May 10, 2015S. Mathews & Damon Six1 Human Geography By James Rubenstein Chapter 4 Key Issue 1 Where Do Folk and Popular Cultures Originate and Diffuse?

April 18, 2023 S. Mathews & Damon Six 1

Human Geography

By James Rubenstein

Chapter 4Key Issue 1

Where Do Folk and Popular Cultures Originate and Diffuse?


Habit

A repetitive act that a particular individual

performs.


Custom

A repetitive act of a group, performed to

the extent that it becomes characteristic

of the group.


A collection of social customs

produces a group’s material

culture.


Two basic categories of

material culture Folk Culture Popular Culture


Folk Culture

Material culture traditionally practiced primarily by small, homogeneous

groups living in isolated rural areas.


Popular CultureMaterial culture practiced by large, heterogeneous

societies that share habits despite differences in

personal characteristics, and most frequently originate in MDCs.


Scale of Territory

Territory of Folk culture is typically much

smaller than that of Popular culture.


Through Globalization

popular culture is becoming more

dominant, threatening the survival of unique

folk cultures.


Each social custom has a unique spatial distribution.


Two basic factors that explain spatial

differences

The process of origin The pattern of diffusion


Origin of Folk and Popular Cultures

Folk culture originates from anonymous sources, at unknown dates, through unidentified originators.

Popular culture is most often a product of the economically more developed countries;

- popular music- fast food


Popular culture is becoming more dominant, threatening the survival of unique folk cultures, which provide a unique identity to each group of people who occupy a specific

region on Earth’s surface.


Origin of Folk Music

Composed anonymously and transmitted orally.

Tell story or convey information about

- daily activities- life-cycle events- mysterious events


Example of Folk Culture

In Vietnam, where most people are subsistence farmers, information

about agricultural technology is conveyed

through folk songs.


Origin of Country Music

Folk customs may have multiple origins. Geographer George Carney identified 4

major hearths of country music- southern Appalachia- Central Tennessee and Kentucky- the Ozark and Ouachita uplands- north-central Texas


Origins of

country

music


Origin of Popular Music Written by specific individuals for the purpose of being sold to a large number of people.

Originated around 1900 Diffusion of American popular music worldwide began during World War II


Tin Pan AlleyCluster of

music writers and publishers

in New York City.


Diffusion of Hip Hop

Originated in New York in late 1970s.

A return to a very local form of music expression.

Diffused rapidly around the world through globalization.


Proximity of prominent hip hop

performers.


Diffusion of Folk and Popular

CulturesPopular culture diffuses rapidly and extensively

through the use of modern communications

and transportation.


The Spread of Popular CultureFollows the process of

hierarchical diffusion from hearths or nodes of

innovation.- Hollywood (movies)- Madison Avenue (advertising)


Folk CultureIs transmitted from one

location to another.- More slowly- At a smaller scale- Through relocation

diffusion


Relocation Diffusion

The spread of a characteristic through

migration.


The Amish An example of Relocation

Diffusion. Distinctive clothing, farming, and

religious practices. Shun mechanical and electrical

power. Travel by horse and buggy and

continue to use hand tools for farming.





Amish Settlements

Number only about 70,000 in US.

Visible on the landscape in at least 17 states.


Amish Settlements


Amish History Originated in Switzerland, France,

and Germany in the 1600s. Followers of Swiss Mennonite

bishop; Jakob Ammann. Two waves of Amish families

migrated to U.S.- in early 1700s, to

Pennsylvania.- in early 1800s, to Ohio, Iowa,

and Ontario.


Amish Communities Retain their traditional

customs. Relatively isolated from each

other. Diffusing slowly through

interregional migration.- in search of inexpensive

farm land- to escape influx of tourists


Soccer

An example of hierarchical diffusion of Popular Culture.

In the latter 20th Century, the world’s most popular sport.

Began as a folk culture.


Early History of Soccer Earliest documented contest took place in 11th century England (called “Kick the Dane’s head”). Between rival villages, with the winners kicking the ball into the center of the rival village. Renamed “football” in 12th Century. Banned by King Henry II at end of 12th Century. Legalized in 1603 by King James I.


From the World to Houston

PELE


Globalization of Soccer Began in 1800s. Rules were standardized in 1863. The Dutch were the first

continental Europeans to play soccer in 1870s.

The British diffused the game throughout their empire.

Soccer was further diffused by radio and television.


The Diffusion of Rugby Originated in England in 1823, when

football (soccer) player picked up the ball and ran with it.

Spread to the US in 1873, when Harvard representative successfully argued the adoption of rugby rules over soccer.

Later modified into American Style football.

Similar modification of Rugby rules were taken by Canadians, Australians, and the Irish.


Some Other Preferred Popular Sports

Cricket is popular in Britain and former British Colonies.

Ice hockey prevails in Canada, Northern Europe, and Russia.

Forms of Martial Arts are popular in China.

Baseball in the US and Japan.


Lacrosse

Known as “bump hips” began among the

Iroquois Confederation of North America.



GLOBALIZATION OF AN

AMERICAN SPORT:

BASKETBALL,

Ranong Province, Thailand


“TAKRAM”, sport in Thailand that is a

combination of soccer (“no hands”) & volleyball

(“net”)

May 10, 2015S. Mathews & Damon Six1 Human Geography By James Rubenstein Chapter 4 Key Issue 1 Where Do Folk and Popular Cultures Originate and Diffuse?

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