Chapter 4 In folk cultures, certain foods are eaten because their natural properties are perceived to enhance qualities

considered desirable by the society. Abipone Indians of Paraguay eat jaguars, stags, and bulls to make them strong, brave, and swift; they believe eating hens or tortoises will make them cowardly. The Ainu in Japan avoid eating otters because they are believed to be forgetful and eating them could cause memory loss. Mbum Kpau women of Chad do not eat chicken or goat thought to help escape pain in childbirth as well as birthing children with abnormalities.

Food habits are strongly influenced by cultural traditions. A custom is a habit that has been widely adopted by a group of people. A collection of social customs produces a groups material culture ex. Jeans represent American informality and a badge of youth. Origin of Folk Music Folk songs tell as story or convey information about daily activities such as farming, life-cycle events, or mysterious events such as storms and earthquakes. Origin of Popular Music written by specific individuals for the purpose of being sold to a large number of people; originated around 1900 to provide musical entertainment for variety shows, known as vaudeville or music halls. Tin Pan Alley district in New York where singers, songwriters, and publishers lived. diffusion of popular music began during WWII when the Armed Forces Radio Network broadcast music to soldiers and citizens of countries where US forces were stationed. English became the international language for music. hip-hop originated in late 70s in the South Bronx; spread to Oakland, Atlanta, and other large cities populated with low income African Americans; demonstrates the interplay between globalization and local diversity.

The Amish: Relocation Diffusion of Folk Culture In the 1600s, Jakob Ammann, a Swiss Mennonite bishop, gathered a group of followers known as the Amish from Bern, Switzerland, Alsace, France, and Palatinate region of southwestern Germany. They migrated for religious freedom; settled in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s, and Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, and Ontario, Canada in the early 1800s.

Sports: Hierarchical Diffusion of Popular Culture

- Soccer is the worlds most popular sport; earliest contest took place in England in the 11th century; after Danish invasion of England, workers found a Danish soldiers head, which they began to kick kick the Danes head was imitated using an inflated cows bladder. King Henry II banned the sport from England in the late 12th Century too disruptive in the villages; caused mob scenes. King James I legalized it in 1603. -Globalization of soccer began in the 1800s in Britain organized recreation for workers; increased leisure time. The word soccer originated in 1863 when the Football Association was formed (assoc was twisted to form the word soccer). -Each country has its own preferred sports: cricket in Britain and former British colonies; ice hockey in Canada, Northern Europe, and Russia; martial arts (wushu), archery, fencing, wrestling, and boxing in China; baseball in Japan (was once only North America US soldiers introduced it after WWII) -Lacrosse Iroquois Confederation of Six Nations who live in northeastern US and southeastern Canada; as early as 1636; known as guhchigwaha, which means bump hips. The name lacrosse is French for a bishops crosier or staff, which has a similar shape to the lacrosse stick. European colonists picked up the game from the Iroquois in Canada and diffused it to US communities in Maryland, upstate NY, and Long Island. Food Preferences and the Environment people adapt their food preferences to environmental conditions. However, social values influence choice of diet as well (ex. Christians ignoring biblical food taboos to distinguish themselves from Jews) Bostans small gardens inside Istanbul, Turkey; supplies the city with fresh produce. Asia rice is grown in milder, moister regions; wheat in colder, dryer regions; soybeans are widely grown good protein but cannot extensively cook it due to lack of fuel. Europe quick-frying foods in Italy resulted from fuel shortages Northern Europe slow stewing and roasting over fires due to abundance of wood supply

Taboo people refuse to eat particular plants or animals that are thought to embody negative forces in the environment; many such taboos can be found in the Bible. ancient Hebrews kosher dont eat animals that do not chew their cud or that have cloven feet or fish lacking scales. Muslims dont eat pork; unsuited for the dry lands of the Arabian Peninsula; pigs would compete with humans for food and water without providing benefits such as plow pulling, carrying heavy loads, etc. Hindu dont eat cows; they pull plows and carts important for when Monsoon comes.

Folk Housing and the Environment houses are a product of both cultural tradition and natural conditions. - the type of building materials is influenced by the resources available in the environment; two most common materials are wood and brick; also used stone, grass, sod, skins. Wood is preferred because it is easy to build with pioneers built log cabins in forested areas. In hot dry climates (US southwest, Mexico, etc), bricks are made by baking wet mud in the sun. - pitched roofs are built in wet or snowy climates to allow runoff and reduce the weight of accumulated snow; windows may face south in cooler areas to take advantage of the suns heat and light; windows openings are smaller in hot climates to protect the interior from heat. Isolation Promotes Cultural Diversity Ex: Himalayan Art 4 different religious/cultural groups in close proximity but are isolated produce distinctive folk customs; Buddhists (Northern Tibet) painted monks and saints terrifying/bizarre due to harsh environment Hindus (Southern Tibet) scenes from everyday life and familiar local scenes; harsh climatic conditions Muslims (West) show beautiful plants and flowers not permitted to display animate objects in art Animists (Myanmar Burma - Eastern region) paint symbols and designs that derive from their religion and not the local environment.

Sacred Spaces beliefs/folk house forms; examples Java front door faces south in the direction of the South Sea Goddess Fiji east wall is sacred Madagascar the main door is on the west, considered the most important direction; beds are placed against east wall with the head facing north Laos arrange beds perpendicular to the center ridgepole of the house. The head is high and noble, feet low and vulgar so people sleep with heads opposite neighbors heads and feet opposite feet.

US Folk Housing 3 major hearths The Lower Chesapeake Tidewater style; 1 story, steep roof, chimneys at either end; Chesapeake Bay Tidewater, VA, southeast coast. The Middle Atlantic known as the I house; 2 full stories with gables to the sides one room deep and two rooms wide; Ohio Valley and along the Appalachian trails.

The New England migrants carried to upper New England and west into Great Lakes region as far as Wisconsin.

Diffusion of Popular Food Customs people in MDCs have the income, time, and inclination to facilitate greater adoption of popular culture. alcoholic beverages and snack foods choices based on what is produced, grown, or imported locally. o Bourbon in the Upper South, where it is produced. o Tequila Southwest, near Mexico o Canadian Whiskey- Canada o Pork rinds southerners prefer it because more hogs are raised there o Popcorn/Potato Chips northerners prefer it because more corn and potatoes are grown there. -choices also based on religious background, income, and advertising; -Southeast low alcohol consumption because of Baptists -Utah also low consumption because of Latter Day Saints - Nevada high rate due to gambling and other resort activities -Texans prefer tortilla chips because of the # of Hispanic Americans -Westerners prefer multi-grain chips because of nutritional content Popular Housing Styles: Modern House Styles (1945-1960) Minimal traditional, Ranch, Split-level, Contemporary, Shed Neo-Eclectic (since 1960) Mansard, Neo-Tudor, Neo-French, Neo-colonial

Electronic Diffusion of Popular Culture: Diffusion of TV US had near monopoly of TVs and broadcasting in 1950s; 1970 - US had more TV sets per capita than anywhere else except Canada Diffusion of Internet followed same pattern as TVs but at a more rapid pace

Problems Caused by Globalization of Popular Culture: Threat to Folk Culture - rising incomes can fuel demand for the possessions of popular culture - loss of traditional values ex, wearing clothing of MDCs - threaten the subservience of women to men increase in prostitution - India increase in demand for dowries (gift from family of bride to family of groom), supposed to be illegal since 1961. Women have been cast out or killed due to small dowries; abortions have increased if the fetus is female since boys generate more money.

Threat of Foreign Media Western control US, UK, and Japan dominate television industry in LDCs. To avoid offending traditional values, many leaders and governments do not allow certain programs/videos to be shown in their countries; attempt to prevent American beliefs and social forms such as freedom for women, glorification of youth, stylized violence, upward social mobility, etc. Foreign governments (China, Singapore) have attempted to ban satellite dishes, yet they have encouraged satellite services to locate their headquarters in their country.

Environmental Impacts of Popular Culture: Modifying nature distribution of golf courses Uniform landscapes uniform appearance to generate product recognition franchises, i.e. fast food restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, motels Negative environmental impacts increased demand for natural resources, pollution