Themes in Cultural Themes in Cultural GeographyGeography

Different lenses on the worldDifferent lenses on the world

““There is no conversation more boring There is no conversation more boring than the one where everybody than the one where everybody agrees.”agrees.” Michel de Montaigne Michel de Montaigne

Five ThemesFive Themes

Culture RegionCulture Region Cultural DiffusionCultural Diffusion Cultural InteractionCultural Interaction Cultural EcologyCultural Ecology Landscape StudiesLandscape Studies

KEY GEOGRAPHICAL KEY GEOGRAPHICAL CONCEPTS and TERMSCONCEPTS and TERMS

CultureCulture Culture traitCulture trait Culture regionCulture region

FormalFormal FunctionalFunctional VernacularVernacular

Cultural diffusionCultural diffusion Expansion diffusionExpansion diffusion

contagious expansion diffusioncontagious expansion diffusion hierarchical expansion diffusionhierarchical expansion diffusion

Relocation diffusionRelocation diffusion

What is culture?What is culture?

PervasivePervasive Difficult to perceive from “inside”Difficult to perceive from “inside”

LearnedLearned Transmitted through socializationTransmitted through socialization

SharedShared What makes “us” different from “them”What makes “us” different from “them”

ContestedContested Culture includes forms of social control and oppression Culture includes forms of social control and oppression

that are resisted and negotiated by those in the that are resisted and negotiated by those in the subordinate positionsubordinate position

Contestation may lead to occasional shifts in cultural Contestation may lead to occasional shifts in cultural normsnorms

What is Culture?What is Culture?

Culture is the set of learned behaviors and symbolic Culture is the set of learned behaviors and symbolic systems transmitted through socialization, as well as the systems transmitted through socialization, as well as the set of material artifacts and systems used by a social set of material artifacts and systems used by a social group.group.

You are to your culture as a fish is to water: normally it is so You are to your culture as a fish is to water: normally it is so thoroughly ubiquitous that you have no way of recognizing thoroughly ubiquitous that you have no way of recognizing it; you can only know of its existence by temporarily leaping it; you can only know of its existence by temporarily leaping out (through thought or intercultural encounters)out (through thought or intercultural encounters)

““It's frightening to think that you mark your children merely It's frightening to think that you mark your children merely by being yourself. It seems unfair. You can't assume the by being yourself. It seems unfair. You can't assume the responsibility for everything you do -or don't do.” responsibility for everything you do -or don't do.”

Simone De Beauvoir Simone De Beauvoir

CULTURE TRAITSCULTURE TRAITS

Three types of culture traitsThree types of culture traits

Traits are the essential elements of cultureTraits are the essential elements of culture artifacts (material)artifacts (material) mentifacts (symbolic)mentifacts (symbolic) sociofacts (organizational)sociofacts (organizational)

These three types of culture traits are These three types of culture traits are interrelatedinterrelated: a trait like the can opener : a trait like the can opener implies the can (artifact), which implies a implies the can (artifact), which implies a market-based economy (sociofact), which market-based economy (sociofact), which implies the idea of money (mentifact), implies the idea of money (mentifact), etc…etc…

Remember Remember “hidden geographies”“hidden geographies” ? ?

ARTIFACTSARTIFACTS

What What sociofacts and sociofacts and mentifacts mentifacts might go might go along with along with them?them?

Feet like this Feet like this were were considered considered pretty for over pretty for over 1000 years in 1000 years in ChinaChina

Part of Culture ComplexPart of Culture Complex

Sociofacts:Sociofacts: ConfucianismConfucianism

Children are expected Children are expected to be subservient to to be subservient to adultsadults

Women are expected Women are expected to be subservient to to be subservient to menmen

StatusStatus Human presence in a Human presence in a

place is always place is always embodiedembodied

Embodied performance Embodied performance in place always reflects in place always reflects power relationspower relations

Mentifacts:Mentifacts: Tolerance for odd-Tolerance for odd-

smelling feetsmelling feet Physical impairment Physical impairment

understood collectively understood collectively as a as a signsign of a family’s of a family’s prestigeprestige

In the “best” families In the “best” families women are obviously women are obviously dependent and helplessdependent and helpless

In other words, a family In other words, a family shows that it is “good” shows that it is “good” (powerful) by displaying (powerful) by displaying the “prettiness” the “prettiness” (powerlessness) of its (powerlessness) of its womenwomen

New Chinese FadNew Chinese Fad

Leg stretching (Leg stretching (leg-leg-lengthening.jpglengthening.jpg)) Why?Why?

For economic successFor economic success ““Short people cannot succeed”Short people cannot succeed” The body’s size conveys its power to succeed in The body’s size conveys its power to succeed in

business, law, etc.business, law, etc. Capitalism is diffusing into China so this new value Capitalism is diffusing into China so this new value

system guides a reworking of the bodysystem guides a reworking of the body What ethical and moral values prevent this bodily What ethical and moral values prevent this bodily

deformation from diffusing into the US?deformation from diffusing into the US? What body-deforming practices do our values permit, What body-deforming practices do our values permit,

and why?and why?

Does Western culture Does Western culture include deformation of the include deformation of the

body?body?

A body-deforming artifact A body-deforming artifact found as early as 3000 BC found as early as 3000 BC (Crete)(Crete)

Later used by aristocratic Later used by aristocratic and aspiring American & and aspiring American & European womenEuropean women

Popularized in 19Popularized in 19thth c. c. Narrowed waist to 15 inches Narrowed waist to 15 inches

or less causing health or less causing health problemsproblems Shortness of breathShortness of breath FaintingFainting Back problemsBack problems Inability to participate in Inability to participate in

strenuous activities strenuous activities (including work, but also (including work, but also play)play)

Sociofacts linked to the use Sociofacts linked to the use of the corsetof the corset

Endured in modified form into Endured in modified form into the 1950sthe 1950s

Women of the upper classes Women of the upper classes “needed help” (out of seats, “needed help” (out of seats, up stairs, etc.)up stairs, etc.)

Families showed their class by Families showed their class by preventing girls from engaging preventing girls from engaging in strenuous activities like in strenuous activities like sports and manual laborsports and manual labor

““Good” women were Good” women were “delicate” and dependent “delicate” and dependent

Girls from working-class Girls from working-class families were not embodied in families were not embodied in this waythis way

From an 1883 diaryFrom an 1883 diary

While we were waiting for mother we witnessed While we were waiting for mother we witnessed [another teen] being most harshly laced by two [another teen] being most harshly laced by two other corseteriers, while she grasped an other corseteriers, while she grasped an overhead bar they leveraged her laces almost overhead bar they leveraged her laces almost brutally despite her painful groans... after brief brutally despite her painful groans... after brief pauses this process was repeated three times pauses this process was repeated three times until her mother granted approval.. although her until her mother granted approval.. although her waist was wonderfully narrowed she clearly was waist was wonderfully narrowed she clearly was in pain having to be assisted to a seat... in pain having to be assisted to a seat...

http://corsethome.eu.org/diary2.html

Yes, but we don’t deform the Yes, but we don’t deform the body to make it look thin any body to make it look thin any

more!more!

Actually we do, but the Actually we do, but the technology is chemical rather technology is chemical rather

than physicalthan physical 63% of American girls in 63% of American girls in

their teens have dietedtheir teens have dieted Only 14% are happy with Only 14% are happy with

their body size and shapetheir body size and shape In other words, these are In other words, these are

the body-deforming artifacts the body-deforming artifacts that match that match ourour sociofacts sociofacts and mentifactsand mentifacts

Is feminine “fragility” still a Is feminine “fragility” still a sign of social status, or is sign of social status, or is some other mentifact some other mentifact involved in today’s social involved in today’s social pressure for women to be pressure for women to be thin?thin?

What other body-What other body-deforming artifacts in deforming artifacts in

American culture can you American culture can you identify?identify?

A “rite of passage”?A “rite of passage”?

"Many kids will get "Many kids will get them on when they're them on when they're 10 or 11, and they'll 10 or 11, and they'll be getting them off be getting them off when they're starting when they're starting to hit 13," Dr. Baarsvik to hit 13," Dr. Baarsvik said. "It's a real rite of said. "It's a real rite of passage. It kind of passage. It kind of prepares them for the prepares them for the teen years." teen years."

http://www.s-t.com/daily/10-99/10-12-http://www.s-t.com/daily/10-99/10-12-99/c01he206.htm#cut99/c01he206.htm#cut

What are the social benefits of What are the social benefits of a “perfect” smile?a “perfect” smile?

CULTURE REGIONCULTURE REGION

Types of Culture RegionsTypes of Culture Regions

Formal RegionFormal Region Area where one or more traits can be found Area where one or more traits can be found

(region where people employ leg-lengthening (region where people employ leg-lengthening surgery)surgery)

Area where one or more traits are dominant Area where one or more traits are dominant (Anglophone region of North America)(Anglophone region of North America)

Functional RegionFunctional Region Area tied together by a coordinating system Area tied together by a coordinating system

(law, monetary system, roads, etc.)(law, monetary system, roads, etc.) Vernacular RegionVernacular Region

Area that ordinary people (non-geographers) Area that ordinary people (non-geographers) recognize as a region (e.g. New England)recognize as a region (e.g. New England)

What level of occurrence constitutes What level of occurrence constitutes “presence” of a trait in a particular “presence” of a trait in a particular

formal culture region?formal culture region? People in the region People in the region engage in certain activitiesengage in certain activities

all of them? most of them? some of them?all of them? most of them? some of them? belong to a particular groupbelong to a particular group

Is New Braunfels part of Texas’ Hispanic culture region?Is New Braunfels part of Texas’ Hispanic culture region? possess certain artifactspossess certain artifacts

If we call this a region where people have access to If we call this a region where people have access to state-of-the-art health care, are we leaving part of the state-of-the-art health care, are we leaving part of the population out?population out?

From the New Braunfels From the New Braunfels c.o.c. website …c.o.c. website …

Culture complexesCulture complexes

a culture complex is a closely related a culture complex is a closely related set of culture traitsset of culture traits

Some links are historicalSome links are historical Germanic language Germanic language Protestant Protestant

religionreligion Romance language Romance language Catholic religion Catholic religion

Some links are causalSome links are causal urban culture urban culture tolerance of lifestyle tolerance of lifestyle

diversitydiversity

Multiple traits define overlapping culture regions (formal)

Edges of culture regionsEdges of culture regions

exceptions to exceptions to general pattern of general pattern of culture complexesculture complexes

transition zonestransition zones areas of conflictareas of conflict areas of diffusionareas of diffusion

CULTURAL DIFFUSIONCULTURAL DIFFUSION

““An invasion of armies can be An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.” has come.” Victor Hugo, 'Histoire d'un crime,' Victor Hugo, 'Histoire d'un crime,'

18521852

Cultural Diffusion DefinedCultural Diffusion Defined

An increase in the spatial extent of a An increase in the spatial extent of a particular culture trait or culture particular culture trait or culture complex either through movement of complex either through movement of people through space (migration) or people through space (migration) or through the adoption of a culture through the adoption of a culture trait by other groups.trait by other groups.

PIZZAPIZZA

What was required What was required before frozen pizza before frozen pizza could become popular could become popular in the US?in the US? saturation of market saturation of market

with electrical with electrical refrigerationrefrigeration

dependence on the car dependence on the car for shopping tripsfor shopping trips

demand for fast fooddemand for fast food women in the women in the

workforceworkforce changing attitudes changing attitudes

about gender rolesabout gender roles small familiessmall families etc.etc.

Map example: Map example: diffusion of religiondiffusion of religion

Types of DiffusionTypes of Diffusion

Factors affecting diffusionFactors affecting diffusion

barriers to diffusionbarriers to diffusion different culture different culture

different languagedifferent language different religiondifferent religion etc.etc.

lack of necessary infrastructurelack of necessary infrastructure where are computers least likely to diffuse?where are computers least likely to diffuse? where are large grocery stores least likely to where are large grocery stores least likely to

diffuse?diffuse?

Factors affecting diffusionFactors affecting diffusion

cultural receptivity to diffusioncultural receptivity to diffusion Factors that cause diffusion to occur or Factors that cause diffusion to occur or

accelerate diffusionaccelerate diffusion same culture same culture

same languagesame language same religionsame religion etc.etc.

necessary infrastructurenecessary infrastructure affluenceaffluence what else?what else?

Cultural EcologyCultural Ecology

Human-environment relationshipsHuman-environment relationships To what extent does the environment To what extent does the environment

affect culture?affect culture?

environmentenvironment cultureculture To what extent does culture rework To what extent does culture rework

the environment?the environment?

cultureculture environmentenvironment

General TrendGeneral Trend

Environmental determinismEnvironmental determinism has been has been rejectedrejected

Current approaches are based on Current approaches are based on ecologyecology and and possibilismpossibilism

Much greater focus on human Much greater focus on human impacts on the environment than on impacts on the environment than on the environment’s culture-shaping the environment’s culture-shaping forceforce

Antiquated language of Antiquated language of Environmental Determinism Environmental Determinism

mixed with Racismmixed with Racism

““None of these None of these tropical peoplestropical peoples … has a native civilisation, or … has a native civilisation, or is fitted to play any part in history, either as a conquering or is fitted to play any part in history, either as a conquering or as a thinking force, or in any way, save as as a thinking force, or in any way, save as producers by producers by physical labour of material wealthphysical labour of material wealth. None is likely to develop . None is likely to develop towards any higher condition than that in which it now towards any higher condition than that in which it now stands, save under the stands, save under the tutelagetutelage, and by adopting so much as , and by adopting so much as it can of the culture, of the five or six European peoples it can of the culture, of the five or six European peoples which have practically appropriated the torrid zone, and are which have practically appropriated the torrid zone, and are dividing its resourcesdividing its resources among them. Yet the vast numbers to among them. Yet the vast numbers to which, under the conjoint stimuli of science and peace, these which, under the conjoint stimuli of science and peace, these inferior black and yellow racesinferior black and yellow races may grow, coupled with the may grow, coupled with the capacity capacity some of themsome of them evince for assimilating the material evince for assimilating the material side of European civilisation, may enable them to play a side of European civilisation, may enable them to play a larger part in the future of the world than they have played larger part in the future of the world than they have played in the past.”in the past.”

James Bryce, British Ambassador to the US, 1892James Bryce, British Ambassador to the US, 1892

Cultural EcologyCultural Ecology

Organism-environment relationship is Organism-environment relationship is reciprocal and mutually constitutivereciprocal and mutually constitutive, that , that is, it is a two-way street. The same is true is, it is a two-way street. The same is true of human-environment relations.of human-environment relations.

Animals adaptAnimals adapt to their environments over to their environments over eons, eons, geneticallygenetically

People adapt throughPeople adapt through culture culture CultureCulture is an adaptive strategy mainly (but is an adaptive strategy mainly (but

not entirely) limited to humans, involvingnot entirely) limited to humans, involving learned, cooperative behavior and major learned, cooperative behavior and major environmental modificationsenvironmental modifications

PossibilismPossibilism

Scientific philosophy that the Scientific philosophy that the environment does not determine environment does not determine elements of culture, but it does set elements of culture, but it does set bounds on the possible or probable forms bounds on the possible or probable forms that culture will takethat culture will take

Natural environments offer Natural environments offer opportunities opportunities and constraintsand constraints from which culture from which culture groups must choose, based on their groups must choose, based on their knowledge and internal power relationsknowledge and internal power relations

Cultural Landscape Cultural Landscape StudiesStudies

start with what you seestart with what you see

Case Study – Orrtana PACase Study – Orrtana PA

HousesHouses

How old do they appear to be?How old do they appear to be? Are there particular styles from a Are there particular styles from a

certain period?certain period? Do the styles change over time?Do the styles change over time?

Other BuildingsOther Buildings

What are they for?What are they for? What do they tell you about the way What do they tell you about the way

people lived in the past and present?people lived in the past and present?

““Pennsylvania Barn”Pennsylvania Barn”

Why do you think it has a “forebay”?

SpringhouseSpringhouse

What is it for?

Why here?

VegetationVegetation

What appears to be the What appears to be the natural natural vegetationvegetation of this area? of this area?

What kinds of plants are people What kinds of plants are people cultivatingcultivating here? here?

How has the How has the possibilitypossibility of growing these of growing these cultivars shaped life in this place?cultivars shaped life in this place?

How have people How have people reworked their natural reworked their natural environment environment to favor their cultivars?to favor their cultivars?

CommerceCommerce

What is being sold?What is being sold? Who is selling to whom?Who is selling to whom? How is this activity reflected in the How is this activity reflected in the

visible landscape?visible landscape?

Good landscape-based Good landscape-based geographygeography

Get a Get a feelfeel for the place for the place Try to partially escape the outsider’s Try to partially escape the outsider’s

perspectiveperspective Discover elements of an Discover elements of an insider’s sense of insider’s sense of

placeplace Rather than analyzing the place in abstract Rather than analyzing the place in abstract

terms or simply describing features, try to terms or simply describing features, try to understand how it feels to live hereunderstand how it feels to live here Ask: “What are the meanings people attach to Ask: “What are the meanings people attach to

places and things in this landscape?”places and things in this landscape?”

Family ties of landscape Family ties of landscape geographygeography

Travel writing evolved out of the early Travel writing evolved out of the early landscape geography (see Reclus quote), and it landscape geography (see Reclus quote), and it continues the tradition of continues the tradition of evocative language evocative language and appeal to the emotionsand appeal to the emotions

2020thth c. Geography reacted against the c. Geography reacted against the impressionist, poetic nature of early impressionist, poetic nature of early geographical writings by adopting a geographical writings by adopting a more more analytical approach and more prosaic languageanalytical approach and more prosaic language

National Geographic is somewhere in betweenNational Geographic is somewhere in between

ReviewReview

CultureCulture Difficulty perceiving from Difficulty perceiving from

insideinside ComplicatedComplicated

Culture traitCulture trait Culture regionCulture region

Can be defined by:Can be defined by: A culture trait (formal A culture trait (formal

region)region) A combination (complex) of A combination (complex) of

culture traits (formal region)culture traits (formal region) An organizing structure or An organizing structure or

system (functional region)system (functional region) Popular culture (vernacular Popular culture (vernacular

region)region) FormalFormal FunctionalFunctional VernacularVernacular

Cultural diffusionCultural diffusion The expansion of a culture trait The expansion of a culture trait

through space due to:through space due to: Expansion diffusionExpansion diffusion

contagious expansion diffusioncontagious expansion diffusion The neighborhood effectThe neighborhood effect

hierarchical expansion diffusionhierarchical expansion diffusion Communications and Communications and

commerce commerce Relocation diffusion Relocation diffusion

Immigration Immigration Adaptation and significant Adaptation and significant

reinterpretation (stimulus reinterpretation (stimulus diffusion)diffusion)

Barriers and Receptivity to Barriers and Receptivity to DiffusionDiffusion

Cultural interactionCultural interaction Cultures are integrated systems Cultures are integrated systems

in which each part (trait) is linked in which each part (trait) is linked to all of the othersto all of the others

This situation makes it most This situation makes it most appropriate to identify culture appropriate to identify culture regions defined not by single regions defined not by single traits but by complexes of traitstraits but by complexes of traits