CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
Geography 2 Instructor – Gary Booher ”
,
. Its vision
terrain, their areal
to describe the earth
, and their ecological dynamics - Krishtalka Leonard Carnegie Museum of Natural History
What is Geography? .
Geography is the science of place is grand, its view panoramic. It sweeps the surface of the Earth, charting physical organic and cultural differentiation with human kind. Its foremost tool is the map Geography = “ Elements of Geography Science of Place Physical & Cultural Areal Differentiation Ecological Dynamics Maps Geography Studies… Differences from Place to Place Population Folk Culture Popular Culture Language Religion Ethnicity Political Geography Agriculture Industry Cities Urban Patterns Meaning of Culture Definitions of Culture – 2 aspects… To care about • Social Beliefs/Customs • To value – Language, Religion, Ethnicity To take care of • Material Traits • Cultivate – Food, Clothing, Shelter Meaning of Culture Culture is… A “way of Life” Shared by a group of people Learned Major Themes…
1. Culture Region 2. Cultural Ecology 3. Cultural Diffusion 4. Cultural Interaction 5. Cultural Landscape 1 – Culture Region Area unified by culture 3 Types of Culture Regions… Formal Functional Vernacular Formal Regions Has 1+ cultural traits A ______area An area with a lot of ______Indefinite boundary Formal Regions Presidential Election (2008) Electoral Vote (State) • “Blue” vs. “Red” Popular Vote (County) • Urban vs. Rural Functional Regions Organized to serve a Function Focused on a NODE Political ~ 200 Countries Functional Regions Social Church Economic Area for Service or Delivery Vernacular Regions Based on a common or perceived name for an area “Midwest” “The South” This area? Vernacular Regions Functional Vernacular Formal Functional What Type of Region?
Formal, Functional or Vernacular? Orange County? Pacific Northwest? A rice-growing region? Pizza-delivery area for Pizza take-out? 2 – Cultural Ecology Interaction of Culture & Environment Environment influences Culture • Agriculture, Housing Cultural Ecology Human activity influences Environment … people/culture will be ______• In a ______environment, Cultural Ecology Views Environment dominant over Culture
Environmental Determinism • For People to choose from • From how they Perceive Environment Cultural Ecology Views Environment offers Possibilities People choose Possibilities…
Possibilism Environmental Perception Environmental Determinism • of Opposite • Technology & Energy • towards the Earth Attitudes Cultural Ecology Views People affect the Environment Depends on…
Humans as Modifiers of the Earth Environmental Modification Netherlands… Land drained & reclaimed from Sea 3 – Cultural Diffusion Origin and spread of… Traits Ideas Innovations Place of Origin is called a Hearth Diffusion weakens from Hearth Distance Decay Cultural Diffusion – Types Relocation Diffusion • People Migrate Expansion Diffusion • Ideas Migrate Hierarchical Contagious Relocation Diffusion Via migration Bring culture with them • Foods Hierarchical Diffusion Between… Urban centers Wealthy or trendy people Examples… Fashions Movies Pop Culture Contagious Diffusion Neighborhood effect Influence of Peers Tastes Music Actions Language Cultural Diffusion 4 – Cultural Interaction Influence between Cultural elements Cultural traits are interdependent • Even when unrelated 5 – Cultural Landscape Man-made Landscape Buildings/Structures Cultural Landscape Visual Record of Cultures Of Values, Tastes, Fears, Technology Shows Identity of a Place Cultural Landscape Toponyms Place-Names Toponyms – Classification Descriptive – for a Natural Feature Long Beach Riverside Thousand Oaks Sierra Nevada Toponyms – Classification Signify Values – of Settlers Los Angeles Islamabad Toponyms – Classification Show Historical Settlement Indigenous •Pasadena Spanish •Santa Monica •San Pedro •Lomita American • Walnut Toponyms – Classification Commemorative For a Person • Washington, DC • Santa Ana • Baldwin Park Or another place •New York – New Amsterdam Toponyms – Classification Functional – for an Economic Activity Harbor City City of Industry Commerce Portland Toponyms – Classification Manufactured Invented Words/Acronyms •Calexico • Mexicali •Norco •Altadena • Azusa Toponyms Place – Site vs. Situation Site –Physical Characteristics
Lower Manhattan Place – Site vs. Situation Place – Site vs. Situation Situation – Importance of Location Relative to other places & factors
Fig. 1-7: Singapore is situatedSingapore at a key location for international trade. Spatial Distribution Density # per Area • High vs. Low Pattern Arrangement • Regular vs. Irregular Concentration Spread • Clustered vs. Dispersed = # 1 Dispersed Clustered
Concentration? Spatial Distribution = # 2 Lower Higher
Density? Portraying Location Maps Cartography = Mapmaking Contemporary Tools Remote Sensing • Satellite Images GPS = Global Positioning System GIS = Geographical Information Systems Politically Incorrect Map Cartographers gone Wild???