A folk culture is a small, isolated, cohesive, conservative, nearly self-sufficient group that is homogeneous in custom and race, with a strong family or clan structure and highly developed rituals. Order is maintained through sanctions based in the religion or family, and interpersonal relationships are strong. Tradition is paramount, and change comes infrequently and slowly. There is relatively little division of labor into specialized duties. Rather, each person is expected to perforin a great variety of tasks, though duties may differ between the sexes. Most goods are handmade, and a subsistence economy prevails. Individualism is weakly developed in folk cultures as are social classes. Unaltered folk cultures no longer exist in industrialized countries such as the Unite States and Canada. Perhaps the nearest modern equivalent in Anglo-American is the Amish, a German American farming sect that largely renounces the products and labor-saving devices of the Industrial age. In Amish areas, horse drawn buggies still sever as a local transportation device, and the faithful are not permitted to own automobiles. The Amish’s central religious concept of Demut, "humility", clearly reflects the weakness of individualism and social classes so typical of folk cultures, and there is a corresponding strength of Amish group identity. Rarely do the Amish marry outside their sect. The religion, a variety of the Mennonite faith, provides the principal mechanism, for maintaining order.
By contrast, a popular culture is a large heterogeneous group, often highly individualistic and constantly changing. Relationships tend to be impersonal, and a pronounced division of labor exists, leading to the establishment of many specialized professions. Secular institutions of control such as the police and amiy take the place of religion and family in maintaining order, and a money-based economy prevails. Because of these contrasts, “popular” may be viewed as clearly different from “folk”.
The popular is replacing the folk in industrialized countries and in many developing nations. Folk-made objects give way to their popular equivalent, usually because the popular item is more quickly or cheaply produce, is easier or time-saving to use, or lends more prestige to the owner.
1.What does the passage mainly discuss?
2.Which of the following is typical of folk cultures?
3.What does the author imply about the United States and Canada?
4.What is the main source of order in Amish society?
5.Which of the following statements about Amish beliefs does the passage support?
