Why is Folk Culture Clustered Chapter 4.2 (pp. 111-117) The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Swine Stock Figure 4-8 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

House Types in Four Western Chinese Communities Figure 4-9 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 4-10 – Cultural Diversity in Isolated Regions © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 4-11 – Sacred Sleeping Space (Laos vs. Thailand) © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Hearths of House Types Figure 4-12 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.