Chapter 4:Folk and Popular

Culture

HABITS CUSTOMS CULTURE

A repetitive act that an individual performs

A repetitive act performed by a group to the extent that it becomes a characteristic of the group

A group’s entire collection of customs.

Material CultureSurvival activities from one’s daily lifeFood, clothing, shelter

Culture involving leisure activities

Arts and recreation

Mali

India

China

Japan

Iceland

Russia

Kuwait

South Africa

The Philippines

The United States

Folk Culture vs. Popular Culture

Folk Culture Popular Culture

Practiced by small, homogenous groups living in isolated areas

Found in large, heterogeneous societies that share certain habits despite differences in other personal characteristics.

A group develops distinctive customs from experiencing local social and physical conditions in a given place.

Is more widespread than folk culture

Spreads through relocation diffusion (migration)

Spreads through hierarchical or contagious diffusion

Isolation from other cultures contains the spread of certain folk cultures.

Advances in technology and increased leisure time allow customs to spread rapidly.

Prevalent in areas still heavily reliant on agriculture as an economic base

Prevalent in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan

Often have anonymous hearths, or centers of innovation (& multiple hearths, originating independently in isolated locations

Hearth of innovation is identifiable– for example, we can trace the origins of jazz music in the U.S.

B/c of globalization, pop culture is becoming more dominant, threatening the survival of folk culture.

Folk culture provides a unique identity to each group who occupies a specific region of Earth. Disappearance of folk culture lead to less

diversity in the world, or a “uniform” cultural landscape

B/c of globalization, pop culture is becoming more dominant, threatening the survival of folk culture.

Folk culture provides a unique identity to each group who occupies a specific region of Earth. Disappearance of folk culture lead to less

diversity in the world, or a “uniform” cultural landscape

Origins of Folk & Popular

MusicFOLK:

Usually (not always) composed anonymously and transmitted orally

May change from one generation to the next

Almost always derived from “everyday life” events experienced by the people of a certain cultural groupFarmingLife cycle events (marriage, birth,

death)Religious or mysterious events

FOLK:Usually (not always) composed

anonymously and transmitted orallyMay change from one generation to the

nextAlmost always derived from “everyday life”

events experienced by the people of a certain cultural groupFarmingLife cycle events (marriage, birth,

death)Religious or mysterious events

“Big Rock Candy Mountain”

“Po’ Lazarus”

“O Death”

Origins of Folk & Popular

MusicPOPULAR:

Written by specific individuals for purpose of selling it.

High degree of technical skill and sometimes can only be performed in a studio.

Originated around 1900 Tin Pan Alley in NYC (printed music)

Diffusion began during WWII when music was broadcast worldwide by Armed Forces Radio Network wherever soldiers went. As a result, English became the international language for popular music.

POPULAR: Written by specific individuals for

purpose of selling it. High degree of technical skill and

sometimes can only be performed in a studio.

Originated around 1900 Tin Pan Alley in NYC (printed music)

Diffusion began during WWII when music was broadcast worldwide by Armed Forces Radio Network wherever soldiers went. As a result, English became the international language for popular music.

Origins of Folk & Popular

MusicPOPULAR (cont’d):

Hip Hop- Originated in the South Bronx in the late 1970s Low income African Americans & Puerto

Ricans Spread into other parts of NYC including

Queens, Brooklyn, and Harlem Diffused to major cities in South,

Midwest, and West

Interplay between local diversity & globalization Themes play on local references, but

the music is distributed worldwide and purchased by mass amount of people

Technology today allows to rapid diffusion (iTunes)

POPULAR (cont’d): Hip Hop- Originated in the South

Bronx in the late 1970s Low income African Americans & Puerto

Ricans Spread into other parts of NYC including

Queens, Brooklyn, and Harlem Diffused to major cities in South,

Midwest, and West

Interplay between local diversity & globalization Themes play on local references, but

the music is distributed worldwide and purchased by mass amount of people

Technology today allows to rapid diffusion (iTunes)

The Diffusion of Folk & Popular Culture

Pop culture follows hierarchical diffusion from hearths.

Examples… Hollywood for movies; Madison Ave, NY for advertising.

Pop culture diffuses rapidly through the use of modern communication and transportation.

Folk culture is transmitted through relocation diffusion

It spreads from one location to another slowly and on a smaller scale.

The Amish: Relocation Diffusion of Folk Culture

How has Amish culture spread

through relocation diffusion?

Soccer: Hierarchical Diffusion of Popular Culture

Began as a folk culture tradition

“Kick the Dane’s head” Cow bladders Medieval village games

1800s- Rec clubs formed in Britain

Football Association formed in 1863, professional teams created

Exported around the world to other countries and colonies of the British Empire

Most popular in Europe & Latin AmericaU.S. adopted rugby rules, eventually adapted to American football

Other Sports in Popular Culture

Each country has its own favorite sports.Cricket in BritainFootball in U.S.Hockey in Canada, RussiaMartial Arts in China

Willingness throughout the world to pay for the privilege of viewing, whether on TV or in person, events played by professional athletes.

The most viewed event in history is the World Cup soccer final every 4 years. In the US, most viewed is the Super Bowl.

Each country has its own favorite sports.Cricket in BritainFootball in U.S.Hockey in Canada, RussiaMartial Arts in China

Willingness throughout the world to pay for the privilege of viewing, whether on TV or in person, events played by professional athletes.

The most viewed event in history is the World Cup soccer final every 4 years. In the US, most viewed is the Super Bowl.