AP Hugs: Unit 3- Chapter 3.2 (Cultural Landscapes)

placelessness

many modern cultural landscapes exhibit a great deal of homogeneity or are very similar

Ex: A movie whose story was set in Chicago, IL was actually filmed mostly in California because the suburbs in both areas are similar looking, because of comparable incomes, common American culture, similar architecture, related socioeconomic factors, etc

cultural landscape

also called built environment. Consists anything that is built by humans. The visible reflection of a culture and the human imprint on the environment.

Ex:

-Massive skyscrapers symbolizing economic power and the desire to have a prestigious location.

-wooden buildings vs mud buildings

built environment

physical artifacts that humans have created and that form part of the landscape. Includes buildings, roads, signs, and fences (for ex)

The built landscape often varies in appearance based on different cultures. People in different parts of the world construct their buildings, homes, roads, and other features to adapt to their specific environment and create a unique built environment.

traditional architecture

reflects a local culture’s history, beliefs, values, and community adaptations to the environment, typically utilizing locally available materials. Usually built specifically with the community as the focus.

Ex: Spanish adobe (mud) houses in SW US or colonial homes (which were wooden, with steep pitched roof ) in New England. Many traditional architecture styles have been accepted by popular culture, but at their core, they are still traditional architecture.

postmodern architecture

transitioned away from boxy, concrete and brick structures to high rise structures made from steel and glass siding. Evolved to use more curves, bright colors, and large glass atrium to bring light in.

Ex: skyscrapers

contemporary architecture

Extension of postmodern architecture. Creates buildings that rotate, curve, and stretch the limits of size and height. Towering height of most contemporary architecture is meant to display power and wealth of a city. Both contemporary and postmodern architecture known for their drama and large-scale beauty. Associated with globalized popular culture.

ethnicity

Membership within a group of people who have experiences and share similar characteristics such as ancestry, language, customs, and history.

ethnic enclaves

clusters of people of the same culture. Sometimes reflect the desire of people to remain isolated from larger society. Can also reflect a dominant culture’s desire to segregate a minority culture. Inside these enclaves are stores and religious institutions that are supported by the ethnic groups, signs in traditional language, and architecture reflecting the group’s place of origin.

Ex: Chinatown or Little Mogadishu (Somali enclave)

cultural regions

usually determined based on characteristics such as religion, language, and ethnicity. Transition zones often exist, as cultural regions do not always follow political borders (Ex: people near the Mexican US border are fluent in Spanish and English and have cultural ties to both Mexico and the US)

cultural realms

larger than cultural regions. Includes several regions, and often share a few traits, such as language, families, food preferences, architecture, or a shared history

sacred place

places that are religiously significant (some people may believe spirits or deities reside there)

Ex: Mecca, Mt. Sinai, Jerusalem

diaspora

-one group of people is dispersed to various locations (happened to the Jews)

charter group

the first group to establish cultural and religious customs in an area

-Native Americans were the charter group in the Americas

ethnic islands

ethnic concentrations in rural areas. Cultural imprints are seen in housing types and agricultural dwelling that reflect their heritage. Rural area means less integration with other groups and a strong and long-lasting sense of cohesion.

sequent occupancy

groups moving in and out of neighborhoods and creating new cultural imprints on the land

-Ex: Harlem’s cultural landscape includes former Jewish synagogues, public spaces named after African American leaders, street names honoring Puerto Rican leaders

neolocalism

the process of re-embracing the uniqueness and authenticity of a place

-Ex: A neighborhood in a large city might hold a festival to honor cuisine, religion, and history of the migrants who settled in communities.

toponyms

place name

stupas

structures used to store important relics and memorialize important events. Often symbolized five aspects of nature: air, water, fire, earth, space

pagodas

used as temples and people can enter into larger pagodas. Similar to stupas

minarets

(beacon) places where daily prayer is called

Christianity

architecture: churches

-churches close to hearth (eastern Med) often reflect traditional style domed-roofs

-churches further away (N. Europe) have steep-pitched roofs to allow snow to slide off during winter)

-common ritual is burial of the dead

Hinduism

-architecture: shrines or temples (with elaborately carved exteriors)

-rivers and streams are used to bathe in for purification

Buddhism

-meditating and living in harmony with nature

-stupas: structures to store important relics and memorialize important events, often built to symbolize five aspects of nature (space, earth, air, water, fire)

Judaism

-architecture: synagogue or temple

-burial of the dead a day after death

Islam

-architecture: mosques usually located in center of town

-minarets (beacon) for daily prayer

Shinto

arcitecture: shrines, torri to mark the transition from outside world to a sacred place

-honoring ones ancestors and emphasizes the relationship between ppl and nature

ethnic neighborhoods

often in urban settings, occupied by migrants who settle into a charter group’s former space