What are some Problems with Popular Culture? Key Question:

Problems with Popular Culture Commodification Authenticity Accelerated Resource Use Destruction of Local Culture Western Imperialism

Commodification How are aspects of local culture (material, non- material, place) commodified? what is commodified? who commodifies it?

Commodification Local cultures are constantly fighting off commodification (turning something into a moneymaker) Crazy Horse beer is being sued by the estate of the Lakota leader Material (food & clothing) and non-material (religion & beliefs) culture can be sold off by them or non members The question of authenticity & stereotyping

Authenticity Claims of authenticity abound – how do consumers determine what experience/place is “authentic” and what is not?

South Africa’s “Lost City” D. Authenticity of Places Theme parks & entertainment venues overtly choose a stereotype and perpetuate it Guinness & the Irish Pub Company mass produce hundreds of pubs around the world 9k sq/ft pub in the New York-New York hotel in Las Vegas

What is the last place you went to or the last product you purchased that claimed to be “authentic?” What are the challenges of defending the authenticity of this place or product while refuting the authenticity of other similar places or products?

How is Popular Culture Diffused? Key Question:

How are hearths of popular culture traits established? Typically begins with an idea/good and contagious diffusion. Companies can create/manufacture popular culture. (ie. MTV) Individuals can create/manufacture popular culture. (ie. Tony Hawk)

With Distance Decay, the likelihood of diffusion decreases as time and distance from the hearth increases. With Time-Space Compression, the likelihood of diffusion depends upon the connectedness among places. Which applies more to popular culture?

Stemming the Tide of Popular Culture— Losing the Local? Popular media from core regions are spreading western culture United States: music, sports, fast food Western Europe: fashion, art & philosophy Japan: children’s television and video games Cultural homogenization? The French subsidizes its cultural industries and mandates that 40% of radio be in French (and half must be from new artists)

Local cultures interpret, choose, and reshape popular culture in different ways “Straight out of the Ghetto” Members of the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party burn Valentine's Day cards Japanese Christmas Ad

Think about your local community (your college campus, your neighborhood, your town). Determine how your local community takes one aspect of popular culture and makes it your own.

How can Local and Popular Cultures be seen in the Cultural Landscape? Key Question:

Cultural landscape: the visible imprint of human activity on the landscape How humans have shaped the environment Buildings, signs, fences, & statues CL reflects the norms, values and aesthetics of a culture Example: America’s landscape is filled with big box retailers and fast food stores

Placelessness: the loss of uniqueness in a cultural landscape – one place looks like the next.

Convergence of Cultural Landscapes: Diffusion of architectural forms and planning ideas around the world.

Landscapes are converging because: Particular architectural forms have diffused around the world Individual businesses & products have become widespread in far flung places (corporate signage & IHOP) The borrowing of idealized places has blurred place distinctiveness (town centers are popping up throughout suburbia that look like Main Street USA at Disney World)

Convergence of Cultural Landscapes: The widespread distribution of businesses and products creates distinctive landscape stamps around the world.

Convergence of Cultural Landscapes: Borrowing of idealized landscape images blurs place distinctiveness.

Housing Types Traditional American house types: Housing types reflect the people’s environs, available resources, aesthetics, & the uniqueness of a place People bring their old notions as they migrate but come across new variables

Today, you can also find L- shaped ranch houses, T- shaped homes and U- shaped houses (a composite of old and new forms) The ranch-style design diffused eastward from California since the 1920s (lifestyle) Diffused mostly throughout the sunbelt, but even to colder climates

Today, neighborhoods in the US feature large garages and peaked roofs -This modern architecture can be found throughout the world producing a convergence of styles

Focus on the cultural landscape of campus. Thing about the concept of placelessness. Determine whether your campus is a “placeless place” or if the cultural landscape of your college reflects the unique identity of the place. Imagine you are hired to build a new student union on your campus. How could you design the building to reflect the uniqueness of your college?