Study Notes on Culture & Social Media
The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography - Chapter 4: Culture & Social Media
Presented by Adam Gleim, Lakota West High School
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Culture & Social Media: Key Issues
4.1 Where Are Cultural Activities Distributed?
4.2 Why Might Culture Diffuse?
4.3 Why Is Access to Culture Unequal?
4.4 Why Do Cultures Face Sustainability Challenges?
Key Issue 1: Where Are Cultural Activities Distributed?
4.1.1 Culture, Social Media, & Geography
Habit: A repetitive act that a particular individual performs.
Custom: A repetitive act of a group, performed to the extent that it becomes characteristic of the group.
Folk Culture:
Traditionally practiced primarily by small, homogeneous groups living in isolated rural areas.
Popular Culture:
Found in large heterogeneous societies that share certain habits despite other differences.
4.1.2 Elements of Cultural Geography
Folk Culture Characteristics:
Origin: Anonymous, sometimes multiple hearths.
Diffusion: Slowly through migration diffusion.
Distribution: Spatially isolated, influenced by local factors.
Popular Culture Characteristics:
Origin: Specific point of origin, usually developed country.
Diffusion: Rapidly through hierarchical diffusion.
Distribution: Widespread wherever technology allows.
Example:
The Bangtan Boys (BTS) concert tours originated in South Korea and diffused to other Asian countries before reaching the global stage.
4.1.3 Diffusion of Electronic Communications
Smartphone Usage: By 2020, smartphone use was common across much of the world.
Social Media Popularity:
Facebook remains the most popular social media network globally, though regional and country-specific patterns are evident.
Usage in the United States: A closer examination of social media platform usage demonstrates varying popularity trends.
Key Issue 2: Why Might Culture Diffuse?
4.2.1 Origin & Diffusion of Folk & Popular Music
Folk Music:
Often has an anonymous origin and tells a traditional story.
Popular Music:
Created by known authors and typically produced for sale.
Example:
Vietnamese singers performing Quan Ho songs, a tradition over 500 years old.
Economic Cluster:
Musicians and studios cluster in cities for better access to music services and employment, with Nashville being noted for its high concentration of musicians relative to the population.
Regional Variations: Changes in popular music preferences across different regions exemplify cultural adaptation.
4.2.2 Origin & Diffusion of Folk & Popular Sports
Soccer:
An example of a global popular sport with folk origins.
Regional Sports:
Sports like ice hockey thrive in colder climates, while others have unique regional appeal (e.g., cricket, wushu, lacrosse).
Baseball:
Originated in the United States but gained popularity in regions like the Caribbean and Japan.
Expansion of Soccer:
Played by both men and women globally and among various age groups.
Functional Regions:
Example of a functional region: The geographical support base for a baseball team covers areas beyond its local base (e.g., Yankees and Red Sox).
Innovation in Sports:
Electronic communications have fostered the emergence of new sports such as esports.
4.2.3 Distribution of Folk & Popular Clothing
Folk Clothing Influences:
May reflect environmental or cultural factors, including religious traditions.
Popular Clothing Influences:
Typically reflects occupation and income levels.
Global Appeal Example:
Blue jeans illustrate global appeal, evident by their popularity among men in places like Delhi.
4.2.4 Folk & Popular Housing
Folk Housing Influences:
Influences include:
Environmental: Choices of building materials affected by climate.
Cultural: Beliefs about house shape and orientation.
U.S. Folk Housing Styles:
Diffused from three hearths along the Atlantic coast:
New England.
Middle Atlantic.
Lower Chesapeake and Tidewater.
Global Styles:
Examples of folk housing differing based on environmental conditions (e.g., Oman versus Estonia) and cultural beliefs (e.g., Laos versus Thailand).
Style Examples:
Tudor style houses, especially popular in affluent suburbs during the 1970s, found in urban areas like Chicago and New York.
4.2.5 Food Customs
Environmental Influence:
Local conditions dictate agricultural production.
Food Taboos:
May serve environmental protection purposes or align with religious practices (e.g., Hindus avoid meat, Jews and Muslims refrain from pork).
Terroir:
Represents the contribution of a location's physical features to food flavor and quality.
Changing Preferences:
Modern popular food preferences are shaped more by cultural values than by environmental factors.
Wine Production Distribution:
Displays both environmental and cultural influences on agricultural practices.
Key Issue 3: Why Is Access to Culture Unequal?
4.3.1 Electronic Diffusion of Culture
Television Ownership:
In the 1950s, the U.S. had 86% of the world’s TV sets in 1954.
By the 1970s, TV had diffused into Europe but remained scarce in Africa and Asia.
Current Access:
Near-universal access to TV by the early 21st century.
4.3.2 Social Media & Interconnectivity
Growth of Social Media:
The origin of major platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) shows user growth in the U.S. even as its share declines globally.
User Statistics:
A comparison of Facebook user statistics from 2008 and 2022 illustrates shifting demographics.
Four platforms have seen rising users in the U.S., yet the American user share has reduced globally.
4.3.3 Challenges in Accessing Electronic Media
Government Control:
Concerns arise about citizen engagement with social media:
Some governments restrict technology and censor internet content.
Noted countries: China, Russia, and Iran actively limit social media access.
Censorship Trends:
Globally, more nations faced declines in internet freedom from 2020 to 2021.
4.3.4 Spatial Dimensions to Cyberattacks
Types of Cyberattacks:
Malware: Hostile software causing intentional harm.
Ransomware: Encrypts files until a ransom is paid for decryption.
Cyber Espionage: Uses viruses to observe or destroy data in systems of governmental or corporate agencies.
Prevalence of Malware:
Global infections of malware are widespread.
Ransomware Victims: Ten countries represent about half of ransomware attack victims.
Risks of Social Media:
Issues like fake news, alternative facts, and trolling create misinformation and distrust.
Key Issue 4: Why Do Cultures Face Sustainability Challenges?
4.4.1 Maintaining Unique Folk Culture
Threats from Popular Culture:
Folk cultures like the Amish strive to maintain their identity in a heterogeneous society.
Wedding Dowry in India:
A cultural practice under scrutiny that continues to persist today.
Global Influences on Folk Traditions:
Example: Buddhist monks in Myanmar use smartphones while wearing traditional clothing.
4.4.2 Uniform Landscapes of Popular Cultures
Cultural Homogenization:
The spread of popular culture leads to diminished diversity in local folk cultures.
Environmental Concerns:
Pollution, resource depletion, and local businesses pushed out by global franchises are significant risks.
Example: Golf Courses:
Require vast water supplies, illustrated by courses in arid locations like the Namib Desert.
4.4.3 Tourism & Overtourism
Impact of Travel on Landscapes:
International travel reshapes geographical regions significantly.
Overtourism in Europe:
Many European cities face challenges due to excessive tourist influx.
Alternative Tourism:
Options such as responsible tourism, ecotourism, and voluntourism grow in demand among visitors from developed countries.
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