Popular Culture: HOUSING Chapter 4, Key Issue #3

Popular Housing As opposed to folk culture, which varies more based on place, popular culture housing varies more from time to time than it does from place to place.

Contemporary: Flat roofs, very “geometric,” late 1960s-1970s (1945-1960) Minimal Traditional: Simple, affordable, young WWII veteran families, 1940s-1950s Ranch: 1 story, required large lot and encouraged suburban sprawl, 1950s-1960s Split-Level: Family room & garage on lower level, dining room, living room, bedrooms, kitchen on second level above garage, 1950s-1970s Contemporary: Flat roofs, very “geometric,” late 1960s-1970s (1960- Present) Mansard: Entire second story walls covered in shingles, sloped into roof (late 1960s- 1970s) Neo-Tudor: Dominant, steep front face gables (see above) and half-timbered detailing (1970s) Neo-French: (1970s-1980s) High roofs, large, round top windows (1970s-1980s) Neo-Colonial: Continuously popular since 1980s, though has adapted to include open area living/dining rooms & kitchens

Shenyang, China http://pixdaus.com/single.php?id=39311

Hopefully you though of some of the following: (1) Uniformity (2) Materials need not be local (3) Planned communities as opposed to spontaneous placement of houses (4) Larger than most folk houses– are more than just “functional”

Popular Culture: CLOTHING Chapter 4, Key Issue #3

Popular Clothing Clothing reflective of popular culture can spread across an area (region, country, world) with little regard to the distinctive physical characteristics of a given place

What are some of the influences on clothing styles in MDCs?

Hopefully you mentioned: Clothing often reflects occupation (i.e. lawyer, construction worker, teacher) Income effects fashion choices if people buy what is “in style” that particular year (or month!) Increase communications have allowed for the rapid diffusion of clothing styles as well as the “popularizing” of folk clothing styles

The diffusion of popular clothing Blue Jeans: Blue jeans were once an article of clothing worn by farmers and laborers. In the late 1960s, they became a style that represented youth and independence. Since then, they have become a status symbol across the western world. They diffused to Asia and even the Soviet Union after the fall of communism (previously, they were sold on the black market in the USSR!). The only thing today that limits people from buying these western fashions is lack of money rather than government regulation of any kind.

Popular Culture: FOOD Chapter 4, Key Issue #3

Food in MDCs First of all, we eat A LOT Consumption of large quantities of snacks and alcoholic beverages is a popular food custom

Where are tequila & Canadian whisky consumed the most, respectively Where are tequila & Canadian whisky consumed the most, respectively? Why? This displays how popular food can be influenced by local food availability or proximity to certain produce…

Total per capita consumption in gallons of ethanol by State, United States, 2006

Consumption of certain items (i. e Consumption of certain items (i.e. alcohol) may vary by states based on advertising or religious differences Notice how Utah and areas of the South have low consumption because of Mormon and Baptist beliefs On the other hand, places like Nevada rely on the sale of alcohol to accompany gambling and other entertainment in the state.

Finally, Income and food advertising play a large role in what Americans (or citizens of other MDCs) eat

Consider the production of wine Distribution of popular food customs can relate to environments OR religious values Consider the production of wine Vineyards cultivated in temperate climates of moderately cold, rainy winters and fairly long, hot summers Wines today can be identified (by avid drinkers) by region or place of origin based on the taste

NPR: “Climate Change has California Vitners Rethinking Grapes” Click here to read story