This document summarizes observations from a flea market culture. It notes several ways the culture has been influenced by outside cultures, such as through the introduction of new music and foods. It also discusses how aspects of gender roles and modern fashion from the U.S. have diffused into the native culture. The market space is organized efficiently to facilitate shopping while discouraging theft. Trust between community members appears to be highly valued based on an absence of observed shoplifting.

1. THE PARASITIC
MARKET
Daniel Santoyo
Anthropology 102
Professor Wolfe
18 January 2016

2. ELMO AND MY KEY INFORMANT
-In this activity, a person is dressed up as an iconic
character to appeal to children in the duration of their
parent’s shopping.
-This is almost a case of stimulus diffusion, except the
character is actually copied and not the culture’s own
version.

3. GUITAR MAN WITH MY KEY
INFORMANT
-A native is playing an instrument to earn currency from
the other fellow inhabitants.
-This activity divulges that the natives may be enthusiastic
for music, and it’s likely that they’ve incorporated it in
their culture.

4. A NATIVE SELLING CDS
-This participant is selling CDs of various music from
different artists.
-These artists may be from various other cultures and
perhaps are potentially being introduced to this culture.

5. THE TRADITION OF PERFORMING
KARAOKE
-This participant is probably singing a favorite song to the
public. The language that she is singing in is Spanish.
-This is a tradition in the Flea Market in which a volunteer
would be willing to perform for free for the other natives.

6. SPACE EXPLOITATION OF SHOPPING
-Items are dispersed on tables covering a small radius.
-It seems that this usage of space would make it
convenient for shoplifting considering the opened area
being roamed with crowds of people. However, no one
seems to be performing the felony.
-It appears that trust is something that is highly valued in
this culture. Certainly shoplifting is prohibited in this
culture’s rules.

7. VARIOUS EDIBLE MATERIAL ON
DISPLAY
-Some of these items were incorporated into the culture
such as the camote and calabaza. These are the native’s
own version of sweet potato and pumpkins. A prime
example of stimulus diffusion.

8. SUBCULTURE WITHIN THE SOCIETY
-Aspects of rock culture are present within this culture’s
society.
-This also discloses a greater variety of items for the
native shoppers.

9. THE PRESENCE OF GENDER ROLES
-Toys for female children are on display. The social
construct here seems to be that pink is associated with
females.

10. THE PRESENCE OF GENDER ROLES
-Here is a display of toys for male children. The culture
seems to follow the norms of the gender roles that is
prevalent across the U.S.

11. NATIVE’S ATTIRE
-The participants exploit the modern clothing of the U.S.
during cool weather. This may be an example of
acculturation because they may not have access to their
traditional old ways of satire.
-Also, the culture provides the repairing to certain
electronics, there is more of a variety in terms of what the
swam meet can offer.