Cultural Concerns

The end of folk culture?

Part I: Societies

• Group:• Set of people who interact on the

basis of shared expectations and who possess some degree of common identity

• The largest and most complex groups that sociologists study are societies

• Preindustrial vs. Industrial/Post-Industrial

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Part 2: Preindustrial• Definition:• Food

production is carried out through human and animal labor

• Food production is main economic activity

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Preindustrial• Types of Preindustrial

Societies:–Hunting and Gathering –Pastoral –Horticultural–Agricultural

• Gemeinschaft (community); characterized by mechanic solidarity

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Preindustrial• Practice Folk Culture:• Practiced by small,

homogenous, rural groups living in relative isolation

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Folk Culture• Folk Culture is RAPIDLY

changing and/or disappearing throughout much of the world

Characteristics: Folk Culture

• Stable & close knit• Generally rural• Tradition rules• Resistant to change• Buildings erected without

architect or blueprint; locally available building materials

Folk Food

How did such differences develop?

• Effects on Landscape: • Usually

of limited scale and scope

Folk Architecture

Part 3: Industrial and Postindustrial Societies

Industrial • Definition:• Emphasis

shifts from production of food to production of manufactured goods

• Most production is carried out by machines

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Postindustrial

• Definition:• Much of the

economy is involved in providing information and services

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Industrial • Effects:• New

technology• Increase in

population• Urbanization• \

Postindustrial • Effects:

• Higher standard of living

• Strong emphasis on science/education

• Technological advances

• Emphasis on social equality and democracy

• Gesellschaft (society); characterized by organic solidarity• Popular Culture

• Definition: • Found in a large,

heterogeneous society that shares certain habits despite differences in personal characteristics

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Popular Culture

Characteristics: Pop Culture

• Wide Distribution:• Differences from place to place

uncommon; differences in one place over time are more likely

• Housing:• Only small regional variations;

trends over time

Characteristics: Pop Culture

• Food:• Franchises, cargo planes,

superhighways & freezer trucks have eliminated local variation

Pop Culture: Effects on…• Effects on Landscape:• Breeds homogenous, “placeless”

landscape–Complex network of roads & highways

–Commercial structures trend towards “boxes”

–Planned & gated communities increasingly common

Pop Culture: Effects on…• Disconnect with landscape:• Indoor swimming pools, desert

surfing

Is this the end of Folk Culture?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As3pWXoq_as&feature=related