September 18, 2015S. Mathews1 Human Geography By James Rubenstein Chapter 4 Key Issue 4 Why Does...
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Transcript of September 18, 2015S. Mathews1 Human Geography By James Rubenstein Chapter 4 Key Issue 4 Why Does...
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 1
Human Geography
By James Rubenstein
Chapter 4Key Issue 4
Why Does Globalization of Popular Culture Cause
Problems?
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 2
International diffusion of popular culture has led to two
problems. The diffusion of popular culture
may threaten the survival of traditional folk culture in many countries.
Popular culture may be less responsive to the diversity of local environments and consequently may generate adverse environmental impacts.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 3
Threat to Folk Culture
When people turn from folk to popular culture,
they may also turn away from the society’s traditional values.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 4
Loss of Traditional Values The Western business suit has been
accepted as the uniform for business executives and bureaucrats around the world.
Wearing clothes typical of MDCs is controversial in some Middle Eastern countries.
Muslim women in MDCs are encouraged to discard the black Chador in favor of skirts and blouses.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 6
Change in Traditional Role of WomenThe global diffusion of
popular culture threatens the subservience of
women to men that is embedded in many folk
customs.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 7
Change in Traditional Role of Women
The concepts of legal equality and availability of economic
and social opportunities outside the home have become widely accepted in more developed
countries, even where women in reality continue to suffer
from discriminatory practices.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 8
Negative Impact on Women
Contact with popular culture has brought an increase in
prostitution in LDCs. International prostitution is
encouraged in (some) countries as a major source
of foreign currency.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 9
Threat of Foreign Media ImperialismLeaders of some LDCs consider the dominance of popular customs by MDCs as a threat to their independence.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 10
The Spread of Television in LDCs
Leaders of many LDCs view television as a new method
of economic and cultural imperialism on the part of
the more developed countries, especially the
United States.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 11
Western Control of News Media
LDCs fear the effects of the newsgathering
capability of the media even more than their
entertainment function.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 12
Many African and Asian government
officials Criticize the Western concept
of freedom of the press. Argue that the American
news organizations reflect American values and do not provide a balanced, accurate view of other countries.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 13
In Many Regions of the World
The only reliable and unbiased news accounts
come from the BBC World Service shortwave
radio newscasts.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 14
Environmental Impact of Popular CulturePopular culture is less
likely than folk culture to be distributed with consideration for physical features.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 15
Modifying Nature Popular culture can significantly modify or control the environment.
It may be imposed on the environment rather than springing forth from it, as with many folk customs.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 17
Even if the resulting
built environment
looks “natural,” it is actually
the deliberate creation of people in pursuit of popular social
custom.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 18
Diffusion of Golf Golf courses, because of their
large size (200 acres), provide a prominent example of imposing popular culture on the environment.
Golf courses are designed partially in response to local physical conditions.
Golf courses remake the environment.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 20
Distribution of Golf Courses in the US
The number of golf courses per person is greatest in
north-central and northeastern states due
to a long tradition of playing golf.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 21
Uniform LandscapesThe distribution of popular
culture around the world tends to produce more uniform
landscapes.In fact, promoters of popular
culture want a uniform appearance to generate
“Product recognition” and greater consumption.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 23
UniformityUniformity in the appearance
of the landscape is promoted by a wide variety of other popular structures in North America, such as
gas stations, supermarkets, and motels.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 24
FranchiseAn agreement which allows
the local outlet use of the company’s name, symbols, trademarks, methods, and
architectural syles.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 25
Fast-food Restaurants
An example of uniform landscape.
Usually organized as franchises.
Originally developed to attract people who travel by car.
Recently buildings are more subdued.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 26
Global Diffusion of Uniform Landscapes
Diffusion of popular culture across Earth is not confined to products that originate in North America.
Japanese automobiles and electronics have diffused to the rest of the world, including North America.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 27
Negative Environment Impact
The diffusion of some popular customs can adversely
impact environmental quality in two ways: depletion of
scarce natural resources and pollution of the landscape.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 28
Increased Demand for Natural Resources
Increased demand for some products can strain the capacity
of the environment. With a large percentage of the
world’s population undernourished, some question . .
. Inefficient use of grain to feed animals for eventual human
consumption.
April 19, 2023 S. Mathews 29
Pollution Folk culture, like popular culture, can
cause environmental damage, especially when natural processes are ignored.
The more developed societies that produce endless supplies of popular culture have created the technological capacity both to create large-scale environmental damage and to control it.
However, a commitment of time and money must be made to control the damage.