Cultural Diffusion: Folk vs. Popular Culture

Folk Music

Originates anonymously, transmitted orally by travelers.

Popular Music

Written for sale and large performances.

Soccer Origins

Started as a folk custom in England.

Soccer Legalization

King James I legalized soccer in 1603.

Regional Sports

Cultural groups prefer specific sports like cricket.

Lacrosse History

Traditionally played by Iroquois, now globally recognized.

Material Culture

Includes clothing, food, and shelter essentials.

Folk Clothing

Influenced by agriculture, climate, and culture.

Popular Clothing

Reflects occupation and income rather than environment.

Folk Housing

Built from local materials like wood and brick.

Folk House Hearths

Identified by Fred Kniffen in three US regions. Chesapeake, middle atlantic, and new England.

Popular Housing

Mass-produced homes reflect current architectural styles.

Terroir

Local environmental factors affecting food characteristics.

Food Taboos

Societal restrictions on certain food consumption.

Abipone Taboo

Avoiding hens and tortoises to prevent cowardice.

Popular Food Culture

Cultural values shape food preferences over environment.

TV Diffusion

TV became dominant media in mid-20th century.

Internet Usage

Average human spent 2 hours online daily in 2016.

Facebook Users

Facebook has 2 billion global users today.

Smartphone Ownership

77% of Americans owned smartphones in 2016.

Twitter Trends

India is the second-largest Twitter user globally.

Cultural Vernacular

Regional word usage varies significantly in the US.

International Cultural Variance

Popular culture elements differ significantly by country.

Urban vs Rural Culture

Streaming preferences differ between urban and rural areas.

Media Access Limitations

2/3 of internet users face government censorship.

Internet Restrictions

Governments ban technology and censor content.

Amish Migration

Amish preserve identity while facing cultural diffusion.

Dowry Issues

Cultural pressures lead to violence over dowry expectations.

Expansion Diffusion

This refers to the spread of an idea or feature from one place to another in a snowballing process, where the number of those influenced continuously increases

Contagious Diffusion

The rapid, widespread diffusion of a feature or trend throughout a population.

Hierarchical Diffusion

the spread of a feature or trend from one key person or node of authority or power to other persons or places

Stimulus Diffusion

When the main aspects of a cultural trait are spread, but adaptations are made to be more acceptable to the new culture.

Relocation Diffusion

This occurs when an idea or feature is spread through the physical movement of people from one place to another.

Taboo

A restriction on behavior imposed by social custom.