1. Ch. 4 – Folk and Popular Culture
Key Issues 1&2
“Where Are Folk and Popular Material Culture Distributed?”

2. Key Issue #1 – Where Are Folk and Popular Leisure Activities Distributed?
2 categories of Material Culture:
1. Folk Culture – small, homogeneous groups in isolated, rural areas
Exist much in original forms; little or no change over time
Limited interaction with “outside” cultures
Diffuses mainly by relocation/migration; threatened by expansion diffusion of popular culture thru interaction and communication (tv and radio)
Strong resistance to change – celebrate local diversity with festivals
Minimal impact on environment; stewards of scarce resources and fragile environments

3. 2 categories of Material Culture
2. Popular Culture
Large, heterogeneous societies share habits despite different personal characteristics
Widespread distribution, greater interaction
Rapid global connections – modern communication and transportation (radio, tv, computers, internet, Facebook, twitter, instagram)
Frequently changing trends and fads
Globalization of popular culture threatens survival of folk cultures
Leads to uniformity (sameness) of cultural landscapes
Less consideration for environment; exploitation of natural resources for commercial profits

4. FOLK CULTURE POPULAR CULTURE back Large, heterogeneous societies
Small, homogeneous groups
Narrowly distributed; clustered
Found in isolated, rural areas
Little to no spatial interaction
Provincial
Little to no change over time
Varies from place to place at given time
Unique identities of culture groups
Sensitive to protection of environment
Often anonymous origins
Multiple hearths / independent invention
Response to physical environment
Local diversity due to diverse geography
Art, Food / Cuisine, Clothing, Shelter,Weapons
Stage 1 & 2 DTM (LDCs)
Relocation diffusion / migration
Diffusion occurs slowly
Music reflects events in daily life
Music tells stories (ballads)
Music conveys useful info
Often transform into Popular Culture
Soccer / rugby / football
Lacrosse (“bum hips”)
Ice hockey / Curling / skiing
Baseball
Golf
Large, heterogeneous societies
Widely distributed; dispersed
Found in urban areas
Constant, rapid interaction
Cosmopolitan
Rapid, constant change (fads & trends)
Varies from time to time at a given place
Threatens local diversity
Disregard for local environments
Products of specific artists
Produced to make money (commercial)
Broad appeal to all in all places
Leads to uniformity of cultural landscape
Stage 3 & 4 DTM (MDCs)
Expansion / Hierarchical diffusion
Diffusion occurs rapidly thru modern communications (tv, radio, internet)
Music is mass produced for commercial uses
Influenced by elements of folk culture, but for broader market appeal; forms of recreation and entertainment become commercialized businesses
World Cup Soccer
Olympic Games
World Baseball Games
The Open Championship
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5. FOLK CULTURE POPULAR CULTURE ORIGIN Products of specific artists
Often anonymous origins
Multiple hearths / independent invention
Found in isolated, rural areas
Response to physical environment
Local diversity due to diverse geography
Art, Food / Cuisine, Clothing, Shelter, Weapons
Little to no change over time
Unique identities of culture groups
Sensitive to protection of environment
DIFFUSION
Relocation diffusion / migration
Diffusion occurs slowly
Music reflects events in daily life
Music tells stories (ballads)
Music conveys useful info
DISTRIBUTION
Small, homogeneous groups
Narrowly distributed; clustered
Little to no spatial interaction
Provincial
Stage 1 & 2 DTM (LDCs)
Varies from place to place at given time
ORIGIN
Products of specific artists
Produced to make money (commercial)
Broad appeal to all in all places
Threatens local diversity
Disregard for local environments
Leads to uniformity of cultural landscape
Influenced by elements of folk culture, but for broader market appeal; forms of recreation and entertainment become commercialized businesses
Folk culture often transforms into Popular Culture
Soccer / rugby / football, Lacrosse (“bum hips”), Ice hockey / Curling / skiing, Baseball, Basketball
DIFFUSION
Expansion / Hierarchical diffusion
Diffusion occurs rapidly thru modern communications (tv, radio, internet)
Music is mass produced for commercial uses
Constant, rapid interaction
Rapid, constant change (fads & trends)
DISTRIBUTION
Widely distributed; dispersed
Large, heterogeneous societies
Found in urban areas
Cosmopolitan
Stage 3 & 4 DTM (MDCs)
Varies from time to time at a given place

6. Key Issue #1 – Where Do Folk and Popular Cultures Originate and Diffuse?
Culture Hearths – centers of innovation and invention from which culture traits and elements moved to influence other regions. (Folk Culture)
“Cradles of ‘civilization’” – writing, metallurgy, long-distance trade, astronomy and math, social stratification and labor specialization, govt. systems, and urban culture
Centers of plant and animal domestication
Egypt, Crete, Mesopotamia, Indus Valley, N. China, SE Asia, sub-Saharan Africa – all urban centers
Stratified societies included artisans, warriors, merchants, scholars, priests, and administrators
Writing first appeared in Mesopotamia and Egypt 5000 yrs. Ago
Independent invention or diffusion?

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9. Different Theories on Origin of Culture
Environmental Determinism – ALL social development is dictated by environmental conditions; “geographic luck”
2. Possibilism – environment sets limits on human actions, but humans have the ability to adjust to environment; many “possibilities” of human responses to environmental conditions
3. Diffusionism – cultural similarities occur by spread (diffusion) out from one common origin; “Out of Africa” theory ; cultural advancement travels along trade routes; Thor Heyerdahl
4. Multilinear Evolution – common characteristics of separated cultures develop under similar ecological circumstances; similar environments induce similar adaptive traits

10. Key Issue #2 – Where Are Folk and Popular Material Cultures Distributed
Isolation causes cultural diversity
Cultural divergence occurred before modern transportation reduced friction of distance; especially in areas with rugged terrain or extreme climates
Physical Environment influences clothing, food preferences, and housing styles
“One of the surest ways to identify a family’s ethnic origin is to look in the kitchen”

11. Folk Clothing (Costume)

13. Diffusion of Popular Clothing
Rapid, hierarchical diffusion
originated as a very practical piece of work clothing in western U.S. (folk)
Wide distribution w/ no regard for physical landscape, reflect income and job characteristics
Jeans symbol of globalization

14. Folk Food (Cuisine) Preferences
Folk Culture food taboos influenced by environment
Perceived benefits – jaguars, bulls, hearts, mandrake
“You are what you eat!” What are you?
Chinese proverb – “you treat what you eat”
Bizarre Foods in Indonesia
Sexual and reproductive benefits
Negative forces in nature –
Otters in Japan
Potatoes in Europe
Chicken or Goat in Chad
Pre-marital meals in Trobriand Islands (Papua New Guinea)
Negative environmental impact
Hebrews avoid animals that don’t chew cud or have cloven feet, and fish without scales or fins; “Kosher Laws”
Muslims reject pork – pigs not suitable in arid regions, compete with humans for food and water
Hindus avoidance of eating cows; needed as plow animals
Americans avoid insects and “pets”

15. Haggis
haggis

16. Diffusion of Popular Food
Popular Food Customs
Fast Food / Corporate Food Industry / Chains
Relocation diffusion of folk cultures
Tacos, pizza, sushi, Swedish meatballs
Global distribution network – any food, any time
Alcohol and Fresh Produce
High Income & National Advertising
Local Preferences affected by availability (seasonal)
Wine Production
Soil, climate, seasons, local culture

17. Local Preferences affected by availability
What basic principle of diffusion is illustrated by the 2 maps in Figure 4-12 of the diffusion of Canadian whiskey and tequila?
Canadian whiskey is most popular near Canada
distance decay AND contagious diffusion
Tequila is most popular near Mexico
distance decay AND relocation diffusion

18. Folk Housing

21. Early American Houses

22. Popular Housing (Shelter)
Diffusion of Popular Housing
Popular Housing Styles
Vary more in time than in place
Usually mass-produced
Most styles have diffused thru-out U.S.
Display few regional differences
Modern House Styles ( )
Minimal traditional (40s & 50s)
Ranch (50s & 60s)
Split-level (60s & 70s)
Contemporary ( 50s to 70s)
Neo-Eclectic Houses (most popular since 1960)
Mansard (60s & 70s)
Neo-Tudor (70s & 80s)
Neo- French (70s & 80s)
Neo-Colonial (1950s and on)