1. Why is Popular Culture Widely Distributed?
Diffusion of pop housing, clothes, and Food

2. Pop Housing
Rapid diffusion of pop culture depends on people having a lot of $ to acquire the material possessions associated w/ pop culture
Ranch house popular in 50s and 60s- requires large lot and encouraged urban sprawl
Split-level popular 50s -70s
Contemporary style w/ low pitched roofs and shed style popular 50s -70s

3. Ranch

4. Split-Level

5. Contemporary

6. Pop Housing Since 1960s, neo-eclectic styles have dominated
pop housing has demonstrated that differences in homes vary more with time than place.
Mansard- 2nd story has shingles and walls slope up to roof.
Neo-Tudor- steep pitched gables and timber/plaster exterior
Neo-French- dormer windows w/ round tops and high-hipped roof
Neo-Colonial- popular but never dominant

7. Mansard

8. Neo-Tudor

9. Neo-French

10. Neo-Colonial

11. Pop-Clothes
In MDCs, clothing reflects occupation rather than environment. High incomes allow people to keep up with fashions
Jeans became popular in 1960’s as teens wore them. traditionally low-status workmen’s clothes.
Under communism, jeans became valuable as people in communist countries were exposed to pop culture but couldn’t consume the products ($400 black market)
(Guns vs butter)
Now Levi’s are available around the world, but losing popularity in USA

13. Pop-Food
Consumption of alcohol and snacks in large quantities is characteristic of pop culture societies. The type varies by region
Bourbon in the South, Rum on E. coast, Whiskey in North. Pork rinds in South, popcorn and chips in North. High consumption due to income and advertising
Spatial distribution of wine production shows that environment plays a role in both pop and folk food customs
Wine and coffee tasters can tell where the stuff was grown by taste.

16. TV
Watching TV is the most popular leisure activity in MDCs, and it is the most important mechanism by which pop culture is diffused.
The diffusion of TV from US to world took 50 years, while Internet took only a decade
Pattern of private commercial stations in the West, uncommon elsewhere
LDCs manage TV through government- censorship, but it is easy to hide a satellite

18. Why does Globalization of Culture Cause Problems?
Threats to Folk Culture
Environmental Impact of Pop Culture

19. Threats to Folk Culture
Pop culture as a threat to folk culture- when people turn away from folk to pop, they also may turn away from traditional values.
The diffusion of pop culture from MDCs can lead to dominance of Western perspectives.
In Africa, Asia, urban business/gov’t leaders wear suits while the rest of the pop does not.
In Middle East, fundamentalist Muslims oppose the widespread adoption of Western clothes, especially women

21. Threats to Folk Culture
Pop culture threatens the traditional subservience of women to men embedded in many folk cultures. However, pop culture has led to the exploitation of women as well, especially in LDCs. Increased prostitution, sex tourism
Leaders of some LDCs consider the dominance of pop customs by MDCs as a threat to independence. The threat is posed by the media, news-gathering organizations, and TV
Japan- S and E Asia, UK- Africa, USA- Latin America, Europe
Leaders of LDCs view the spread of TV as a new method of economic and cultural imperialism on the part of the MDCs, especially the USA

24. Threats to Folk Culture
American TV presents American social forms and beliefs, like social mobility, relative freedom for women, glorification of youth, and stylized violence. These themes may conflict with and drive out traditional social customs
LDCs fear western news more than entertainment. The diffusion of information around the world is dominated by news gathering companies AP and Reuters. News sources then buy the stories, pictures, and video from these agencies.
LDCs rely on gov’t owned agencies for news gathering

25. Threats to Folk Culture

26. Impact on Environment
Pop culture on environment- for many pop customs the environment is something to be modified to enhance participation in a leisure activity or promote the sale of a product (golf)

27. Environmental Impact