1. Threats to Folk Culture
Loss of traditional values
Foreign media imperialism
Change of culture
“Placelessness”
Environmental threats

2. Loss of Traditional Values

3. Foreign Media Imperialism
Control of media US UK
Japan
Values in those countries (Western values) may not present values of LDCs
And may be offensive or inflammatory
Counter-Example:
Al-Jazeera
Headquartered in Qatar
Recently available in U.S.

4. Change of Culture
Cultures change and adopt new traits from other groups
New ideas for popular culture often come from folk culture
Relocation Diffusion
Migrating populations adopt the cultural traits of the receiving society
Receiving society adopts certain traits from the migration population as well
Assimilation vs. acculturation (William Newman)
Acculturation – Process of adopting only certain customs that will be to their advantage. (
Amalgamation – A + B + C = D. Accomodations where cultures fuse together creating a new one.
Assimilation – A + B + C = A. A is the dominant culture and the minority cultures took on traits of dominant culture.
Immigrants groups

6. “Placelessness” Popular culture is characterized by uniformity
Art
Architecture
Food
Beliefs
If every place looks the same, how can any place be unique?
Uniform landscape - the spatial expression of a popular custom in one location that will be similar to another.

7. The Environment Folk Popular Dependent on local environment
Often produces pollution
Less dependent on local environment
More likely to modify the natural environment
High demand for resources
Increased demand & consumption

8. The Hidden Cost of a Hamburger