Lesson: Culture Introduction PDF

INTRODUCTION to CULTURE WHAT THE HUMANS IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY DO WITH THEIR TIME w would you describe your cultur  WHAT IS CULTURE? Culture is comprised of shared practices, technologies, attitudes, and behaviors transmitted by a society. Individual aspects (f...

INTRODUCTION to CULTURE WHAT THE HUMANS IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY DO WITH THEIR TIME w would you describe your cultur  WHAT IS CULTURE? Culture is comprised of shared practices, technologies, attitudes, and behaviors transmitted by a society. Individual aspects (food, dress, etc.) are known as cultural traits. Why would geographers be interested in this stuff? IMPORTANT TERMS Custom – frequent repetition of an act until it becomes characteristic of a group of people Taboo – a restriction on behavior imposed by social custom Habit – repetitive act performed by an individual WHAT ARE SOME NORMS OF OUR SOCIETY, THAT FORM OUR WAY OF LIFE? How do you greet people? What do we censor? What are you expected to do? TWO TYPES OF CULTURE Non-material culture Material Culture – Valueshuman creations – Physical Beliefs Artifacts - Physical objects Behaviors – Cultural Landscape- – Norms - Rules andthe artificial landscape or visual human expectations by which society impact guides on the land. the behavior of its members What are some norms of our society? CULTURAL LANDSCAPE All the built forms that cultural groups create. – Ex: Roads, Agricultural Fields, Cities, Houses, Parks, Gardens, Commercial Buildings. Madrid, Spain New York, New York FOLK / I N D I G E N O U S CULTURE T R A D I T I O N A L LY P R A C T I C E D B Y A S M A L L , H O M O G E N E O U S , R U R A L G R O U P L I V I N G I N R E L AT I V E I S O L AT I O N F R O M O T H E R G R O U P S  ORIGIN Folk culture has anonymous hearths, or multiple hearths. Exact 9th century Iran dates of origin are usually unknown 15th century France  DIFFUSION Transmitted slowly and on a small scale. Most commonly moves when people migrate.  DISTRIBUTION Distribution is influenced by physical and cultural factors, reflective of barriers or migration patterns PAPAU NEW GUNIEA INFLUENCESARCHITECTURE OF PHYSICAL FOLK ENVIORNMENT Usually of limited scale and scope. Agricultural: fields, terraces, grain storage Dwellings: historically created from local materials: wood, brick, stone, skins; often uniquely and traditionally arranged; always functionally tied to physical environment. WHY IS FOLK CULTURE IN DANGER OF DYING OUT?  POP CULTURE F O U N D I N A L A R G E , H E T E R O G E N E O U S S O C I E T Y T H AT S H A R E S C E R TA I N H A B I T S D E S P I T E D I F F E R E N C E S I N P E R S O N A L  ORIGIN Typically traceable to a specific person or place. Often a product of developed countries.  DIFFUSION Spreads via hierarchical diffusion. Usually rapidly with the help of modern communication.  https://www.yo DISTRIBUTION utube.com/wat ch?v=UNwnQk GpKPE Widely distributed across many countries with little regard for physical factors. The main obstacle is access to income to purchase the material INFLUENCES OF PHYSICAL ENVIORNMENT Creates homogenous, “placeless” landscape · Complex network of roads and highways · Commercial Structures tend towards ‘boxes’ · Dwellings may be aesthetically suggestive of older folk traditions but modernized Planned and Gated Communities more and more common  CHANGING CULTURES Syncretism- The Blending of a Newer Culture with a more Folk/Indigenous Culture. Ex: Amish in a Market Society Assimilation- Two cultures interact, the minority culture eventually loses all the markers that set it apart in the first place (language, food, customs) but leaves a mark on the majority culture. Ex: Salt into soup- It dissolves so you can’t see it anymore but it’s still there Acculturation- The minority culture adapts to the majority culture but still retains many of its distinct markers. Ex: Basil Leaves in an Omelet- The ingredient can still be recognized in the final dish. THINK ABOUT A TYPICAL AMERICAN HOUSE. IT CAN TELL YOU ABOUT CULTURE. 1. 2. 3. 4. WHAT DOES THIS LANDSCAPE TELL US ABOUT CULTURE? WHAT CAN THIS CULTURAL LANDSCAPE TELL US ABOUT THE CULTURE OF A PLACE? WHAT CAN THIS CULTURAL LANDSCAPE TELL US ABOUT THE CULTURE OF A PLACE? HOW DID ROMAN AND GREEK ARCHITECTURAL IDEAS END UP IN THE UNITED STATES? Two places can have similar artifacts, beliefs and institutions due to migration of people. BUT Differences begin to emerge when the places have limited interactions following the migration. TWO KINDS OF MATERIAL ARTIFACTS 2.Leisure 1.Survival Artifacts Activity Artifacts – –Food Arts – Clothing –Recreation – Shelter