FOLK AND POPULAR CULTURE

ORIGINS AND DIFFUSION OF FOLK AND POPULAR CULTURES

Origin of folk and popular culturesOrigin of folk music

Anonymous hearths, transmitted orally About everyday life, things that are familiar to group Country music hearts-Upper south

Origin of popular music Mass electronic production Tin Pan Alley and Hip Hop in New York

Diffusion of folk and popular culturesThe Amish: Relocation diffusion of folk

cultureSports: Hierarchical diffusion of popular

culture

TIN PAN ALLEY AND POPULAR MUSIC

Fig. 4-2: Writers and publishers of popular music were clustered in Tin Pan Alley in New York City in the early twentieth century. The area later moved north from 28th Street to Times Square.

Diffusion of folk and popular culturesPopular culture is spread by hierarchical

diffusion (Hollywood, New York)Folk culture is spread by relocation diffusion

ExamplesThe Amish: Relocation diffusion of folk culture

70,000, 17 states Migrated from Switzerland, France and Germany because

of low land prices

Sports: Hierarchical diffusion of Soccer 11th century in England, spread outward because of

increased leisure time Each country has preferred sports (Cricket, Hockey, Martial

Arts and Lacrosse) T.V. and internet allow global spectators

CLUSTERING OF FOLK CULTURES

Isolation promotes cultural diversityHimalayan art styles that show differences

among geographically close culture groups Tibet, Nepal, Hindus and Animist art styles

Influence of the physical environment on food People hold on to old food habits after assimilating People adapt their food preferences based on

environment Soybeans, quick frying and stewing/roasting Certain foods are avoided or desired

Bulls, mandrake, otters, potatoes, or goats Transylvanian food diversity

Romanians, Jews, Armenians and Hungarians

HIMALAYAN FOLK CULTURAL REGIONS

Fig. 4-5: Cultural geographers have identified four distinct culture regions based on predominant religions in the Himalaya Mountains.

Folk Housing is a product of both cultural traditions and environmental conditions Houses are made from nearby materials and

influenced by social factors Environment influences floor plans based on

climate Social conditions affect the floor plan of houses

Fiji, China, Middle East, India, Africa, Madagascar, Java

U.S. Folk House Forms 3 hearths-New England, Mid Atlantic, Lower

Chesapeake New England-Saltbox, Two-Chimney, Cape Cod

and Front Gable & wing Middle Atlantic- “I” house Lower Chesapeake- steep roof and chimneys

HOUSE TYPES IN WESTERN CHINA

DIFFUSION OF NEW ENGLAND HOUSE TYPES

Fig. 4-10: Four main New England house types of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries diffused westward as settlers migrated.

U.S. HOUSE TYPES BY REGION

Fig. 4-1-1: Small towns in different regions of the eastern U.S. have different combinations of five main house types.

WIDE DISPERSION OF POPULAR CULTURE

Diffusion of popular housing, clothing, and foodPopular housing styles

Transition from space to time, housing reflects fashion

Rapid diffusion of clothing styles Clothing reflects occupation and income

Popular food customs Alcohol and snacks

U.S. HOUSE TYPES, 1945–1990

Fig. 4-11: Several variations of the “modern style” were dominant from the 1940s into the 1970s. Since then, “neo-eclectic” styles have become the dominant type of house construction in the U.S.

Television and diffusion of popular cultureDiffusion of television

Introduced in the 1930s By 1950 ¾ of homes had a TV 4 major categories of countries

Diffusion of the internet Highest number of internet hosts are in MDCs Will diffuse faster than TV

Government control of television People turned on the TV and watched what the

government wanted them to see Singapore banned satellites but wants MTV and

HBO to have their Asian headquarters there Satellites hastened the fall of the Communism

DISTRIBUTION OF INTERNET HOSTS

Fig. 4-15: The U.S. had two-thirds of the world’s internet hosts in 2002. Diffusion of internet service is likely to follow the pattern of TV diffusion, but the rate of this diffusion may differ.

IMPACTS OF THE GLOBALIZATION OF POPULAR CULTURE Threats to folk culture

Loss of traditional values Wearing clothing from an MDC is controversial Fundamentalist Muslims oppose western clothing Threatens subservient role of women

Foreign media dominance MDCs new form of Imperialism

Environmental impacts of popular culture Modifying nature-golf courses Uniform landscapes-every town looks the same Negative environmental impact

Increased demand of natural resources and pollution