folk art of asia and africa

Folk Art Of Asia And Africa:

Folk Art Of Asia And Africa

Differences between popular and folk culture:

Differences between popular and folk culture Popular culture Consists of large masses of people who conform to and prescribe to ever-changing norms Large heterogeneous groups Often highly individualistic and groups are constantly changing Pronounced division of labor leading to establishment of specialized professions Police and army take the place of religion and family in maintaining order Popular culture Money based economy prevails Replacing folk culture in industrialized countries and many developing nations Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent Item is more quickly or cheaply produced Easier or time-saving to use Lends prestige to owner

Culture Regions:

Culture Regions Folk Culture Regions Folk Cultural Diffusion Folk Ecology Cultural Integration in Folk Geography Folk Landscapes

Material folk culture regions:

Material folk culture regions Each region possesses many distinctive items of material culture Upland South region—notched-log construction, used in building a variety of distinctive house types such as the “dogtrot ” Each region possesses many distinctive items of material culture Quebec French folk region-grist windmills with stone towers, and a bowling game played with small metal balls Mormon folk culture — distinctive hay derricks and gridiron farm villages Western plains ranching folk culture — the “beef wheel,” a windlass used during butchering

Folklore regions :

Folklore regions Four cultural folk-song regions of North America as recognized by Alan Lomax Western style-simply a blend of the Southern and Northern traditions African-American tradition Contains both African and British elements Polyrhythmic songs of labor and worship with instrumental accompaniment Chorus group singing, clapping, body swaying, and strong, surging beat Each tradition shows distinctive melodies, instrumentation, and motifs Folk cultural diffusion Diffuses by the same methods as other cultural elements, but more slowly Weakly developed social stratification tends to retard hierarchical diffusion Inherent conservatism produces resistance to change Essential difference between folk and popular culture is speed by which expansion diffusion occurs

Blowguns:

Blowguns

African Stone Game, Malawi:

African Stone Game, Malawi These men are playing a game commonly known as mancala . Archaeological evidence shows that the game was played in ancient times in many locations in Africa and Asia including Indonesia. The 200 million years ago existence of Pangaea, a single landmass that subsequently broke apart with continental drift, would account for the wide distribution of the stone game. Today it is sold in stores across America – an element of folk culture in a world of popular culture.

Folk ecology:

Folk ecology Folk group’s close relationship with the physical environment Adaptive strategies possess sustainability Livelihood gained directly through primary activities — farming, herding, hunting, gathering, and fishing Languages bear vocabularies required to exploit the habitat Religions act to mitigate environmental hazards Folk tales honor great hunters Proverbs offer wisdom concerning weather and proper time for planting Architecture reflects local building materials and climate One is tempted to conclude folkways exist to facilitate the adjustment to physical environment It is easy to believe the path of environmental determinism

Folk ecology:

Folk ecology Folkways involve more than merely cultural adaptation A variety of folk cultures can exist in any particular ecosystem They are not enslaved and wholly shaped by their physical surroundings Not necessarily true that they live in close harmony with their environment Often soil erosion, deforestation, and overkill of wild animals can be attributed to traditional rural folk Folk Medicine Many folk cures have proven effectiveness Root digging in the Appalachians Much of the produce is now funneled to dealers, who serve a larger market Remains at heart a folk enterprise carried on in the old ways Requires the traditional through knowledge of the plant environment

Environmental perception:

Environmental perception When folk culture groups, or individuals, migrate they seek environments similar to their own homelands They function best in similar environments because the lore of the land passed down relates to one particular ecosystem Overpopulation or other “push’ factors cause folk groups to migrate Thanks By Tanmay Tiwari