AP Human Geography

Copeland

Unit 3

Introduction to Culture-Guided Notes

I. What is culture?

A. Culture is . It is not .

How is culture transmitted?

B. Culture provides a .

Each individual learns and adheres to general rules.

Examples of sub-groups:

Subcultures coexist: masculine vs. feminine/rural vs. urban/ethnicity vs. ethnicity

These subcultures make up common traditions, behaviors, loyalties, beliefs

C. Cultural Variables (micro vs. macro)

Expressions of culture

D. Culture Complex-

E. Culture Region-

Types of Culture Regions

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

II. What Are Local and Popular Cultures?

a)Local

b)Popular

III. What characterizes local culture?

Material vs. non-material

IV. Who practices popular culture?

  1. How is popular culture spread?

V. How are local cultures sustained?

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

VI. Describe rural local cultures. What are the distinguishing characteristics?

Ex.

VII. Describe urban local cultures. What are the distinguishing characteristics?

Ex.

VIII. How is popular culture diffused?

IX. What are the factors that affect diffusion of “pop” culture?

X. From where has popular culture diffused (hearth)?

Describe resistance to pop culture?

XI. Cultural Landscape and Carl Sauer

XII. Diffusion of Cultural Landscapes

XIII. Problems of Converging Cultural Landscapes?

1)Commodification

2)Question of authenticity

XIV. Folk Culture-

A)Define-

B)What’s happening to folk culture?

C)Characteristics

•Stable and close knit

•Homogeneous in customs, ethnicity

•Usually a rural community and cohesive

•Subsistence economies; Goods are made by hand according to tradition

•Tradition controls; Resistance to change

•Buildings erected without architect or blueprint using locally available building materials

•anonymous origins, diffuses slowly through migration. Develops over time.

•Clustered distributions:isolation/lack of interaction breed uniqueness and ties to physical environment.

•Some folk traits utilize: astrology, songs, dances, and food

D) Folk Architecture, Land and Food

A. Folk Architecture

1. Effects on Landscape-

a. Agricultural:

b. Dwellings:

B. Folk Food

1. Taboo-

2. Food Taboos-

XV. Problems with the Globalization of Culture

A. Often destroys folk culture-

B. Western media imperialism-

  • U.S., Britain, and Japan dominate worldwide media.
  • Glorified consumerism, violence, sexuality, and militarism?
  • U.S. (Networks and CNN) and British (BBC) news media provide/control the dissemination of information worldwide.
  • These networks are unlikely to focus or provide third world perspective on issues important in the LDCs.

C.Accelerated Resource Use through Accelerated Consumption

•Furs: minx, lynx, jaguar, kangaroo, whale, sea otters (18th Century Russians) fed early fashion trends

•Inefficient over-consumption of Meats (10:1), Poultry (3:1), even Fish (fed other fish and chicken) by meat-eating pop cultures

•Mineral Extraction for Machines, Plastics and Fuel

•New Housing and associated energy and water use.

•Golf courses use valuable water and destroy habitat worldwide.

Pollution: waste from fuel generation and discarded products, plastics, marketing and packaging materials

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