Cultural Traits: From Folk to Popular

World Geography

Term 1 project

Instructions: You will create a poster presentation on the origin and diffusion of a cultural trait from its local origins to its current manifestation in popular culture. The cultural trait can be either material or non-material. For example, a non-material trait would be a custom, tradition or behavior such a shaking hands, going tanning or celebrating Halloween. Material traits could include a popular type of food (or beverage), clothing, music or sport.

Poster Contents Divide the poster into four sections. Put one of the following items in each section

  1. Map: (5 points)
  1. Show the location where the trait began and where/how it diffused across the landscape.
  2. Scale: Identify if the diffusion is at a state, national, regional or global scale.
  3. Key: Identify any colors or symbols used on the map
  1. Visual Representation: (3 points) use one of the following
  1. picture
  2. graph/chart
  3. symbol/logo
  1. Chart: (3 points) Reproduce the chart below with the information in the right column as it applies to the cultural trait you chose.

Original Characteristics or Traits
Hearth
Environmental Factors
Diffusion
Current Characteristics or Traits
  1. Written Explanation: (5 points)

Write a one page, single spaced paper that includes the following-

  1. Hearth: Node (center point) from which the object or custom began
  2. Environmental factors: What local climate, vegetation factor made the object or idea a possibility?
  3. How the object or custom spread. Name the specific types of diffusion.

They include:

relocation-people move from one place to another

expansion- hierarchical: spread from centers of authority or power

contagious: rapid, wide-spread diffusion without regard to hierarchy or permanent relocation of people.

stimulus: spread of a part of an idea or object rather than the whole

  1. Explanation of why the object became popular. What was it about the thing that made people adopt it on a large scale.

Ideas for Consideration

MATERIAL CULTURE

Vansfast foodlacrosse

Levi’shamburgersoccer

cargo pantshot doghockey

Quicksilverpizzasnowboarding

personal computerscerealrap/hip-hop

smart phonesbluegrass musicanimation

GPSjazzyoga

Coca-Colaherbal medicinemartial arts

NON-MATERIAL CULTURE

any religionweekendseye contact

any holidaywearing make-upmeditation

any type of discriminationany custom any language

astrologydemocracyreading and writing