Diffusion of Popular Culture “Why is it so widely distributed?”

Diffusion of popular housing, clothing, and food Rapid diffusion depends on a group of people having a sufficiently high level of economic development to acquire material possessions Rapid diffusion depends on a group of people having a sufficiently high level of economic development to acquire material possessions

Popular Housing Styles Housing demonstrates popular customs from the time period, e.g. post-war housing versus early 1800s.

Modern House Styles 1945 – s s –> Tudor-style popular 1920s s –> Tudor-style popular 1940s – 1950s -> Minimal tradition 1940s – 1950s -> Minimal tradition 1950s – 1960s -> Ranch 1950s – 1960s -> Ranch 1950s – 1970s -> Split-level (newly invented ‘family room’) 1950s – 1970s -> Split-level (newly invented ‘family room’)

1920s s Tudor-style

1940s – 1950s Minimal tradition

1950s – 1960s Ranch

1950s – 1970s Split-level

Neo-Eclectic House Styles (since 1960) 1960s-1970s -> Mansard (shingle covered roof and second-story walls) 1960s-1970s -> Mansard (shingle covered roof and second-story walls) 1970s -> Neo-Tudor -> steep-pitched front – facing gables and half timerbered detailing 1970s -> Neo-Tudor -> steep-pitched front – facing gables and half timerbered detailing 1970s – 1980s -> Neo-French -> dormer windows, usually with rounded tops and high- hipped roofs. 1970s – 1980s -> Neo-French -> dormer windows, usually with rounded tops and high- hipped roofs. See page 128 See page 128

1960s-1970s Mansard

1970s Neo-Tudor

Neo-French

Clothing In MDCs, clothing represents CULTURE & OCCUPATIONS, which also leads to INCOME In MDCs, clothing represents CULTURE & OCCUPATIONS, which also leads to INCOME Lawyer, business executive – dark business suit Lawyer, business executive – dark business suit Doctors, factory workers, teachers, service industry, … all have their own ‘style’ or ‘uniform’ Doctors, factory workers, teachers, service industry, … all have their own ‘style’ or ‘uniform’

Clothing con’t Women’s clothing changes Women’s clothing changes every season, designer knock-offs, Globalization of clothing Globalization of clothing Styles have emerged as people are seeing clothes from around the world and designers begin integrating those ideas into their creations Styles have emerged as people are seeing clothes from around the world and designers begin integrating those ideas into their creations

Food Alcohol and snack food: The type of popular food will depend on: The type of popular food will depend on: Region (north US drink Canadian Whiskey, south drink bourbon, potato ships where they grow potatoes, …) see map page 131 Region (north US drink Canadian Whiskey, south drink bourbon, potato ships where they grow potatoes, …) see map page 131 Cultural background (Mormons, Baptists – don’t drink much) Cultural background (Mormons, Baptists – don’t drink much) Malaysia – campfire snack is fried squid Malaysia – campfire snack is fried squid High income – caviar High income – caviar Advertising Advertising

Role of television Watching is a significant popular custom because: Watching is a significant popular custom because: 1. the most important mechanism to diffuse knowledge of popular culture 2. the most popular leisure activity in MDCs throughout the world

Television Prior to WWII, TV was not very widespread Prior to WWII, TV was not very widespread 1945 – in US households 1945 – in US households 1949 – 1 million 1949 – 1 million million million million million In 1954, the US had 83% of the world’s TV sets. By end of 20th century, international differences had diminished. In 1954, the US had 83% of the world’s TV sets. By end of 20th century, international differences had diminished.

See page 133 – Televisions per inhabitants See page 133 – Televisions per inhabitants What implications does this map represent? What implications does this map represent?

Internet Follows a similar pattern as the diffusion of television, but at a more rapid pace. (US had a dominant hold, but this has now diminished) Follows a similar pattern as the diffusion of television, but at a more rapid pace. (US had a dominant hold, but this has now diminished) The diffusion of television form US to the rest of the world took 50 years, whereas the diffusion of the Internet has taken only 10 years. The diffusion of television form US to the rest of the world took 50 years, whereas the diffusion of the Internet has taken only 10 years.

INTERNET con’t See page 134 – Internet hosts per population See page 134 – Internet hosts per population What implications does this map represent? What implications does this map represent?

Government Control More government controls in LDCs and communist countries, less in MDCs More government controls in LDCs and communist countries, less in MDCs Introduction of satellite television prevents a government from taking total control. Satellite dishes enable people to choose from a wide variety of programs. Introduction of satellite television prevents a government from taking total control. Satellite dishes enable people to choose from a wide variety of programs.

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