CPA - Folk Culture Lesson

Folk Culture

  • Folk cultures are small groups of homogenous people (meaning the people tend to be very similar in appearance, language, religion, etc.) closely tied to the environment because they are usually self-sufficient, have a lack of technology and a focus on agriculture as a way of life
    1. These cultures focus on the environment and social norms for almost all of their decisions
    2. Initially driven by indigenous groups (the original inhabitants of an area)
  • Folklore helps to keep folk cultures alive by passing down collected stories that illustrate the morality and ethics of the group
  • Folk cultures tend to have a very defined sense of gender roles
    • Normally patriarchal in design, the roles of men and women are very static (these might be threatened by modern or pop culture beliefs)
  • Folk cultures have to consider soil, climate and terrain when deciding what food to produce
    • For example, terroir is the specific consideration of these aspects when growing grapes for wine
    • Rice - milder, wet climates in Asia
    • Wheat - colder, drier climates (Great Plains)
    • Populations become accustomed to the food they can grow
      • Soybeans in Asia: These are not healthy raw, so they are eaten as bean sprouts, soy sauce or bean curd

 

  • Folk culture habits are also driven by the social norms of the group
    • Some foods are eaten because of their supposed qualities (intelligence, strength, etc.)
    • Some foods are avoided because of their cultural, environmental or religion connotations
      • Taboo customs are restricted (can be food or in any other cultural area)
      • Cultural - superstitions for children and pregnant women
      • Religious - avoiding pork (Islam and Judaism) / not eating beef (Hindu)

 

  • Folk culture housing styles are a combination of environmental factors and social choices and these architectural forms may change over time
    • Building materials have to be available
    • Most common wood and brick (modern wood can be cut to very specific angles)
      • If there are different materials, they will normally be evident in home facades (stone, clay bricks, etc.)
      • Yurts, teepees and even log cabins are examples
    • It is possible to bring in resources, but it will cost more money (sign of power and status = popular culture)
    • Form of homes might reflect environmental, religious or social factors
      • Religious - sacred areas of the home or the direction of the home
      • Orientation might be affected by the sun or winds; pitched roofs for snow or rain
      • Directionality of homes and even beds to avoid bad luck and show respect

 

  • US Survey SystemsPrinciple meridian and baselines governing the United States Public Lands Survey System
    • As the US expanded, the method for dividing land for homes and property changed (the US is no longer considered a folk culture – but the original charter groups and indigenous people were)
      1. Metes and Bounds - based on English property which was marked by landmarks (used early on and east of the Appalachians)
      2. Long-lot - based on French property, land was very narrow with each piece coming from a common river or road (used in Quebec, LA and TX)
      3. Township and Range - American design based on rectangular land division across the Great Plains and Midwest
  • US Housing Traditions
    1. Homes built in the US during the 18th and 19th centuries were in the folk culture fashion
      1. They used local materials (wood) and brought whatever style was popular from the East Coast city they were migrating from
      2. Three major hearths of home design:
        1. New England
        2. Middle Atlantic
        3. Lower Chesapeake
    2. Ever since the mid-20th century, the homes in the US have followed pop culture patterns
      1. Designs and material choices move with hierarchical diffusion and are greatly influenced by the world around them

Flash Cards - Three Major Hearths of Home Design

Select 'Turn' to see the hidden portion of the flash card. Select the arrows to move through the flashcard set.

  • Effect on the Landscapes
    1. Folk landscapes are usually perceptual for the majority of the population and tend to be based on the main characteristic of an area
      1. The cultural landscape in America usually focused on being modern, but in some areas (like Europe) traditional architecture is more valuable
        • The US landscape is becoming more uniform with subdivisions, large stores and fast-food restaurants ( placelessness )

Folk Culture Images

View the presentation below. Turn the pages by selecting on the arrows or the gray boxes at the bottom of each page. To make the slides full screen, select the double arrows at the bottom right corner of the object.

IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS (United States Public Lands Survey System - Images available in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons; Creative Commons License Attribution)