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AMERICAN SCHOOL OF DIFFUSIONISM (premises (culture area - geographical…
AMERICAN SCHOOL OF DIFFUSIONISM
Historical background
Influenced by German school
of diffusionism , link b/wn German and american school by
Franz Boas
Franz boas and student Clark wissler in American museum as
curator
- advice on display of exhibit of american Indians in the museum , both
against three stage classification
of L H Morgan
influenced by
museum methodology of germane
- classified cultural elements from the same geographic region together , from here
the concept of culture area(space)
came into being.
culture area 1st used
by O T Mason
, later L.Kroeber but he did not develop the idea as he was more interested in field work ,
development of idea by Clark wissler
-
relationship b/wn area and diffusion
proponents are
Clark wissler and L.Kroeber
Kroeber gave
birth and death of civilization
interested in
macrochanges
and thus did not use culture area but ideas
regarding rise and fall of civilization
said civilization is a cultural complex emerges from borrowing form others ,
borrowed elements are modified ,systematized and transferred
so that they become chain of culture. evolve into civilization and thereby
reaches final point which is called cultural climax
after reaching climax point becomes hostile to incoming traits ,
wheel of progress stops.
outcome - civilization decline while open culture surpass the original civilization
made distinction b/wn
high culture
- cities and towns and
low cultures
- village and folk society also be called
great and little traditions(two dimensions of civilizations)
Little - peasant and simple society , great - urban society.
In Indian context mckim Marriott , L P Vidyarthi , Milton singer
showed the nature of diffusion at different level of Indian society.
conclusion - used concept of diffusion to explain
his theory of rise and fall of civilization
premises
culture area -
geographical zone
having a no. of groups living together and all the groups
show cultural similarity
when they are grouped together
culture center - Clark wissler :check: diagram from notes ,
control the entire area
politically or socially i.e economy , politics , religion governed by it.
center of origin : where all cultural traits typically appear
traits diffuse not only within area but from
one culture area(space) to another
. :check:
diagram
notes. traits are
diffused centrifugally
construction of culture area - eg :
300 american Indian tribes
in America live in a particular ecozone.Food as criteria - 8 food areas :check:
tabular column
notes.
technology invented by driving force
of their environment,
food represents environment
and thus
food becomes basic criteria
for the construction
concept of age area(
time
) - trait found wider area then
diffused longtime ago
, lesser distribution then
newer the element
premises extended
typology of diffusion
natural diffusion - long process , diffuses slowly ,
no cultural imposition.
eg : maize culture in US borrowed from Mexico
organized diffusion - quickly transmitted
by organized agencies
rg : military imposition on colony
natural diffusion - gives
rise to adaptation
organized diffusion - gives
rise to rejection
criticisms
concept of culture area as
static
-
not
have vast
historical depth
and
too narrow
because area constructed on basis of food
uncertain if culture area is constructed on a wider region - wissler aware of shortcoming
concept of age area was relevant at its time but today has lost it relevance
because of advanced means of transport and communication