1. OBJECTIVE
TWW analyze the basic components of culture in order to categorize/ evaluate the culture in which Towson High School students participate.

2. Culture
Group of belief systems, norms, and values practiced by a people
Two means by which a culture is formed:
(1) self-identification by the culture
(2) labeled by a certain group of people (i.e. academics) as folk culture or popular culture

3. Popular Culture
Cultural traits such as dress, diet, and music that identify and are part of today’s changeable, urban- based, media influenced western societies

4. Folk Culture
Dress modes, dwellings, traditions, and institutions of usually small, traditional, and homogenous communities

5. Local Culture
Group of people in a particular place who see themselves as a collective or a community, who share experiences, customs, and traits, and who work to preserve those traits and custom in order to claim uniqueness and to distinguish themselves from others.

6. Define the following terms:
(1) Popular Culture
(2) Folk Culture
(3) Local Culture
Read the provided story about Jack… Based on the limited version, which type of culture do the Jack stories represent?

7. Jack Tales
Form a group in which you have the ability to spell the word JACK
Discuss each story
Speculate on the purpose of the Jack Tales
Should this be categorized as Popular, Folk, or Local Culture

8. Material v. Nonmaterial
Includes the things that a people construct, such as art, houses, clothing, sports, dance, and foods
NONMATERIAL
Beliefs, practices, aesthetics, and values of a group of people
Are “Jack’s Tales” an example of Material or Nonmaterial culture?

9. Folklore
Stories representing an important part of the overall culture of a group
Pass on people’s values and the legends from generation to generation
Can involve a lesson to promote allegiance to the culture or to improve the culture

10. Jack Tales “Jack and the Beanstalk” = most famous
Told in the Appalachian regions of Kentucky and West Virginia
Have roots in the Scotch- Irish Immigrants to America (Protestant Scottish)
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

11. Authenticity Context of local or folk culture and customs
The accuracy with which a single stereotypical or typecast image or experience conveys an otherwise dynamic and complex local culture or its customs.

12. Raise your hand if you have never played Pac-Man
Pac-Man Description
Raise your hand if you have never played Pac-Man
If your hand is up, be very sad

13. Popular Culture
Many attempt to encapsulate popular culture into a single force which attempts to infiltrate various scales/levels of society

14. Diffusion = Little Pellets
Diffusion of Popular Culture occurs most often through hierarchical diffusion.
From the hearth, the popular culture will spread but many aspects of the local culture will prevent its contagious diffusion.
Distance Decay v. Time Space Compression

15. Diffusion of popular culture
Traits of popular culture can be developed in two different manners:
(1) cultural appropriation/commodification
(2) those in a position of power/wealth
For both of these scenarios, which aspects of their diffusion are similar and which aspects are different?

16. Phishing v. manufacturing of a hearth
Phishing of a Hearth
The development of a trait of popular culture that is ultimately appropriated from a local/folk culture
Starts as contagious ends up hierarchical
HIERARCHICAL DIFFUSION CONTINUES TO PLAY THE ULTIMATE DOMINANT ROLE

17. Phishing v. manufacturing of a hearth
The development of a trait for the sole purpose of economic consumption
Sole issue of hierarchical diffusion
HIERARCHICAL DIFFUSION CONTINUES TO PLAY THE ULTIMATE DOMINANT ROLE

18. Diffusion of popular culture
Distance Decay v. Time Space Compression

19. Local (Folk) Culture
Each ghost represents one of the various different groups of people in a particular place (yes the ghosts move) who see themselves as a collective or community who work to preserve traits and customs

20. Customs and Authenticity
Customs allow local cultures to define themselves as unique creating the AUTHENTICITY of the region
Two goals of a local culture
Keeping other cultures out
Keeping their own cultures in

21. General Cultural Barriers
Some culture have general barriers which place further roadblocks to the diffusion of the material
i.e. Prohibitions against the consumption of various products, use of certain technologies, etc.

22. Cultural Appropriation
Sometimes the popular culture attempts to adopt customs and knowledge of a local culture in order to use them for their own benefit
Cultural Appropriation is a major concern for local cultures.
i.e. Seattle in the early 90s

23. Assimilation v. Appropriation
the process through which people lose originally differentiating traits
Change of the person
i.e. Carlisle School in PA.

24. Assimilation v. Appropriation
The popular culture integrating a particular trait of local/folk culture into the popular culture
i.e. Moccasin Slippers

25. Commodification The process by which something is given monetary value
Occurs when a good or idea that previously was not an object to be bought or sold is turned into something that has a particular price and that can be traded in a market economy.
What is going to be the reaction of a local or folk culture to commodification?

26. Commodification
If popular culture appropriates the custom from the local culture, it may commodify that custom thereby exploiting that aspect of local culture
This attacks the authenticity of the local culture
i.e. Starbucks

27. Jack and the Bean Stalk
Using the vocabulary below, discuss how “Jack and the Bean Stalk” has made the journey from folklore to commodification
(1) folk culture
(2) custom and authenticity
(3) cultural barriers
(4) cultural appropriation
(5) commodification

28. Neolocalism
Some Local Cultures remain strong in the face of appropriation and commidification
In the face of an uncertain world, these cultures re-establish their culture and defend it more vigorously.

29. Define the culture of Towson using the following terms:
Discussion Question
Define the culture of Towson using the following terms:
(1) local culture
(2) popular culture
(3) authenticity
(4) cultural appropriation
(5) commodification
(6) neolocalism

30. Fishbowl Discussion Prep
In your group, develop discussion points for the following 3 questions:
(1) Evaluate the ability of any local or folk culture in Modern Times to withstand participation in the popular culture
(2) Are cultural appropriation and commodification evil concepts?
(3) Are there any disadvantages to relying on the diffusion of popular culture traits from a manufactured hearth?

31. Exit Slip Confirm or Refute the following statement:
The cultural landscape of Towson demonstrates what Geographer Edward Relph described as placelessness.
If you confirm the statement, provide examples and experiences that support that idea.
If you refute the idea, use examples and experiences that demonstrate that the resistance is due to glocalization or the actual maintenance of a unique Towson cultural landscape.