CHAPTER 4: MANY WORLDS (Cultures):GEOGRAPHIES OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCE
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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
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Introduction
• How geographic differences develop– Cultural differences over short
distances—example of south Florida
– Effects of globalization
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Introduction
• Cultural Geographies– No single way of seeing land and
landscape– Places experienced differently
between men and women– Relation to self and belonging
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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
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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
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• 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
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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
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Amish Settlements
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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
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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,
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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
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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
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• 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
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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
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Regions of difference
• Material folk culture regions– Vestiges of folk
culture remain in the United States
• House types• Example of African-
American culture• Mormon
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House Type Diffusion
The Human Mosaic 26
Diffusion of New England house types
Florissant, MO – French house types
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The Human Mosaic 28
French vertical log cabins in St. Genevieve, MOFrench vertical log cabins in St. Genevieve, MO29
The Human Mosaic 30
Regions of difference
• 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.
Regions of difference
• Is popular culture placeless?– Greater mobility– Less attachment to place– Geographer Weiss—identified 40
“lifestyle clusters” in the United States• Used zip codes• Subcultures
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• 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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The Human Mosaic 46
Jeans
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Diffusion of Popular Media• Television is “King”
• Internet may be heir apparent
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Regions of difference
• 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
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Regions of difference
• 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
Diffusion and cultural difference
• 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 and cultural difference
• 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
Diffusion and cultural difference
• 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
Diffusion and cultural difference
• 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
Diffusion and cultural difference
• 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 and cultural difference
• 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
Ecologies of difference
• 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
Ecologies of difference
• 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
Ecologies of difference
• 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
Ecologies of difference
• 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
Ecologies of difference
• 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
Ecologies of difference
• 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
Ecologies of difference
• 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
Ecologies of difference
• 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
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• Ecology of popular culture– Recreation
• Increased in affluent regions• Recreational machines create air pollution• Soil erosion• Overtaxing of environments in national parks
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Interaction and difference
• Introduction– Core beliefs in folk culture limit
degree of environmental disturbance
– Popular culture has potential, through interaction, to cause massive restructuring
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Interaction and difference
• Introduction– Cultures are converging– Wilbur Zelinsky's given-name study
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Interaction and difference
• 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
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Landscapes of difference
• Folk architecture– Very
distinctive– Little change
over time– Traditional,
conservative, and functional structures
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Landscapes of difference
• Folk architecture– Harmony with the environment– Numerous characteristics help
classify farmsteads and dwellings • Helps to establish cultural influences in a
region
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Landscapes of difference
• Folk housing in Sub-Saharan Africa– Compound of buildings—kraal– Use of local materials– Shapes differ
The Human Mosaic 81
Landscapes of difference
• Folk housing in Sub-Saharan Africa– Different cultures identified by change in
house types– Example: Ndebele culture region
The Human Mosaic 82
Landscapes of difference
• 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
Landscapes of difference
• Folk housing in North America– Upland southern folk houses
• Smaller—built of notched logs• Dogtrot house• French-derived Creole cottage
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Dogtrot house 85
French Creole Cottage
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Landscapes of difference
• Folk housing in North America– Canada
• Common types with main story atop cellar
• Often built of stone
• Description of the Ontario farmhouse
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Landscapes of difference
• 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
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Landscapes of difference
• 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
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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
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Landscapes of difference
• 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
Landscapes of difference
• 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
Landscapes of difference
• Elitist landscapes– Clustering by people of similar
wealth, education, and taste – The French Riviera
• Building codes• Normal activities gone
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The Boulders in Carefree, AZ
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Landscapes of difference
• 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
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Landscapes of difference
• The American scene– Preeminence of function over form– Fondness for massive structures
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Landscapes of difference
• The American scene– Americans regard cultural landscape
as unfinished– Collections of heterogeneous
buildings– Eye-catching structures
The Human Mosaic 98