Chapter 2: Cultural Differences Flashcards
Subcultures
groups of people with norms, values, and material practices that differentiate them from the dominant culture to which they belong
Material Culture
all physical, tangible objects made and used by members ofa cultural group, such as clothing, buildings, tools and utensils, instruments, furniture, and artwork
Nonmaterial Culture
wide range of tales, songs, lore, beliefs, values and customs that pass from generation to generation as part of an oral or written tradition
Folk Culture
small, cohesive, stable, isolated, nearly self-sufficent group that is homogenous in custom and race; characterized by a strong family or clan structure, order maintained through sanctions based in the religion or family, little division of labor other than that between the sexes, frequent and strong interpersonal relationships, and a material culture consisting mainlyof handmade goods
Folk
traditional, rural; the opposite of popular
Folk Geography
study of the spatial patterns and ecology of traditional groups; a branch of cultural geography
Popular Culture
dynamic culture based in large, heterogeneous societies permitting considerable individualism, innovation, and change; having money-based economy, division of labor into professions, secular institutions of control, and weak interpersonal ties; producing and consuming machine-made goods
Indigenous Culture
group that constitutes the original inhabitants of a territory, distinct from the dominant national culture, which is often derived from colonial occupation
Placelessness
spatial standardization that diminishes regional variety; may result from the spread of popular culture, which can diminish, or destroy the uniqueness of place through cultural standardization on a national or even worldwide scale
Vernacular Culture Regions
region perceived to exist by its inhabitants, based in the collective spacial perception of the population at large, and bearing a generally accepted name or nickname (e.g. “Dixie”)
Convergence Hypothesis
holding that cultural differences among places are being reduced by improved transportation and commonications systems, leading to a homogenization of popular culture
Local Consumption Cultures
distinct consumption practices and preferences in food, clothing, music and so forth formed in specific places and historical moments
Consumer Nationalism
situation in which local consumers favor nationally produced goods over imported goods as part of a nationalist political agenda
Colonialism
forceful appropriation of a territory by a distant state, often involving the dispacement of indigenous populations to make way for colonial settlers
Indigenous Technical Knowledge (IDK)
highly localized knowledge about environmental conditions and sustainable land-use practices
Subsistence Economies
economies in which people seek to consome only what they produce and to produce only for hte local consumption rather than for exchange or export
