Why is folk culture Why is folk culture clustered?clustered?

Develop in isolationDevelop in isolation Vary widely—even in nearby Vary widely—even in nearby

placesplaces Distinctive views emerge Distinctive views emerge

among neighboring groups in among neighboring groups in the Himalayasthe Himalayas

Tibetan Buddhist—scary figures of monks, Tibetan Buddhist—scary figures of monks, saints and divine figuressaints and divine figures

Hindus—paint daily life, represent violent and Hindus—paint daily life, represent violent and climatic conditionsclimatic conditions

Muslims—regions beautiful plants and flowersMuslims—regions beautiful plants and flowers Burmese Animists—paint symbols from the Burmese Animists—paint symbols from the

religionreligion

Influence of the Environment Influence of the Environment on Clothing, Food, and Housingon Clothing, Food, and Housing Environmental determinism/possibilism—Environmental determinism/possibilism—

determinists theorize that the determinists theorize that the environment causes social customs yet environment causes social customs yet there are many examples of those in there are many examples of those in similar environments with different similar environments with different customscustoms

However, customs such as food clothing However, customs such as food clothing and shelter are influenced by climate, soil and shelter are influenced by climate, soil and vegetationand vegetation

Food and ShelterFood and Shelter Different cultures prefer different foods Different cultures prefer different foods

and styles of house constructionand styles of house construction

Soy Beans!!!!!Soy Beans!!!!!People adapt food People adapt food

preferences to preferences to

environmental conditionsenvironmental conditions..

Grown widely in Asia—good source of Grown widely in Asia—good source of proteinprotein

Toxic in raw formToxic in raw form Fuel is scarce and cooking requires Fuel is scarce and cooking requires

lengthy timelengthy time Bean sprouts, soy sauce, steamed Bean sprouts, soy sauce, steamed

and bean curdand bean curd

Southern Europe—quick fryingSouthern Europe—quick frying Northern Europe—slow stewing Northern Europe—slow stewing

and roastingand roasting

Food Diversity in Food Diversity in TransylvaniaTransylvania

A century ago….A century ago…. 4 million Hungarians4 million Hungarians 4 million Romanians4 million Romanians 500 to 600 thousand Saxons500 to 600 thousand Saxons 50 to 75 thousand Jews50 to 75 thousand Jews 20 to 25 thousand Armenians20 to 25 thousand Armenians Several thousand SzeklersSeveral thousand Szeklers

Soup—the food of the poorSoup—the food of the poor

Hungarians—soup with smoked bacon thickened Hungarians—soup with smoked bacon thickened with flour and onion fried in lardwith flour and onion fried in lard

Romanians—made sour bran soups from cracked Romanians—made sour bran soups from cracked wheat, corn, brown bread and cherry tree twigswheat, corn, brown bread and cherry tree twigs

Saxons—simmered fatty pork in water, added Saxons—simmered fatty pork in water, added sauerkraut and vinegar, and often used fruitssauerkraut and vinegar, and often used fruits

Jews—preferred soups made from beets and Jews—preferred soups made from beets and sorrel (a leafy vegetables) sorrel (a leafy vegetables)

Armenians—soup based on churut (curdled milk) Armenians—soup based on churut (curdled milk) and ground vegetablesand ground vegetables

Szeklers—adopted Jewish practices, substituted Szeklers—adopted Jewish practices, substituted pork for goose or other poultry in Hungarian pork for goose or other poultry in Hungarian recipesrecipes

Food Attractions or TaboosFood Attractions or Taboos

Folk culture often Folk culture often associates foods with associates foods with certain beneficial or certain beneficial or harmful traitsharmful traits

Abipone Indians—Jaguars Abipone Indians—Jaguars and Bullsand Bulls

Mandrake—lovemaking, Mandrake—lovemaking, and a drug in parts of and a drug in parts of Africa and the Middle EastAfrica and the Middle East

A taboo is a restriction on A taboo is a restriction on behavior imposed by a social behavior imposed by a social

customcustom.. Taboos are often associated with sexual Taboos are often associated with sexual

practices, but are especially strong with food.practices, but are especially strong with food. Ainus of Japan—otter—forgetfulAinus of Japan—otter—forgetful Europeans—potato—blamed for typhoid, Europeans—potato—blamed for typhoid,

tuberculosis, famine, also resembles deformities tuberculosis, famine, also resembles deformities associated with leprosyassociated with leprosy

Mbum Kpau women—avoid chicken or goat Mbum Kpau women—avoid chicken or goat before pregnancy and antelope duringbefore pregnancy and antelope during

Muslims and Hebrews—pigsMuslims and Hebrews—pigs Hindus—cowHindus—cow Americans--insectsAmericans--insects

Fried water bugs—Burma and Fried water bugs—Burma and ThailandThailand

Folk HousingFolk Housing

Building materials are influenced by available Building materials are influenced by available resourcesresources

Social groups may share materials but have Social groups may share materials but have housing differences related to environment or housing differences related to environment or beliefs, orientation of houses maybe important alsobeliefs, orientation of houses maybe important also.. In Madagascar, door is on the westIn Madagascar, door is on the west Java, front door always faces southJava, front door always faces south Laos arranges beds perpendicular to the center line of roof Laos arranges beds perpendicular to the center line of roof

while center line of roof is perpendicular to path but while center line of roof is perpendicular to path but parallel to a streamparallel to a stream

In parts of Thailand, ridgepoles are parallel to the path but In parts of Thailand, ridgepoles are parallel to the path but houses are not in straight lines because evil spirits move in houses are not in straight lines because evil spirits move in straight linesstraight lines

The fronts of Lao houses, such as those in the village of Muang Nan, The fronts of Lao houses, such as those in the village of Muang Nan, Laos, face one another across a path, and the backs face each other Laos, face one another across a path, and the backs face each other at the rear. Their ridgepoles (the centerline of the roof) are set at the rear. Their ridgepoles (the centerline of the roof) are set perpendicular to the path but parallel to a stream if one is nearby. perpendicular to the path but parallel to a stream if one is nearby. Inside adjacent houses, people sleep in the orientation shown, so Inside adjacent houses, people sleep in the orientation shown, so neighbors are head-to-head or feet-to-feet. (right) Houses of Yuan neighbors are head-to-head or feet-to-feet. (right) Houses of Yuan and Shan peoples in northern Thailand. In the village of Ban Mae and Shan peoples in northern Thailand. In the village of Ban Mae Sakud, Thailand, the houses are not set in a straight line because of Sakud, Thailand, the houses are not set in a straight line because of a belief that evil spirits move in straight lines. Ridgepoles parallel a belief that evil spirits move in straight lines. Ridgepoles parallel the path, and the heads of all sleeping persons point eastward. the path, and the heads of all sleeping persons point eastward.

Turpan houses have small, open courtyards for social gatherings. Turpan is Turpan houses have small, open courtyards for social gatherings. Turpan is situated in a deep valley with relatively little open land, because much of the situated in a deep valley with relatively little open land, because much of the

space is allocated to drying raisins. space is allocated to drying raisins. Second-story patios, which would use even Second-story patios, which would use even less land, are avoided, because the village is subject to strong winds. less land, are avoided, because the village is subject to strong winds.

Kashgar houses have second-floor open-air patios, where the Kashgar houses have second-floor open-air patios, where the residents can catch evening breezesresidents can catch evening breezes. Poplar and fruit trees can be . Poplar and fruit trees can be planted around the houses, because the village has a river that is planted around the houses, because the village has a river that is constantly flowing rather than seasonal, as is the case in much of constantly flowing rather than seasonal, as is the case in much of

China's dry lands. These deciduous trees provide shade in the China's dry lands. These deciduous trees provide shade in the summer and openings for sunlight in the winter.summer and openings for sunlight in the winter.

Yinchuan houses are built around large, open-air courtyards, which Yinchuan houses are built around large, open-air courtyards, which contain tall trees to provide shade. Most residents are Muslims, who contain tall trees to provide shade. Most residents are Muslims, who regard courtyards as private spaces to be screened from outsiders. regard courtyards as private spaces to be screened from outsiders. The adobe bricks are square or cubic rather than rectangular, as is The adobe bricks are square or cubic rather than rectangular, as is the case in the other villages, though R. W. McColl found no reason the case in the other villages, though R. W. McColl found no reason

for this distinctive custom.for this distinctive custom.

Dunhuang houses are characterized by walled central courtyards, covered by Dunhuang houses are characterized by walled central courtyards, covered by an open-lattice grape arbor. The cover allows for the free movement of air but an open-lattice grape arbor. The cover allows for the free movement of air but

provides shade from the especially intense direct summer heat and light. provides shade from the especially intense direct summer heat and light. Rather than the flat roofs characteristic of dry lands, houses in Dunhuang have Rather than the flat roofs characteristic of dry lands, houses in Dunhuang have

sloped roofs, typical of wetter climates, so that rainfall can run off. The sloped roofs, typical of wetter climates, so that rainfall can run off. The practice is apparently influenced by Dunhuang's relative proximity to the practice is apparently influenced by Dunhuang's relative proximity to the

population centers of eastern China, where sloped roofs predominate.population centers of eastern China, where sloped roofs predominate.

New England folk house New England folk house stylesstyles

SaltboxSaltbox

Cape CodCape Cod

Middle Atlantic I-houseMiddle Atlantic I-house

Modified Lower Modified Lower Chesapeake/TidewaterChesapeake/Tidewater