Transcript Chapter 1

Why is Folk Culture Clustered
Chapter 4.2 (pp. 111-117)
The Cultural Landscape:
An Introduction to Human Geography
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I. Influence of the Physical
Environment
• Overview
– Folk culture = close connection to the
environment
• Most folk cultures are rural and agricultural
– Clothing is often tied to environmental conditions
» Example: Wooden clogs in the Netherlands,
Aboriginal Australians wear no clothes
• Folk cultures sometimes ignore environmental
conditions
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I. Influence of the Physical
Environment (cont.)
A. Food preferences and the environment
• Food preferences are adapted to the
environment
– Ex.: In Asia, rice is grown in milder, wetter
environments; wheat is grown in colder, drier
environments
• Food taboos may be especially strong
– People avoid certain foods because of negative
associations with that food
– Ex.: pork in Islam & Jewish traditions, cow in Hindu
• Terroir = the sum effects of the local
environment on a particular food item
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Swine Stock
Figure 4-8
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I. Influence of the Physical
Environment (cont.)
B. Folk housing and the environment
– Housing is reflection of cultural heritage,
current fashion, function & physical env.
– Two most common building materials are
wood and brick
– Minor differences in the environment can
produce very different house styles
• Ex.: U.S. housing (southwest, midwest,
northeast) & China
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House Types in Four Western
Chinese Communities
Figure 4-9
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II. Isolation Promotes Cultural
Diversity
A. Himalayan art
• Karan & Mather – distinct views of
environment even among isolated neighbors
• role of religion/culture
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Bhutan & Tibet – Buddhist
Nepal – Buddhist & Hindu
India – Hindu
Pakistan – Muslim
Mayanmar/Burma – Animist
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Figure 4-10 – Cultural Diversity in Isolated
Regions
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II. Isolation Promotes Cultural
Diversity
B. Beliefs and folk house forms
1. Sacred spaces
– Examples:
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Java – front door faces south
Fiji – east wall sacred
China – northwest wall sacred
Madagascar – main door faces west
Laos – sleeping space (see figure 4.10)
Thailand – sleeping space (con
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Figure 4-11 – Sacred Sleeping Space
(Laos vs. Thailand)
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II. Isolation Promotes Cultural
Diversity
B. Beliefs and folk house forms (cont.)
2. U.S. folk housing (see figure 4-12)
a. Chesapeake/Tidewater style spread to SE coast
b. Middle Atlantic style spread to OH valley &
Appalachian Mtns.
c. New England style spread from MA/CT to Upper
NE & to Great Lakes region
d. Fewer distinctions today b/c of popular culture
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Hearths of House Types
Figure 4-12
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