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)
a. Show the location where the trait began and where/how it diffused across the
landscape.
b. Scale: Identify if the diffusion is at a state, national, regional or global scale.
c. Key: Identify any colors or symbols used on the map
2. Visual Representation: (3 points) use one of the following
a. picture
b. graph/chart
c. symbol/logo
3. 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
4. Written Explanation: (5 points)
Write a one page, single spaced paper that includes the followinga. Hearth: Node (center point) from which the object or custom began
b. Environmental factors: What local climate, vegetation factor made the object or
idea a possibility?
c. 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
d. 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
Vans
fast food
lacrosse
Levi’s
hamburger
soccer
cargo pants
hot dog
hockey
Quicksilver
pizza
snowboarding
personal computers
cereal
rap/hip-hop
smart phones
bluegrass music
animation
GPS
jazz
yoga
Coca-Cola
herbal medicine
martial arts
any religion
weekends
eye contact
any holiday
wearing make-up
meditation
any type of discrimination
any custom
any language
astrology
democracy
reading and writing
NON-MATERIAL CULTURE