Folk and Popular Culture

Nonmaterial Folk Culture Food and Drink: Food and Drink: Food combinations and ‘cuisine’ enduring elements Food combinations and ‘cuisine’ enduring elements Usually blended with other folk cultures Usually blended with other folk cultures Food production of interest (pre- consumer society) Food production of interest (pre- consumer society) Drink (esp. alcoholic): Drink (esp. alcoholic): Rum  sugarcane  tropics Rum  sugarcane  tropics Beer  barley  grain growing regions Beer  barley  grain growing regions Gin  Juniper berries  temperate/dry Gin  Juniper berries  temperate/dry Choices: Choices: Preferences and avoidance also studied Preferences and avoidance also studied

Milk ? Vietnam: Intestines China: Roast Dog Morocco: Sheep’s Head Preferences and Avoidance

Hearths and Diffusion tracks Erosive Forces: Industrialization Urbanization Transportation Farm mechanization Mass Media Mass production/ distribution Rise in pop culture

Folk Medicine Folk Culture includes traditional medicine. What are some ways folk culture medicine gets incorporated into popular culture? pharmaceutical companies “discover” and patent a compound a substance becomes popular for “recreational” use A technique like acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine gains mainstream acceptance

Differences Between Popular and Folk Culture Popular culture Popular culture Consists of large masses of people who conform to and prescribe to ever-changing norms Consists of large masses of people who conform to and prescribe to ever-changing norms Large heterogeneous groups Large heterogeneous groups Often highly individualistic and groups are constantly changing Often highly individualistic and groups are constantly changing Pronounced division of labor leading to establishment of specialized professions Pronounced division of labor leading to establishment of specialized professions Police and army take the place of religion and family in maintaining order Police and army take the place of religion and family in maintaining order

Differences Between Popular and Folk Culture Popular culture Popular culture Money based economy prevails Money based economy prevails Replacing folk culture in industrialized countries and many developing nations Replacing folk culture in industrialized countries and many developing nations Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent Item is more quickly or cheaply produced Item is more quickly or cheaply produced Easier or time-saving to use Easier or time-saving to use Lends prestige to owner Lends prestige to owner

Differences Between Popular and Folk Culture Folk culture Folk culture Made up of people who maintain the traditional Made up of people who maintain the traditional Describes people who live in an old-fashioned way-simpler life-style Describes people who live in an old-fashioned way-simpler life-style Rural, cohesive, conservative, largely self-sufficient group, homogeneous in custom Rural, cohesive, conservative, largely self-sufficient group, homogeneous in custom Strong family or clan structure and highly developed rituals Strong family or clan structure and highly developed rituals Tradition is paramount — change comes infrequently and slowly Tradition is paramount — change comes infrequently and slowly

Differences Between Popular and Folk Culture Folk culture Folk culture Little specialization in labor though duties may vary between genders Little specialization in labor though duties may vary between genders Subsistence economy prevails Subsistence economy prevails Individualism and social classes are weakly developed Individualism and social classes are weakly developed In parts of the less-developed world, folk cultures remain common In parts of the less-developed world, folk cultures remain common Industrialized countries no longer have unaltered folk cultures Industrialized countries no longer have unaltered folk cultures

Popular CultureFolk Culture Folk and Popular culture in opposition to each other. FOLK CULTURE Transmitted interpersonally Transmitted interpersonally Stable, conservative, traditionalist Stable, conservative, traditionalist Subsistence economy Subsistence economy Clear-cut social roles, M/F division of labor Clear-cut social roles, M/F division of labor Adapted to a particular environment Adapted to a particular environment POPULAR CULTURE Transmitted by media Transmitted by media Constantly changing and innovating Constantly changing and innovating Money-based economy Money-based economy Flexible and vague social roles Flexible and vague social roles Not adapted to any particular environment Not adapted to any particular environment Popular culture is replacing folk culture in industrialized countries and developing nations

Folk vs. Popular Culture Persistent elements of folk culture (slowly disappearing) Persistent elements of folk culture (slowly disappearing) Architecture Architecture Vernacular regions Vernacular regions Traditional medicine Traditional medicine Music Music Vanishing elements of folk culture (quickly disappearing) Vanishing elements of folk culture (quickly disappearing) Fences Fences Barns Barns Agricultural techniques Agricultural techniques Dance Dance

Country Music Radio Stations Originally a “Southern” style of music Popular Music

The many difference styles of popular music all reveal geographic patterning in levels of acceptance The many difference styles of popular music all reveal geographic patterning in levels of acceptance Pop musicians can receive praise of a magnitude reserved for deities in folk culture Pop musicians can receive praise of a magnitude reserved for deities in folk culture Elvis Presley, a generation after his death retains an important place in American popular culture Elvis Presley, a generation after his death retains an important place in American popular culture Illustrates the vivid geography of the culture Illustrates the vivid geography of the culture Sale of memorabilia reveals a split personality Sale of memorabilia reveals a split personality Hotbeds of Elvis worship lie in eastern states Hotbeds of Elvis worship lie in eastern states Elvis largely forgotten out West Elvis largely forgotten out West

Illustrates the vivid geography of the “Elvis” culture Sale of memorabilia reveals a split personality Hotbeds of Elvis worship lie in eastern states Elvis largely forgotten out West

Food and Drink What we eat and drink differs markedly from one part of the country and world to another What we eat and drink differs markedly from one part of the country and world to another Difference in alcoholic drink consumption in the United States Difference in alcoholic drink consumption in the United States Highest per capita consumption levels? Highest per capita consumption levels? Lowest per capita consumption levels? Lowest per capita consumption levels? Corn whiskey? Corn whiskey? Californians? Californians? Wine?

Fast Food

Spread of Popular Culture Globalization = Spread of popular culture Globalization = Spread of popular culture Progresses far more rapidly than in folk culture Progresses far more rapidly than in folk culture Most effective device for popular culture diffusion Most effective device for popular culture diffusion Rapid diffusion enhances the chance for change in popular culture Rapid diffusion enhances the chance for change in popular culture Changes in popular culture occur first in larger urban markets and the expand outwards Changes in popular culture occur first in larger urban markets and the expand outwards How does popular culture spread? Mainly through hierarchal diffusion.

Spread of Popular Culture Innovations diffuse between countries and continents as rapidly as jet airplanes and satellite-beamed television programs Innovations diffuse between countries and continents as rapidly as jet airplanes and satellite-beamed television programs In many lesser-developed countries acceptance of Western popular culture occurs among a socioeconomic elite In many lesser-developed countries acceptance of Western popular culture occurs among a socioeconomic elite Many people across the world now share aspects of a global culture Many people across the world now share aspects of a global culture Popular cultures of North America, Europe, and Australia have become similar and in constant contact Popular cultures of North America, Europe, and Australia have become similar and in constant contact

Spread of Popular Culture Country-western music in Northern Ireland’s pubs Country-western music in Northern Ireland’s pubs Levi-clad Romanians flock to American-made movies Levi-clad Romanians flock to American-made movies Americans lineup to hear touring British rock musicians Americans lineup to hear touring British rock musicians Rocky Mountain ski resorts are built in Alpine-Swiss architecture Rocky Mountain ski resorts are built in Alpine-Swiss architecture Latest Paris fashions appear in American department stores Latest Paris fashions appear in American department stores Fast-food franchises of MacDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken in Russia Fast-food franchises of MacDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken in Russia Motel chains such as Holiday Inn in Tibet and other countries Motel chains such as Holiday Inn in Tibet and other countries

Placelessness Canadian geographer Edward Relph’s proposal: Canadian geographer Edward Relph’s proposal: Popular culture produces a profound placelessness Popular culture produces a profound placelessness A spatial standardization that diminishes cultural variety A spatial standardization that diminishes cultural variety Demeans the human spirit Demeans the human spirit James Kunstler speaks of “geography of nowhere” in describing America James Kunstler speaks of “geography of nowhere” in describing America One place become much like another, robbed of its geographical essence One place become much like another, robbed of its geographical essence Pervasive influence of a continental or worldwide popular culture Pervasive influence of a continental or worldwide popular culture

Where is this?Philadelphia

Where is this?Finland