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Why is Folk Culture ClusteredChapter 4.2 (pp. 111-117)

The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography

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I. Influence of the Physical Environment

• Overview– Folk culture = close connection to the

environment• Most folk cultures are rural and agricultural

– Clothing is often tied to environmental conditions» Example: Wooden clogs in the Netherlands,

Aboriginal Australians wear no clothes

• Folk cultures sometimes ignore environmental conditions

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I. Influence of the Physical Environment (cont.)

A. Food preferences and the environment• Food preferences are adapted to the environment

– Ex.: In Asia, rice is grown in milder, wetter environments; wheat is grown in colder, drier environments

• Food taboos may be especially strong– People avoid certain foods because of negative

associations with that food – Ex.: pork in Islam & Jewish traditions, cow in Hindu

• Terroir = the sum effects of the local environment on a particular food item

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Swine Stock

Figure 4-8

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I. Influence of the Physical Environment (cont.)

B. Folk housing and the environment– Housing is reflection of cultural heritage,

current fashion, function & physical env. – Two most common building materials are

wood and brick– Minor differences in the environment can

produce very different house styles• Ex.: U.S. housing (southwest, midwest,

northeast) & China

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House Types in Four Western Chinese Communities

Figure 4-9

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II. Isolation Promotes Cultural Diversity

A. Himalayan art•Karan & Mather – distinct views of environment even among isolated neighbors•role of religion/culture

• Bhutan & Tibet – Buddhist• Nepal – Buddhist & Hindu • India – Hindu • Pakistan – Muslim• Mayanmar/Burma – Animist

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Figure 4-10 – Cultural Diversity in Isolated Regions

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II. Isolation Promotes Cultural Diversity

B. Beliefs and folk house forms

1. Sacred spaces– Examples:

• Java – front door faces south• Fiji – east wall sacred• China – northwest wall sacred• Madagascar – main door faces west• Laos – sleeping space (see figure 4.10)• Thailand – sleeping space (con

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Figure 4-11 – Sacred Sleeping Space (Laos vs. Thailand)

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II. Isolation Promotes Cultural Diversity

B. Beliefs and folk house forms (cont.) 2. U.S. folk housing (see figure 4-12)

a. Chesapeake/Tidewater style spread to SE coast

b. Middle Atlantic style spread to OH valley & Appalachian Mtns.

c. New England style spread from MA/CT to Upper NE & to Great Lakes region

d. Fewer distinctions today b/c of popular culture

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Hearths of House Types

Figure 4-12