2. Popular Culture
Large
Incorporates heterogeneous populations
Typically urban
Experiences quickly changing cultural traits
Practiced by people across identities and
across the world
Also encompasses material and
nonmaterial culture
3. How is popular culture diffused?
Hierarchical diffusion
Uses an urban hierarchy (distance decay)
David Harvey: time-space compression
Refers to social and psychological effects of living
in a time-space convergence (Donald Janelle)
Since technology links some places more closely
than others, culture diffuses more quickly rather
than at a constant rate
4. Popular culture does not take over the
existing popular culture, rather a process
called reterritorialization of popular
culture occurs
When people w/in a place start to produce an
aspect of popular culture themselves in the
context of their own culture and making it their
own
5. Why is popular culture widely
distributed?
Popular Housing Styles
A. Modern house styles (1945-1960): minimal traditional,
ranch, split level, contemporary + shed style houses
B. Neo-eclectic (1960-): mansard, neo-Tudor, Neo-French,
neo-colonial
*have great rooms rather than separate living + family
rooms
6. Diffusion of Popular Culture cont.
Rapid Diffusion of Clothes
Characterized by income and job characteristics
Improved communication
Exposure to folk dress due to increased travel +
television
A. Jeans-know why + how jeans became a part of
popular culture
7. Diffusion of Popular Culture cont.
B. Snack foods and beverages
*preference based on what is made, grown or
imported locally
*also affected by background
*dependent on income and advertising
8. Role of TV in diffusing Popular
Culture
Significant custom because:
1. Most popular leisure activity
2. Most important means by which culture is
diffused
9. Why Does Globalization of Popular
Culture Cause Problems?
Threat to Folk Culture:
Rising income increases demand for items
valued in popular culture
Can lead to domination of folk culture
Loss of traditional values (clothing)
Change in traditional role of women-How?
Can also cause problems in less developed
nations-increase in prostitution
10. Globalization of Popular Culture cont.
Threat of Foreign Media Imperialism
Threatens LDC’s independence
Seen as a new type of economic + cultural
imperialism
Allow governments of LDC to censor shows
and/or only program shows appropriate to
traditional values
11. Environmental Impact of Popular
Culture
Modifies nature
Uniform landscapes-seen to generate
product recognition + greater consumption
12. Negative Environmental Impacts
Increased demand for natural resources
Depletion of resources and/or extinction of
species
Inefficient use of resources
Pollution
Popular culture produces a lot of waste
Folk culture can also negatively impact the
environment by ignoring natural processes
