Pop & Folk GeographyPop & Folk Geography

Human Geography Human Geography

Mr. FitzgeraldMr. Fitzgerald

What is Culture? What is Culture?

Culture can be defined as all the Culture can be defined as all the behaviors, arts, beliefs and behaviors, arts, beliefs and institutions of a population that are institutions of a population that are passed down from generation to passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called generation. Culture has been called "the way of life for an entire society." "the way of life for an entire society."

What is Cool?What is Cool?

Differences between popular and Differences between popular and folk culturefolk culture

Popular culturePopular culture– Consists of large masses of people who Consists of large masses of people who

conform to and prescribe to ever-changing conform to and prescribe to ever-changing normsnorms

– Large heterogeneous groupsLarge heterogeneous groups– Often highly individualistic and groups are Often highly individualistic and groups are

constantly changingconstantly changing– Pronounced division of labor leading to Pronounced division of labor leading to

establishment of specialized professionsestablishment of specialized professions– Police and army take the place of religion and Police and army take the place of religion and

family in maintaining orderfamily in maintaining order

Differences between popular and Differences between popular and folk culturefolk culture

Popular culturePopular culture– Money based economy prevailsMoney based economy prevails– Replacing folk culture in industrialized Replacing folk culture in industrialized

countries and many developing nationscountries and many developing nations– Folk-made objects give way to their Folk-made objects give way to their

popular equivalentpopular equivalent Item is more quickly or cheaply producedItem is more quickly or cheaply producedEasier or time-saving to useEasier or time-saving to useLends prestige to ownerLends prestige to owner

Differences between popular and Differences between popular and folk culturefolk culture

Folk cultureFolk culture– Made up of people who maintain the traditionalMade up of people who maintain the traditional– Describes people who live in an old-fashioned Describes people who live in an old-fashioned

way-simpler life-styleway-simpler life-style– Rural, cohesive, conservative, largely self-Rural, cohesive, conservative, largely self-

sufficient group, homogeneous in customsufficient group, homogeneous in custom– Strong family or clan structure and highly Strong family or clan structure and highly

developed ritualsdeveloped rituals– Tradition is paramount — change comes Tradition is paramount — change comes

infrequently and slowlyinfrequently and slowly

Differences between popular and Differences between popular and folk culturefolk culture

Folk cultureFolk cultureLittle specialization in labor though duties Little specialization in labor though duties

may vary between gendersmay vary between gendersSubsistence economy prevailsSubsistence economy prevails Individualism and social classes are weakly Individualism and social classes are weakly

developeddeveloped In parts of the less-developed world, folk In parts of the less-developed world, folk

cultures remain commoncultures remain common Industrialized countries no longer have Industrialized countries no longer have

unaltered folk culturesunaltered folk cultures

Differences between popular and Differences between popular and folk culturefolk culture

Folk cultureFolk cultureThe Amish in the United StatesThe Amish in the United States

– Perhaps the nearest modem equivalent in Anglo-Perhaps the nearest modem equivalent in Anglo-AmericaAmerica

– German-American farming sectGerman-American farming sect– Largely renounces products and labor-saving Largely renounces products and labor-saving

devices of the industrial agedevices of the industrial age– Horse-drawn buggies still used, and faithful own Horse-drawn buggies still used, and faithful own

no autos or appliancesno autos or appliances– Central religion concept of Central religion concept of demut, ”demut, ”humility,” humility,”

reflects weakness of individualism and social classreflects weakness of individualism and social class– Rarely marry outside their sectRarely marry outside their sect

Differences between popular and Differences between popular and folk culturefolk culture

Folk cultureFolk culture Typically, bearers of folk culture combine folk and Typically, bearers of folk culture combine folk and

nonfolk elements in their livesnonfolk elements in their lives Includes both material and nonmaterial elementsIncludes both material and nonmaterial elements

– Material culture Material culture includes all objects or “things” made includes all objects or “things” made and used by members of a cultural group—material and used by members of a cultural group—material elements are visibleelements are visible

– Nomnaterial culture, Nomnaterial culture, including folklore, can be defined including folklore, can be defined as oral, including the wide range of tales, songs, lore, as oral, including the wide range of tales, songs, lore, beliefs, superstitions, and customsbeliefs, superstitions, and customs

Other aspects of nonmaterial culture include dialects, Other aspects of nonmaterial culture include dialects, religions, and worldviewsreligions, and worldviews

Folk geography—defined Folk geography—defined as the study of the spatial as the study of the spatial patterns and ecology of folklifepatterns and ecology of folklife

Culture RegionsCulture Regions

Folk Culture RegionsFolk Culture Regions Folk Cultural DiffusionFolk Cultural Diffusion Folk EcologyFolk Ecology Cultural Integration in Folk Cultural Integration in Folk

GeographyGeography Folk LandscapesFolk Landscapes

Material folk culture regionsMaterial folk culture regions

Vestiges of material folk culture Vestiges of material folk culture remain in various parts of the United remain in various parts of the United States and Canada States and Canada

Material artifacts of 15 culture Material artifacts of 15 culture regions in North America survive in regions in North America survive in some abundance though they are in some abundance though they are in general declinegeneral decline

Material folk culture regionsMaterial folk culture regions

Each region possesses many Each region possesses many distinctive items of material culturedistinctive items of material culture– Germanized Pennsylvanian folk region—Germanized Pennsylvanian folk region—

has an unusual SwissGerman type of has an unusual SwissGerman type of barn barn

– Yankee folk region—traditional Yankee folk region—traditional gravestone art, with “winged death gravestone art, with “winged death heads,” and barns attached to the rear heads,” and barns attached to the rear of housesof houses