Topic: Characteristics of Popular & Folk Cultural Patterns Aim: In what ways can we distinguish Popular culture from Folk culture? Do Now: What are some differences you see between the images in your packet?

Popular Culture

Folk Culture

So What’s the Difference? Popular culture is found in large, heterogeneous societies (usually MDC’s) that share certain habits despite differences in other personal characteristics Folk Culture is traditionally practiced primarily by small, homogenous (people who are similar) groups living in isolated rural areas (or LDC’s). Folk culture has multiple hearths.

So what’s the difference??? Folk Culture: practiced by small, homogenous, geographically isolated groups, typically in LDC’s. Has multiple hearths Popular (pop) Culture: found in large, heterogeneous societies. Scale is larger than folk culture and typically a product of MDC’s.

Popular Culture: A wide-ranging group of heterogeneous people, who stretch across identities and across the world, and who embrace cultural traits such as music, dance, clothing, and food preference that change frequently and are ubiquitous on the cultural landscape. Madonna wearing a red string Kabbalah bracelet.

Folk CulturePopular Culture DiffusionRelocation (through migration); spreads slowly Hierarchical (from NYC, Hollywood, electronic communication); spreads rapidly

Diffusion of Folk Cultures The Amish: Relocation Diffusion of Folk Culture  Amish customs illustrate how relocation diffusion distributes folk culture  Diffused their culture through migration  Living in rural and frontier settlements that are relatively isolated from other groups, Amish communities retained their traditional customs, even as other European immigrants to the U.S. Distinctive clothing, farming, religious practices, and other customs N O N M A T E R I A L C U L T U R E

Folk CulturePopular Culture MusicTells about daily activities e.g. farming, birth/death/ marriage, storms Uses traditional instruments Purpose: tell a story Tells about love, relationships Very catchy Uses high technical skill, studio equipment Purpose: sell to large audience

Folk vs. Popular Music

Popular (pop) Music: Written by specific artists with the purpose of being mass produced and sold. Typically requires technical skill and is produced in studios Originated around 1900 Diffusion of pop music begin during WWII with the Armed Forces Radio Network broadcasting music to American soldiers

50s and 60s

70s

70s - 80s

80s

90s

Hip Hop: Folk music or pop music? Originated in South Bronx, NY Roots in West African storytelling (griots) Folk? Has a specific message that only relates to the group who wrote it Pop? Has a global reach; uses advanced electronics

90s

Popular Culture: Wide Distribution: differences from place to place uncommon Housing: only small regional variations, more generally there are trends over time  Food: franchises, cargo planes, superhighways and freezer trucks have eliminated much local variation. Limited variations in choice regionally, esp. with alcohol and snacks. Substantial variations by ethnicity.

Changing Hairstyles

THE MULLET

Clothing

Folk Clothing Preferences Style of clothing worn in response to distinctive agricultural practices and climatic conditions –Ex. –Folk custom in the Netherlands to wear wooden shoes because of practical uses in wet climates. –Fur-lined boots protect against cold in arctic climates. Popular Clothing Preferences Style of clothing generally reflects occupation and income rather than particular environment. –Ex. –Business suits worn by professionals –Designer clothes worn by the affluent

A man wearing wooden shoes bikes on a flooded street in Stellendam, Netherlands

Rapid Diffusion of Popular Clothing Styles: Improved communications central to rapid diffusion Ex. Time for original designs for women’s dresses to be designed in fashion capitals—e.g., Paris or London—and reproductions available in stores has diminished from years to a few weeks. Jeans is an important symbol of the diffusion of Western popular culture. Local Diversity –Japan: customized with patches and cutouts –Korea: frayed, ripped, or shredded –Italy: bleached on seat of jeans

Jeans have become valuable status symbols in many regions despite longstanding folk traditions.

Ponchos Taken From Folk Culture  Globalization of clothing

Changing Fashion:

Origin and Diffusion of Folk and Popular Sports Sports originated as isolated folk customs and diffused like other folk culture via relocation diffusion. Example: –Football (soccer) originated in England in the eleventh century. –Transformation from folk to popular sport began in 1800s when organized clubs were formed in the UK. –Professional players hired –Standardized rules and organized professional league established in 1863 in UK marks formal transition from folk sport to popular sport.

Boys play cricket in Katni, India

Transition from folk to popular culture Lacrosse: started by Iroquois