What are the sustainability challenges for folk culture?

-increased connections with popular culture makes it difficult to maintain centuries-old practices
-impacts of globalization in the landscape creates challenges in maintaining a unique landscape
What are the sustainability challenges for popular culture? (2 ways)
1. Pollution of the landscape
-uniform appearance is wanted to generate "product recognition" and greater consumption
-when golf courses are built, the natural state is greatly modified
2. Depletion of scarce natural resources
-popular culture (and folk culture) demands a large supply of animals (for skins, meats, etc.),
which can result in extinction and/or resource depletion

Threats to folk culture

Loss of traditional values

Foreign media dominance

A culture traditionally practiced by a small, rural homogeneous populations.

Folk culture varies greatly from place to place but changes slowly.

Not commodified.
Folk customs are so deeply embedded in a local culture that the time, hearth and innovator of folk culture

Folk culture arises out of the everyday activities of rural life.

The spread of folk culture typically follows a process of relocation diffusion (migration of people bringing a
with them).

Folk culture is transmitted more slowly and on a smaller scale than popular culture.
 Folk cultures survive in a dwindling number of isolated areas in LDCs in rural areas of MDCs where culture
isolation from the dominant popular culture.

Folk culture can also be found in ethnic enclaves in urban areas.

Threats to the folk culture in Europe

1. The influence of political and ideological transformations on folk culture

One of the factors having strong impact on the condition of folk culture is intolerance of some
ethnic groups to different ones, instigated by nationalist policies. Cultural, religious, national and
political intolerance result from misunderstanding between people of different identities, formed
by denying other people their right to be different. These lead to mutual resentments,
accusations, hostility and hatred. In this way nationalism, chauvinism and religious
fundamentalism are born. Such political tendencies are principal foes to the variety of traditional
folklore, national culture and religious diversity. They lead to fratricidal fights, wars, oppression
of peoples, or even attempts at biological extermination of adversaries, just because they are
different.

But with the widening range of political freedom in Central and Eastern as well as South-eastern
Europe in the 1990s, the above mentioned threats to folk culture have appeared anew,
particularly on border-lands inhabited by national minorities. In the euphoria of political freedom
the old cultural differences have been reviving together with old resentments and complaints
about harm done in the past. New demands concerning rights and liberties have risen. On some
territories ethnic disputes have turned into armed fighting. Particular signs of nationalism found
their expression in a fratricidal war between some peoples of Southern Europe in the Balkans.
For national, cultural or religious reasons, and because of political differences and ambitions, the
unique treasures of cultural heritage and the rich material culture of folklore have been turned to
ruins, whole ethnic groups have been driven away from their centuries-old home territories, and
a large number of national and cultural adversaries have been atrociously murdered.

In recent years ethnic fights in the Balkans have been decreasing, but that is rather the result of
the presence of the UN Peace Corps than of a greater tolerance between the adversaries. How
much longer can foreign military forces replace mutual tolerance? Is the eruption of the Balkan
nationalist volcano going to threaten Europe in the third millennium, the same as it did for the
last hundred years? Will it be possible to eliminate the existing ethnic conflicts in the coming
decades? Does not the IOV as a whole, and particularly its national sections, have a duty to
oppose to this shameful threat to folk culture?

2. Social and economic transformation as a threat to folk culture

Folk culture has always been closely bound with natural rural life. Social and economic changes
in the village (technological progress, migrations, the spread of schooling, industrialization) have
become intensified since the end of the 19th century, causing gradual decline of folk culture.

In the new free-market conditions culture has become a commercial product, which cannot
compete with modern mass culture. Consequences of the restructuring of rural economy are
pauperization of villagers and their migration (especially of youth ones) to cities or to other
countries. Stable traditional and natural ethnic bonds as well as family bonds or neighborhood
relations, which used to lie at the roots of folk culture, have become shattered. The ideal of a
successful businessman and the lifestyle oriented on easy economic profit are being promoted
nowadays among young people in lieu of the ideal of a culturally competent person. Such
lifestyle makes people feel closer to Western Europe.

In the process of economic transformation in Poland and, I assume, in the other countries of
Central Europe as well folk culture suffered huge damage. The chase of profit and an
idolatrous function of money destroy unselfish artistic activity of numerous folk artists and
unpaid hobbyist activities of the organizers of spontaneous cultural life. Many folk music bands
and folk singers and dancers with considerable artistic output get dissolved. Ethnographic
museums and scansens face worse and worse situation. The same is true about research centers
dealing with folk culture. The activity of cultural and folklorist associations is declining.
International exchange of folk companies has been limited to the minimum. Culture centers and
clubs, which used to give main support to folk groups are either liquidated or change the profile
of their activity because of financial shortages.

Moreover, high unemployment, which is one of the results of the economic transformation, has a
negative impact on cultural life. People who cannot satisfy their basic needs because of lack of
money have other priorities than participation in cultural life.

The question now is: in view of such threats to folk culture, should we return to more natural,
primitive system of economy, or in order to keep up with the times support its
transformation, trying at the same time to find a proper place as well as organizational and
financial support to the folk culture?

3. Civilizational threats to folk culture

Contemporary civilization changes, which is an obvious thing, result from a ever-greater pace of
scientific and technological development which, in turn, causes accelerated processes of
industrialization and urbanization, creation of new types of energy for contemporary industry,
development of a new-generation electronics and their use to improve communication among
people. These changes are being conducted deliberately and consciously to serve well to the
benefit of the contemporary man, satisfying his needs and ambitions.

Unfortunately, though, the development of contemporary civilization has been eliciting more and
more side effects, brought about by man either unintentionally or quite knowingly, which is
unpardonable and shows lack of responsibility for the present and future generations of our
globe.
Besides the above-mentioned threats there are many symptoms of mans reckless interference
with the complex structure of the natural environment. By destroying our natural environment
we do harm to the natural source from which traditional folklore has arisen and developed. And
when the background is gone, the carriers of folk culture disappear and finally the folk culture is
gone as well. As a result of changes in civilization, the family, being the principal agent of
cultural education, has been undergoing a process of gradual disintegration, losing this way its
influence in this area. Moral norms, regulating peoples natural relations and sanctioned by folk
culture traditions, cease to be valued. Social pathology like alcoholism and drug abuse,
prostitution, larceny, thuggery and terrorism take over everywhere at a quick pace.

Under such negative influences of today, not only the folk culture both authentic and stylized is
endangered but also the whole cultural heritage of Europe and that of the contemporary world.
But in face of such threats of civilization to folk culture should we oppose the development of
civilization, which provides societies with so many benefits? Or should we rather try to reduce
its negative effects on folk culture and find its appropriate place in the world? However, the
reversal of history and civilizational development is impossible. That is why, instead of denying
them, we ought to take advantage of these achievements in order to popularize, document and
preserve folk culture for future generations.

4. The impact of globalization on folk culture

On the doorstep to the 3rd millennium the process of globalization of all walks of life: economic,
political and social, has been speeding up. The global network of satellite communication has
become the main transmitter of the uniformed mass culture. The audio and video market have a
similar world-wide range. The world has become a global village.

The globalization processes contribute to a degradation of peoples natural environment: family,

living and working place, religious and cultural communities. This leads to unfavorable
conditions like: limitation of sovereignty of small nations; liquidation of national minorities;
impairment of the sense of national and cultural identity; obliteration of the rich and varied
national and folk lifestyles. There appears a global, standard, uniform lifestyle, submitted to the
relentless economic processes, full of psychic tensions, stress, civilization-caused diseases,
primitive behavior, and often even moral degeneration.

What attitude should we take towards the impact of globalization on folk culture? Should we
stand up on barricades together with those who protest against globalization or instead look for a
better place for folk culture in the modern, globalized world?

The above considerations attempt at showing that the close of the second millennium of folk
culture in Europe has been a period of its constant degradation and destruction. Activities
undertaken by UNESCO, by the IOV and other non-governmental organizations, as well as by
some governments, to prevent the above-mentioned degradation are not sufficient yet, in spite of
all their efforts. The World Decade for Cultural Development has not quite fulfilled expectations
connected with its programme. The folk culture in Central and Eastern Europe where it functions
under the complex processes of transformation at the beginning of the 3rd millennium is
experiencing great difficulties.

Threats to Folk Culture

Loss of Traditional Values
Folk culture is very important but is in risk of being lost due to the overtake of more popular customs.
For example, we are losing the original idea of clothing and the original idea of roles of women.

The ideas of women are changing. In folk culture, it is expected of a woman to be caring to the children
and serving a man. Now, popular culture convinces us that women must be independent. For example, a
stay-at home mom is now frowned upon for not reaching a women's "full potential."
Roles of Women
As the roles of women change, so does the clothing they wear. Some religions look down at clothing of
popular culture. They support continuing to wear folk clothes. One example of this is Fundamentalist
Muslim and their encouragement of women wearing black chadors.
Clothing
Television and radio broadcasts, and other news media are controlled and monopolized by the
government. Some shows present new ideas to replace old values, but some places are more strict in
what they are allowed to air.
Media is a Threat to Traditional Values

Folk culture is type of culture is practiced primarily by small, homogeneous groups living in
isolated areas.
The globalization of popular culture is the main reason folk culture has been diminishing, and
could continue at a steep rate. The diffusion of pop culture may threaten the survival of folk
culture.
Pop culture is the type of culture is in large heterogeneous societies that share certain habits
despite differences.
 1. Loss of traditional values
2. Foreign media imperialism

3. Change of culture
4. Placelessness
5. Environmental threats

2 Foreign media imperialism

Control of media
US
UK
Japan
Values in those countries (Western values) may not present values of LDCs
And may be offensive or inflammatory
Counter-Example:
Al-Jazeera
Headquartered in Qatar
Recently available in U.S.

3
Cultures change and adopt new traits from other groups
New ideas for popular culture often come from folk culture
Relocation Diffusion
Migrating populations adopt the cultural traits of the receiving society
Receiving society adopts certain traits from the migration population as well
Assimilation vs. acculturation (William Newman)
Acculturation Process of adopting only certain customs that will be to their
advantage. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNoDyfvABHc)
Amalgamation A + B + C = D. Accomodations where cultures fuse
together creating a new one.
Assimilation A + B + C = A. A is the dominant culture and the minority
cultures took on traits of dominant culture.
Immigrants groups

4.

Popular culture is characterized by uniformity

Art

Architecture

Food

Beliefs

If every place looks the same, how can any place be unique?
 Uniform landscape - the spatial expression of a popular custom in one location that will
be similar to another.

Dependent on local environment

When people turn from folk culture to popular culture they sometimes turn away from
traditional values as well

Can lead to dominance of Western Perspectives

Findings :

After the study, avoid picture of the folk culture of Bangles has been found.

The findings of the study are the following :

i) The source of our folk culture is the life of the rural people.

ii) Our folk culture is composed of several ingrates types of ingredients such as

a) Material elements

b) Formal elements

c) Function elements and

d) Performance elements

iii) Components of folk culture are the following

a) Folk songs

b) Folk Jales

c) Idioms

d) Puzzles

e) Folk Drama

f) Folk rituals

g) Folk carryall and

h) Folk Art /Ulkey.

Recommendation

i) The Condition of Folk culture of Bangladesh is not good. So Government /concern authority
should take necessary steps to save and protect folk culture as early as. Possible .

Government should take policy culture in men / women in folk culture in Bangladesh.
Build up public awareness through. Education for our national heritage.
Govt. should take necessary steps for list publicity
The elements of the folk culture should be concerned from any sort of distortion
/destruction.
Government should form a committee to rescued folk elements from various races of
Bangladesh .
Steps should be taken at Govt. level to conserve the endangered elements of folk
culture.
The qualitative value of the folk elements should be enhanced.
It should be freed from urban culture.
It should be freed from the influence of our culture.

Conclusion

The introduction or picture of a nation is found in her culture. If the culture collapses, the nation
will be identify less. So every nation should protect or preserve her culture for her existence.

The folklore culture of Bangles is now on the way of ruin. So it is the duty of every citizen
nurture it and to prepare it. If we can protect our folk one culture, the nation will find her
existence very eerily If is impossible to reflect all the folk one culture of within this very short
line. I hope, it will be fulfill at the hand of extraordinary expert in the course of him.

For centuries Bangladesh has been an agri cultural society. So, its folk culture is based on the
rituals and rhythms of rural life. Despite the trends of urbanization and globalization our culture
of both the urban and rural communities are folk oriented.

Both our practical and cultural life are based on Australoid and Drabid Society. But there is no
documentary history where we can get the depiction of their times and culture. On the basis of
different information we can come to conclusion that our lifestyle has been influenced by the
arrival and permanent living at different nations in course of time, the amalgamation of different
lifestyle have led to a distinctive cultural trend.

The development of culture is not possible without tradition. The mode of life for a long period
of time builds up the foundation of culture. Basically, culture is tradition.