Key Issue 2 Why is Folk Culture Clustered?

 Folk culture typically has unknown or multiple origins among groups living in relative isolation. Folk culture diffuses slowly to other locations through the process of migration. A combination of physical and cultural factors influences the distinctive distributions of folk culture.

 Folk customs develop of centuries of isolation  Himalayan Mountains  Neighboring isolated cultural groups  Distinctive culture seen in their artwork

Tibetan BuddhistsDivine figures Depicted bizarre/horrifying Reflecting inhospitable env’t HindusEveryday life Deity in domestic scenes Region’s violent/extreme climate MuslimsBeautiful plants & flowers Do NOT show harsh climatic conditions Myanmar (Burma) & Southeast AsiaSymbols & designs from religion NOT local environment Art shows how religion and environment influence these different cultural groups

 Many groups of similar environments adopt different social customs  Many groups in different environments adopt similar social customs  Contradicts “Environmental Determinism” theory  People DO respond to environment, but it isn’t the only factor in social customs

 Food, clothing, shelter  Determined by climate, soil, vegetation  Arctic Climates ◦ Fur-lined boots, snowshoes  Warm & Humid Climates ◦ Footwear not needed  Netherlands ◦ Wooden shoes: farmers needed waterproof shoes for wet fields because Netherlands is below sea- level

 Folk societies ◦ Very responsive to environment ◦ Low level of technology ◦ Likely to be farmers ◦ Grow their own food ◦ Use hand tools, animal power ◦ Some societies ignore the norms!

 Food habits derive from environment  Inhabitants must consider soil, climate, terrain, vegetation to produce food  Rice: milder, moist climates  Wheat: colder, drier regions

 Access to fuel can determine food supply  Limited Fuel: Asia, Italy  Abundant Fuel: Northern Europe  Soy beans: toxic in raw form  Sprouts, soy sauce, bean curd: don’t require extensive cooking  Italy: quick frying foods  Northern Europe: slow stews, roasts

 Terroir: the contribution of a location’s distinctive physical features to the way food tastes (terre: land)  Ex: wine can taste different based on where grapes are grown

 Istanbul, Turkey  Bostans: small gardens (1000) that supply the city with produce  Farmers maximize yields through clever manipulation of space, season & resources  Different crops grown throughout year  Crops vary each year  Reduces risk of damage from poor weather

 Transylvania, Romania 1900s  Home to many different migrating cultural groups: Hungarians, Romanians, Jews, Armenians, etc  All eat lots of soups, poor people food  However, each cultural group has a different type based on their background  Food habits often migrate to new places

 Certain foods eaten because they “enhance qualities” desirable by society ◦ Strength, fierceness, lovemaking ability GroupEat/don’t eat FoodReason Abipone Indians of Paraguay eatJaguars & bulls Make them strong, brave, swift

 Continue the Chart while reading p GroupEat/don’t eat FoodReason Abipone Indians of Paraguay eatJaguars & bulls Make them strong, brave, swift

 Eating Rat  laces/countries-places/togo/togo_eatingrat/ laces/countries-places/togo/togo_eatingrat/  Goat Fetus  laces/culture-places/food/india_goatfetus/ laces/culture-places/food/india_goatfetus/

 Product of cultural tradition & natural conditions  Good reflection of cultural heritage, current fashion, functional needs & impact of environment

 Type of materials influenced by resources available in environment  Two most common building materials:  Wood (preferred when available)  Brick  Other materials: Stone, grass, sod & skins

 MDCs  Lumber cut into needed shapes  Frame, floors, ceiling, roof  Shingles, stucco, vinyl, aluminum used for exterior, insulation, decoration

 Limited access to forests use alt. materials  Hot, dry climates (US Southwest, Mexico, Northern China, Middle East)  Bricks: bake mud in sun  Europe & South America  stone

 If desired material isn’t available:  Import materials  United States ◦ Save money by using alternatives to lumber ◦ drywall

 Form of house  Customary beliefs or environmental factors  Orientation of house can vary  Religious values ◦ Fiji: east wall of house is sacred ◦ China: northwest wall is sacred ◦ Middle East, India and Africa: similar religious values with sacred walls

 Religious considerations for each part of house  West: main door  Northeast: most sacred  North: honoring ancestors, where guests are seated  East: bed placement, head facing north

House Types in 4 communities of western China

 Laos ◦ Head is considered “high and noble” ◦ Feet considered “low and vulgar” ◦ People sleep head to head or feet to feet  Thailand ◦ Ignore position of neighbors head/feet in bed ◦ All sleep with head faced East, most favorable direction ◦ Staircases cannot face West: the direction of death and evil spirits

 Construction of house can relate to environment ◦ Pitched roof  snowy, wet climates ◦ Window direction/size  extreme climates  Folk housing can vary in similar climates  North & West China-drylands ◦ Similar building materials: adobe, timber ◦ Similar objective: protection from extreme temps ◦ Different, Individual designs based on social customs

House Types in 4 communities of western China

 Older houses display folk culture tradition  Pioneers, 1700s & 1800s  Brought their “east coast” housing styles westward as they migrated  Three Major Hearths  New England, Mid Atlantic and Lower Chesapeake

Small towns in different regions of the eastern U.S. have different combinations of five main traditional house types.

 New England  Migrants brought house types northward and westward across Great Lakes region  Four major house types were popular, 18 th & 19 th century

 Mid Atlantic  “I” house: 2 full stories with gables to the sides, resembles the letter “I”

 Lower Chesapeake  One story, steep roof, chimneys on either side  As it spread to wetter regions, these homes were raised on stilts  Less regional distinctness today  Knowledge of other styles  Construction companies build the homes