Peru Geo
Folk & Popular Geography
(Rubenstein, Ch. 4)
- This chapter really introduces us to the core of topic of this course—i.e., cultural geography
- We’ve already learned about what geography is, but what exactly is culture?
What is culture?
- Often simply defined as: "the way of life for group of people"
- So what does that include??? Among many other things…
Language
Religion
Customs, ceremonies, rituals
Norms of behavior, codes of conduct, manners
Ways & styles of dressing (i.e., clothing)
Food preferences
Ways of making a living (i.e., livelihoods; types of work)
Systems of beliefs & values: religious, political, economic, etc.
Virtually every aspect of human activity can serve as a part of a group’s culture…
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Source: Wikipedia.com
Hoult’s 4 major elements of culture
- Values
What is considered important?
- Norms
How are people expected to behave?
- Institutions
What social structures/systems are created by the people to share and preserve their values & norms?
- Artifacts
What material objects (i.e., “things”) are made by the people?
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Source: Wikipedia.com
Material vs. Nonmaterial culture
- What sort of artifacts are most important to the culture?
Physical objects? (i.e., “things”, houses, clothes, etc.) = Material culture
Mental “objects”? (i.e., symbols, metaphors, reifications, etc.) = Nonmaterial culture
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Source: Wikipedia.com
To be included as something that is a part of a “culture”, it must be:
- Shared
It is NOT something that is completely unique to a single individual
i.e., it is part of a group of people
- Learned
It is NOT something that is biologically or genetically inherited!
As Hoult said, cultural elements are, "passed on from generation to generation by learning alone”
Hence, education is how culture is transmitted, both over time and space
Think about it… If a person is born in China to biological parents who are culturally “Chinese” but then is adopted by parents who live in the United States and who are culturally “American,” what will his/her culture most likely be? (i.e., what language will he/she speak?, etc.)
The Cultural Continuum:
The two extremes of culture classification *
- Folk Culture
Often described as:
“Traditional”; old
Conservative
Closed
Slow to change; static
Homogenous; monocultural
Religious beliefs or family structure maintain social order
Rural
Agricultural
Communal
Little division of labor; low specialization of jobs/work
- Popular Culture
Often described as:
“Modern”; contemporary/new
Liberal
Open
Rapidly changing; dynamic
Heterogeneous; pluralistic
Secular institutions (e.g., police) maintain social order
Urban
Industrial
Individualistic
High division of labor; highly specialized jobs/work
*Keep in mind that almost all cultures most likely exist somewhere in between these two extreme descriptions
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The significance of perception
- While we may share the same space, we simultaneously inhabit many different worlds
- This is because we each perceive the world differently – and therefore interact with it differently – based on our own individual values, beliefs, etc., but also of those of our own culture
- How someone responds to different landscapes (whether they be “cultural” or “natural”) can tell us a great deal about his/her culture
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Here’s an activity to help stimulate some ideas you may want to use for this week’s Discussion:
- What word best describes your immediate reaction to each of the following slides showing pictures of “cultural landscapes”?
- Jot down your answers as you view each, and briefly explain what it is that gives you that perception.
Cultural Perception slide #1
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Cultural Perception slide #2
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Cultural Perception slide #3
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Cultural Perception slide #4
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Cultural Perception slide #5
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Cultural Perception slide #6
- What cultural similarities & differences do these pictures suggest?
Style of dress/clothing?
Father-daughter relationships?
Others?
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- The increasing interconnectedness of our world’s economic, political, and cultural systems
Notice that 3 distinct systems are identified
While each of these can be viewed individually, they are obviously interrelated
E.g., more economic interaction between countries => more political interaction => more cultural interaction
Also, remember that this has been rapidly accelerated during the 20th century due to the technological innovations made in transportation (i.e., airplanes) and communication (i.e., satellite systems, Internet, cell phones, etc.)
What is globalization?
How does globalization affect cultures and their cultural landscapes?
- What evidence do you see of globalization in each of the following pictures?
- What types of cultural change do you imagine are likely to occur as a result?
Globalization slide #1
Globalization slide #2
Bhutan: “The Last Place” Video
- Watch the video clip at: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bhutan/
- What is your reaction to how globalization is affecting the Bhutanese culture?