CHAPTER 4: MANY WORLDS (Cultures): GEOGRAPHIES OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCE

CHAPTER 4: MANY WORLDS (Cultures):GEOGRAPHIES OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCE

1

Introduction

• How geographic differences are influenced by culture– World view affects perceptions and

perceptions affect behavior – • Foundational assumptions, attitudes, religion &

cosmology– Segregation in the United States– Pejorative and racist place-names

2

Introduction

• How geographic differences develop– Cultural differences over short

distances—example of south Florida

– Effects of globalization

3

Introduction

• Cultural Geographies– No single way of seeing land and

landscape– Places experienced differently

between men and women– Relation to self and belonging

4

Many cultures

• Increasing influence of globalization– First use of word culture in the

fifteenth century– Term folk culture is invented – relic

• Example: Amish, Cajun, Gullah,Garifina (Central Americ)

– Subcultures – age, economic, regional

• Examples: “Baby Boomers,” Bikers, Senior Citizens, etc. 5

Origin of Folk culture

• Social custom originates at a hearth

• Origin of folk customs– Anonymous hearths– Unknown date– Unidentified originators– FOLK SONGS

• Content derived from everyday life • Tell a story – historic event or struggle

– 16 Tona

6

16 Tons

• Some people say a man is made outta mudA poor man's made outta muscle and bloodMuscle and blood and skin and bonesA mind that's a-weak and a back that's strong

You load sixteen tons, what do you getAnother day older and deeper in debtSaint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't goI owe my soul to the company store

7

• I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shineI picked up my shovel and I walked to the mineI loaded sixteen tons of number nine coalAnd the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"

You load sixteen tons, what do you getAnother day older and deeper in debtSaint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't goI owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin', it was drizzlin' rainFightin' and trouble are my middle nameI was raised in the canebrake by an ol' mama lionCain't no-a high-toned woman make me walk the line

8

Maintaining folk culture by immigrants in a new land.

The Human Mosaic 9

Ethnic minority drummers in China

The Human Mosaic 10

Amish in Pennsylvania

11

Amish Settlements

12

Amish Diffusion

• Interregional migration

• Every adult son is to receive a farm– Finite quantity of suitable land in Lancaster,

Pennsylvania– Movement to places where farmland prices

are lower and land is available• Christian & Todd counties in Kentucky

• To escape tourists who come to gawk

The Human Mosaic 13

Many cultures

• Classifying culture traits– Material culture

• Examples: distinctive tools, utensils, furniture, etc.

– Nonmaterial culture (conscious & subconscious)

• Examples: attitudes, objectives, mores, biases & prejudices

14

Material Culture traits (objects): Sicilian Wedding Cart

The Human Mosaic 15

Many cultures

• Classifying cultures– Folk culture (common

characteristics)• Maintaining a way of life the way it was in the

past• Rural people• Cohesive• Order maintained through religion or family• Folk geography • Examples: Amish, Cajun,

16

Many cultures

• Classifying cultures– Popular culture

• Originates at a particular time & Place• Usually has a known originator• Mainly in urban areas• Access to media – particularly the Internet • Cash economy • Tends to change & respond to fads

17

Chinese Punk Rock BandTrendsetters: the Beetles

Hip-Hop culture – distinctive dress w/bling

The Human Mosaic 18

Globalization of Hip-Hop: Tokyo Urban Hip-Hop

The Human Mosaic 19

Hip-Hop art: mural on exhibition

The Human Mosaic 20

Many cultures

• Classifying cultures– Popular culture

• Family structure weak• Examples of outside influences

– Media– Internet

• Secular institutions of authority – Beetles more popular than Jesus

according to John Lennon– Opinions of peers trumps that of

parents or religious or educational institutions

21

• Classifying cultures– Indigenous culture

• Native• Convention of indigenous and tribal peoples• Somewhat like folk cultures except by origin• Live in colonized homelands

– Examples in USA? 22

Ainu on Hokkaido, Japan Australian Aborigines

Folk & Popular sports• Modern spectator sports – examples of

popular culture

• Soccer– Began as a British folk sport 11th century– Became a popular sport (globalization)

• Diffused to Europe 19th century• Spread with European imperialism• The World Cup is a major international event

23

Surviving folk sports

• Britain & former colonies – cricket

• Ice Hockey – Canada, N. Europe, & Russia

• China – martial arts

• Baseball – North America, Japan, Dominican Republic

• Football – grew out of modified rugby in U.S.

• Lacrosse – developed from an Iroquois game & spread to Canada, U.S., England & Australia

24

Regions of difference

• Material folk culture regions– Vestiges of folk

culture remain in the United States

• House types• Example of African-

American culture• Mormon

25

House Type Diffusion

The Human Mosaic 26

Diffusion of New England house types

Florissant, MO – French house types

27

The Human Mosaic 28

French vertical log cabins in St. Genevieve, MOFrench vertical log cabins in St. Genevieve, MO29

The Human Mosaic 30


• Material folk culture regions– Example: Québec French folk region, Cajun

Louisiana

– Can be a force for dissolution or devolution in multi-national states such as Canada

• Large number of people• Located primarily in one large province 31

The Human Mosaic 32

The Human Mosaic 33

Britain has granted Scotland its own parliament and Wales may follow. Sometimes granting greater autonomy can stave off a full scale revolt and independence.


• Is popular culture placeless?– Greater mobility– Less attachment to place– Geographer Weiss—identified 40

“lifestyle clusters” in the United States• Used zip codes• Subcultures

34

• Indigenous culture regions– Generally

located in more remote areas

– Example of “Hill Tribes” of South Asia

– Persist in Central America—example: Mayan culture region

– Andean region of South America

35

Andean Village

Mayan Hut

The Human Mosaic 36

Pamfillo, 18-yr-old Mayan young man in Belize with Jesuit priest Fr. Rich Buhler. Pamfillo was raised in a home like the one in the previous slide.

37

Folk and Popular food Customs

• Food and drink– Customs influenced by environment conditions– People accept or reject foods for cultural (often

religious) reasons– Vary from place to place in the United

States: preferred types & names of common types

• The South

• The North

• Fast-food consumption spatial variations

38

German Mett....raw pork marinated with spices and onions...yumz!

Environmental Influences

• Fuel scarcity– Soybeans – toxic when eaten raw

• Changed when cooked but uses much energy• Asian solutions – don’t cook

– Soy sauce (fermented)– Bean curd (steamed)– Bean sprouts (germinated seeds)

– Southern Europe – quick frying uses less fuel– Northern Europe – no shortage of fuel (wood)

• Foods prepared by slow stewing & roasting– Also provided home heat in a cold climate

39

Pan-fried tofu

Food & Drink Taboos• Often embedded in religions

• May reflect environmental concerns– Vegans, etc.

• Jews from eating pork & some other animals– Kosher preparation guidelines– Certain mixtures are to be avoided

• Muslims– Pork & alcohol

• Hindus– Sanctions against eating beef– Many are vegetarians 40

World wine production

41

Wine• Distribution is

environmentally influenced– Requirements for wine

grapes• Soil coarse & well drained• Climate – best where

precipitation comes in the winter (Mediterranean climate)

• Exposure to sun planted on hillsides

– South-facing in the northern hemisphere

– North facing in the southern hemisphere 42

Popular Clothing preferences• More Developed

Countries (MDCs)– Choices reflect occupation

& income rather than environment

– More affected by globalization (media)

• LDCs & folk cultures– More influenced by

environment and local/regional cultures & religions 43

The Human Mosaic 44

Jeans: America’s great contribution• Diffusion of

Western (U.S.) popular culture

• Produced all over the world– People pay

premium prices for Levi Strauss – even used pairs

• Worn everywhere

45

The Human Mosaic 46

Jeans

47

Diffusion of Popular Media• Television is “King”

• Internet may be heir apparent

48

49


• Popular music– Easily viewed and obtained from

modern m edia– Different styles of music reveal

geographical patterns – particularly folk and indigenous music

• Cajun: Doug Kershaw http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2h2s5_doug-kershaw-mensonge-de-la-fouille_extreme

– Example of Elvis Presley • Changed the nature and performance of

popular music on a world-wide scale• Likewise, the Beetles world-wide influence

50

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2h2s5_doug-kershaw-mensonge-de-la-fouille_extreme

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2h2s5_doug-kershaw-mensonge-de-la-fouille_extreme


• Vernacular culture regions– Spatial perception of population– Wilbur Zelinsky's vernacular regions– Joseph Brownell sought to delimit

“Midwest”– Often perpetuated by mass media

The Human Mosaic 51

Wilbur Zelinsky's vernacular regions

The Human Mosaic 52

Vernacular Architecture• It is a type of architecture

which takes shape during time and is based on the culture, climate, and materials of it's region as well as on the needs of its inhabitants. It becomes a pattern (model) and is a specification (defining trait) of the region.

The Human Mosaic 53

The Human Mosaic 54

Diffusion and cultural difference

• Agricultural fairs– Spread in a folk setting– Example of spread from Yankee folk

region– Promoted by agricultural societies

• Entertainment was added—racetrack and midway

• Best prize in agricultural products was added

The Human Mosaic 55


• Blowguns: diffusion or independent invention?– Found in both hemispheres– Probably first used on the island of

Borneo– No written record of their beginning or use– Factors that can resolve the issue

The Human Mosaic 56

Amazon Blowgun

The Human Mosaic 57

Blowguns from Borneo

The Human Mosaic 58


• Diffusion in popular culture– Hierarchical diffusion and

McDonald's restaurants– Reverse hierarchical diffusion and

Wal-Mart– Role of modern transportation and

communications networks

The Human Mosaic 59


• Advertising– Most effective in popular culture

• Can determine success or failure of a product• Minimized importance of time-distance decay

– Image of place

The Human Mosaic 60


• Communications barriers– Example of radio stations refusing to

play punk rock• Other forms of music encountered similar

problems• Live concerts helped spread the music

– 1950s TV wouldn’t show Elvis below the waist

The Human Mosaic 61


• Communications barriers– Government censorship

• Example of Iran• Example of Taliban in Afghanistan• Not sustainable because of modern

communications– 1989 Tiananmen Square

– Newspapers can act as selective barriers

The Human Mosaic 62

Tiananmen Square Demonstrations 1989

The Human Mosaic 63

IV. Diffusion and cultural difference

• Diffusion of the rodeo– Rooted in the ranching culture—

neighborhood effect– Started in folk culture

• Cowboys held contests at roundup time• Became formalized with prizes

The Human Mosaic 64


• Diffusion of the rodeo– Commercial rodeo

• Example of Wild West show at Omaha• Commercial rodeos spread throughout the

West and parts of Canada• Greatest acceptance in popular culture west of

Mississippi and Missouri River

The Human Mosaic 65

Ecologies of difference

• Indigenous ecology– Most see indigenous cultures as

knowledgeable about their environment

– During European colonialization, indigenous peoples seen as destroyers of the land

The Human Mosaic 66


• Indigenous ecology– Indigenous cultures often occupy

territory viewed as critical to global diversity

• Best known example?

• Example of national parks and other protected areas

The Human Mosaic 67


• Indigenous ecology– Indigenous cultures often occupy

territory viewed as critical to global diversity

• Tropical rainforests around the world• Importance of knowledge for management and

land use practices

The Human Mosaic 68


• Local knowledge– Indigenous technical knowledge (ITK)

• May be superior to Western scientific knowledge

• Allowed experimentation with new crops and agricultural techniques

– Global economy applies heavy pressure to subsistence economies

The Human Mosaic 69


• Global economy– Example of the Miskito Indians in

Nicaragua• Subsistence economy• Outside demand for green turtles decimated

population• Subsistence production in other areas suffered

The Human Mosaic 70


• Global economy– Indigenous cultures sometimes must

seek support from government agencies• Example of the Quichua populations in the

Ecuadorian Andes• Must use outside ideas and technologies to

promote their own culture

The Human Mosaic 71


• Folk ecology– Have close ties to the land– When migrating seek lands similar to

ones left behind– Example of Appalachian hill people

The Human Mosaic 72


• Gendered ecology– Gender is an important variable in

cultural ecology– Distinct roles in agroforestry– Example: Diane Rocheleau’s gender

study– Environmental planning should

address gendered differences

The Human Mosaic 73


• Ecology of popular culture– People less tied to environment– People have enormous potential for

producing ecological disasters – Popular culture impacts

• Increasing demand for natural resources• Air and water pollution• Land use

– Desert golf courses – poor use of finite water supplies

74

• Ecology of popular culture– Recreation

• Increased in affluent regions• Recreational machines create air pollution• Soil erosion• Overtaxing of environments in national parks

75

Interaction and difference

• Introduction– Core beliefs in folk culture limit

degree of environmental disturbance

– Popular culture has potential, through interaction, to cause massive restructuring

76


• Introduction– Cultures are converging– Wilbur Zelinsky's given-name study

77


• Mapping personal preference– Media often produces place images

• Color our perception• May be inaccurate• Example of Hawaii

– People have always formed images of faraway places

78

Landscapes of difference

• Folk architecture– Very

distinctive– Little change

over time– Traditional,

conservative, and functional structures

79


• Folk architecture– Harmony with the environment– Numerous characteristics help

classify farmsteads and dwellings • Helps to establish cultural influences in a

region

80


• Folk housing in Sub-Saharan Africa– Compound of buildings—kraal– Use of local materials– Shapes differ

The Human Mosaic 81


• Folk housing in Sub-Saharan Africa– Different cultures identified by change in

house types– Example: Ndebele culture region

The Human Mosaic 82


• Folk housing in North America– Few are

built today– Yankee

folk houses• New England

“large” house• Changed as

Yankee folk migrated westward The Human Mosaic 83


• Folk housing in North America– Upland southern folk houses

• Smaller—built of notched logs• Dogtrot house• French-derived Creole cottage

84

Dogtrot house 85

French Creole Cottage

86


• Folk housing in North America– Canada

• Common types with main story atop cellar

• Often built of stone

• Description of the Ontario farmhouse

87


• Folk housing in North America– Interpretation of folk architecture is

difficult• Independent invention versus diffusion• May be all that is left of the culture

– Florissant» Houses» Street names» Town name» Park name

88


• Landscapes of popular culture

• Tends to encourage uniformity– However, continually changing styles– Diffusion of fast-food restaurants &

commercial logos• i.e. the “Golden Arches”

– World-wide diffusion of Japanese autos– “Cookie-cutter” approach to building

• Evolution of the commercial strips and malls• From houses to commercial landscapes

89

Uniformity vs. Cultural Differences• Will folk customs and indigenous culture

disappear?– Probably not – cultural elements that resist

change• Religious beliefs and practices

– Taboos: diet & behavior

• Languages• Distinctive dress for special occasions

90


• Landscapes of popular culture– Example: West Edmonton Mall in

province of Alberta, Canada• Largest indoor mall• Includes recreational areas• Described as a “landscape of myth and

elsewhereness”

The Human Mosaic 91


• Leisure landscapes– Designed for weekends and

vacations– Amenity landscapes—regions with

attractive natural features– Example of Minnesota North Woods

lake country– Relict buildings collected to form

“historylands”

The Human Mosaic 92


• Elitist landscapes– Clustering by people of similar

wealth, education, and taste – The French Riviera

• Building codes• Normal activities gone

The Human Mosaic 93

The Boulders in Carefree, AZ

94

The Human Mosaic 95


• Elitist landscapes– Gentleman farms in America

• An avocation for affluent city people• Examples in the eastern United States• High concentration in the Kentucky Bluegrass Basin

The Human Mosaic 96


• The American scene– Preeminence of function over form– Fondness for massive structures

The Human Mosaic 97


• The American scene– Americans regard cultural landscape

as unfinished– Collections of heterogeneous

buildings– Eye-catching structures

The Human Mosaic 98

Documents

CHAPTER 4: MANY WORLDS (Cultures): GEOGRAPHIES OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCE