societies: Hunting and Gathering Pastoral Horticultural Agricultural

Preindustrial Gemeinschaft (community); characterized by mechanic solidarity What does that mean? Community relations are intimate, informal, cooperative and imbued with a sense of moral obligation to the group

Preindustrial Practice Folk Culture: Practiced by small, homogenous, rural groups living in relative isolation \

Folk Culture Folk Culture is RAPIDLY changing and/or disappearing throughout much of the world Portuguese Fishing Boat Guatemalan Market Turkish Camel Market

Characteristics: Folk Culture Stable & close knit Generally rural Tradition rules Resistant to change Buildings erected without architect or blueprint; locally available building materials

Folk Food How did such differences develop?

Folk Architecture Effects on Landscape: Usually of limited scale and scope Agricultural: fields, terraces, grain storage Dwellings: historically created from local materials: wood, brick, stone, skins; often uniquely and traditionally arranged; always functionally tied to physical environment.

Part 3: Industrial and Postindustrial Societies

Industrial Postindustrial Definition: Emphasis shifts from production of food to production of manufactured goods Most production is carried out by machines \ Definition: Much of the economy is involved in providing information and services \

Industrial Postindustrial Effects: Higher standard of living Strong emphasis on science/education Technological advances Emphasis on social equality and democracy Effects: New technology Increase in population Urbanization \ Gesellschaft (society); characterized by organic solidarity (Formal, goal-oriented, based on individual self-interest & competition)

Popular Culture Definition: Found in a large, heterogeneous society that shares certain habits despite differences in personal characteristics \

Characteristics: Pop Culture Wide Distribution: Differences from place to place uncommon; differences in one place over time are more likely Housing: Only small regional variations; trends over time

Characteristics: Pop Culture Food: Franchises, cargo planes, superhighways & freezer trucks have eliminated local variation

Pop Culture: Effects on… Effects on Landscape: Breeds homogenous, “placeless” landscape Complex network of roads & highways Commercial structures trend towards “boxes” Planned & gated communities increasingly common

Pop Culture: Effects on… Disconnect with landscape: Indoor swimming pools, desert surfing

Is this the end of Folk Culture? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As3pWXoq_as&feature=related