1. September 18, 2015S. Mathews1 Human Geography By James Rubenstein Chapter 4 Key Issue 4 Why Does Globalization of Popular Culture Cause Problems?

2. September 18, 2015S. Mathews2 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.

3. September 18, 2015S. Mathews3 Threat to Folk Culture When people turn from folk to popular culture, they may also turn away from the society’s traditional values.

4. September 18, 2015S. Mathews4 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.

5. September 18, 2015S. Mathews5 Chador

6. September 18, 2015S. Mathews6 Change in Traditional Role of Women The global diffusion of popular culture threatens the subservience of women to men that is embedded in many folk customs.

7. September 18, 2015S. Mathews7 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.

8. September 18, 2015S. Mathews8 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.

9. September 18, 2015S. Mathews9 Threat of Foreign Media Imperialism Leaders of some LDCs consider the dominance of popular customs by MDCs as a threat to their independence.

10. September 18, 2015S. Mathews10 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.

11. September 18, 2015S. Mathews11 Western Control of News Media LDCs fear the effects of the newsgathering capability of the media even more than their entertainment function.

12. September 18, 2015S. Mathews12 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.

13. September 18, 2015S. Mathews13 In Many Regions of the World The only reliable and unbiased news accounts come from the BBC World Service shortwave radio newscasts.

14. September 18, 2015S. Mathews14 Environmental Impact of Popular Culture Popular culture is less likely than folk culture to be distributed with consideration for physical features.

15. September 18, 2015S. Mathews15 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.

16. September 18, 2015S. Mathews16

17. September 18, 2015S. Mathews17 Even if the resulting built environment looks “natural,” it is actually the deliberate creation of people in pursuit of popular social custom.

18. September 18, 2015S. Mathews18 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.

19. September 18, 2015S. Mathews19 Golf Holes Per Capita

20. September 18, 2015S. Mathews20 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.

21. September 18, 2015S. Mathews21 Uniform Landscapes The 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.

22. September 18, 2015S. Mathews22 Hiroshima, Japan

23. September 18, 2015S. Mathews23 Uniformity Uniformity 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.

24. September 18, 2015S. Mathews24 Franchise An agreement which allows the local outlet use of the company’s name, symbols, trademarks, methods, and architectural syles.

25. September 18, 2015S. Mathews25 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.

26. September 18, 2015S. Mathews26 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.

27. September 18, 2015S. Mathews27 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.

28. September 18, 2015S. Mathews28 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.

29. September 18, 2015S. Mathews29 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.