Why is Folk Culture Why is Folk Culture Clustered???Clustered???Key Issue 2Key Issue 2

Physical Environment’s Physical Environment’s InfluenceInfluence

Environmental DeterminismEnvironmental Determinism Though modern geographers reject this theory, they Though modern geographers reject this theory, they

admit the physical environment DOES influence admit the physical environment DOES influence human actions—especially regarding human actions—especially regarding folk culturefolk culture

Folk societies especially responsive to the Folk societies especially responsive to the environmentenvironment Limited technologyLimited technology Prevailing agricultural economy Prevailing agricultural economy

Food, clothing, and shelter are clearly influenced by Food, clothing, and shelter are clearly influenced by the prevailing climate, soil, and vegetationthe prevailing climate, soil, and vegetation Food and shelter demonstrate the environmental Food and shelter demonstrate the environmental

influence, more than clothing, on unique folk cultures influence, more than clothing, on unique folk cultures

Food PreferencesFood Preferences

Inhabitants must consider characteristics of the environment in Inhabitants must consider characteristics of the environment in deciding to produce particular foodsdeciding to produce particular foods Soil, climate, terrain, vegetation, etc.Soil, climate, terrain, vegetation, etc. Ex. Bostans in Istanbul, Turkey (pg. 112)Ex. Bostans in Istanbul, Turkey (pg. 112)

People adapt their food preferences to conditions in the People adapt their food preferences to conditions in the environmentenvironment Rice is wet parts of Asia; Quick-frying food in Italy due to fuel Rice is wet parts of Asia; Quick-frying food in Italy due to fuel

shortage, etc. (pg. 112)shortage, etc. (pg. 112)

In many folk cultures, everything in nature has a distinctive In many folk cultures, everything in nature has a distinctive characteristic—people may avoid or desire certain foods in characteristic—people may avoid or desire certain foods in response to perceived beneficial or harmful natural traitsresponse to perceived beneficial or harmful natural traits Refuse to eat plants or animals that are thought to embody negative Refuse to eat plants or animals that are thought to embody negative

forces in the environment forces in the environment TabooTaboo – restriction on a behavior imposed by social custom – restriction on a behavior imposed by social custom

Especially strong in foodEspecially strong in food

Food TaboosFood Taboos

May be established as a concern for the natural environmentMay be established as a concern for the natural environment Protect endangered species or conserve natural resourceProtect endangered species or conserve natural resource

Taboos in the BibleTaboos in the Bible Ancient Hebrews forbidden to eat a wide varietyAncient Hebrews forbidden to eat a wide variety

Animals that do not chew cud, or have cloven feet, and fish lacking scalesAnimals that do not chew cud, or have cloven feet, and fish lacking scales Pig prohibited Pig prohibited in partin part b/c more suited to sedentary farming (Hebrews b/c more suited to sedentary farming (Hebrews

nomadic) and the meat spoils in hot areas (Hebrews along the nomadic) and the meat spoils in hot areas (Hebrews along the Mediterranean)Mediterranean)

Spread orally—kosher laws today Spread orally—kosher laws today Muslims will not eat porkMuslims will not eat pork

Pigs not suited for dry lands of Arabian Peninsula; compete with humans for Pigs not suited for dry lands of Arabian Peninsula; compete with humans for food and water, and provide no benefit (pull plow, etc.)food and water, and provide no benefit (pull plow, etc.)

Hindus will not eat beefHindus will not eat beef Cows are a source of oxen—needed to plow fields at same time every year Cows are a source of oxen—needed to plow fields at same time every year

due to monsoon rains due to monsoon rains • Environmental factor are NOT the only reasons food taboos exist Environmental factor are NOT the only reasons food taboos exist

in thesein these religions!!!religions!!!

TerroirTerroir

The contribution of a location’s distinctive The contribution of a location’s distinctive physical features to the way food tastesphysical features to the way food tastes

Sum of the effects of the local environment Sum of the effects of the local environment on a particular food itemon a particular food item Commonly refers to combination of soil, Commonly refers to combination of soil,

climate, and other physical features that climate, and other physical features that contribute to the distinctive taste of wine (you contribute to the distinctive taste of wine (you might taste MANY years from now)might taste MANY years from now) CoffeeCoffee

Folk HousingFolk Housing

Geographer Fred Kniffen considered the house to Geographer Fred Kniffen considered the house to be the reflection of cultural heritage, current be the reflection of cultural heritage, current fashion, functional needs, and the impact of the fashion, functional needs, and the impact of the environmentenvironment

Type of building material used is influenced partly Type of building material used is influenced partly by by resources available in the environmentby by resources available in the environment Two most common in the world: Wood & BrickTwo most common in the world: Wood & Brick Stone, grass, sod, and skins also usedStone, grass, sod, and skins also used

Even in areas that share similar climates and Even in areas that share similar climates and available building materials, the folk housing may available building materials, the folk housing may vary due to minor environmental differencesvary due to minor environmental differences R.W. McColl study of dry lands in China (pg. 114)—R.W. McColl study of dry lands in China (pg. 114)—

contributed differences to local cultural preferences contributed differences to local cultural preferences

Common Types of Common Types of StructureStructure

Pitched roofs in wet or snowy climates to Pitched roofs in wet or snowy climates to facilitate runoff and reduce weight of facilitate runoff and reduce weight of accumulated snowaccumulated snow

Windows may face south in temperate climate to Windows may face south in temperate climate to take advantage of the Sun’s heat and lighttake advantage of the Sun’s heat and light

Windows (other openings) may be smaller in hot Windows (other openings) may be smaller in hot climates to protect the interior from the full heat climates to protect the interior from the full heat of the Sunof the Sun

MDCs: Cut lumber, stucco, vinyl, aluminum, or MDCs: Cut lumber, stucco, vinyl, aluminum, or other materials are used to deal with the other materials are used to deal with the environmentenvironment

Isolation Promotes Isolation Promotes Cultural DiversityCultural Diversity

A group’s unique folk customs develop A group’s unique folk customs develop through centuries of relative isolation through centuries of relative isolation

Folk customs observed at a point in time vary Folk customs observed at a point in time vary widely from one place to another, even widely from one place to another, even among nearby placesamong nearby places

Himalayan ArtHimalayan Art

Study by geographers P. Karan and Cotton Study by geographers P. Karan and Cotton MatherMather Took place in Himalaya Mountains: Bhutan, Took place in Himalaya Mountains: Bhutan,

Nepal, northern India, and southern Tibet Nepal, northern India, and southern Tibet (China)(China)

Contains four religious groups: Buddhists Contains four religious groups: Buddhists (north), Hindus (south), Muslims (west), and (north), Hindus (south), Muslims (west), and Southeast Asian animists (east)Southeast Asian animists (east)

Despite close proximity, limited interaction Despite close proximity, limited interaction produced distinct folk customsproduced distinct folk customs

Himalayan ArtHimalayan Art

BuddhistsBuddhists

Paint idealized divine Paint idealized divine figures, such as monks figures, such as monks and saintsand saints

Some depicted as Some depicted as bizarre or terrifying—bizarre or terrifying—reflecting inhospitable reflecting inhospitable environmentenvironment

HindusHindus

Create scenes from Create scenes from everyday life and everyday life and familiar local scenesfamiliar local scenes

Sometimes portray Sometimes portray deity in in domestic deity in in domestic scenescene

Frequently represent Frequently represent region’s extreme region’s extreme climateclimate

Himalayan ArtHimalayan Art

MuslimsMuslims

Show regions beautiful Show regions beautiful plants and flowers plants and flowers

Faith inhibits displaying Faith inhibits displaying animate objects in artanimate objects in art

Do NOT depict harsh Do NOT depict harsh climatesclimates

AnimistsAnimists

Paint symbols and Paint symbols and designs that derive designs that derive from their religion from their religion rather than from the rather than from the local environmentlocal environment

Beliefs and Folk House Beliefs and Folk House FormsForms

The distinctive form of folk houses may derive The distinctive form of folk houses may derive from religious values and other customary from religious values and other customary beliefs—rather than environmental factors beliefs—rather than environmental factors

Sacred SpacesSacred Spaces – houses may have sacred – houses may have sacred walls or cornerswalls or corners Ex. Java: front door always faces south—Ex. Java: front door always faces south—

direction of South Sea Goddess (holds the key to direction of South Sea Goddess (holds the key to Earth)Earth)

Ex. Fiji: east wall is sacred (northwest wall in Ex. Fiji: east wall is sacred (northwest wall in parts of China)parts of China)

See other examples on pg. 115-116See other examples on pg. 115-116

Folk Houses in the U.S.Folk Houses in the U.S.

Fred Kniffen identified three major hearths:Fred Kniffen identified three major hearths:1)1) The Lower Chesapeake (Tidewater)The Lower Chesapeake (Tidewater)—Virginia —Virginia

along southeast coast along southeast coast- One story, w/ steep roof and chimneys at either One story, w/ steep roof and chimneys at either

endend- Along the SE Coast typically one room deepAlong the SE Coast typically one room deep- Built on stilts along the waterBuilt on stilts along the water

U.S. Folk HousesU.S. Folk Houses

2) 2) The Middle AtlanticThe Middle Atlantic—New Jersey —New Jersey Westward Westward along the Ohio Valley along the Ohio Valley Southward along the Southward along the Appalachian trailsAppalachian trails

- Known as the “I-house”—one room deep - Known as the “I-house”—one room deep and at and at least two rooms wide least two rooms wide

* Became the most extensive style on * Became the most extensive style on much of the much of the eastern coast eastern coast

U.S. Folk HousesU.S. Folk Houses

3) New England—Conn./Mass. 3) New England—Conn./Mass. Northward Northward Westward along southern Great LakesWestward along southern Great Lakes

- Four different styles that changed over time - Four different styles that changed over time

(pg. 117)(pg. 117)

1. Salt Box1. Salt Box

2. Two-Chimney2. Two-Chimney

3. Cape Cod3. Cape Cod

4. Front Gable and Wing 4. Front Gable and Wing