W3 - the beholding eye - Looking at different methods within geography through literature based on humanism PDF

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Looking at different methods within geography through literature based on humanism and marxism. ...

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W3 – essential readings Theory and method of geography: Humanism and Marxism The beholding eye – D.W Meinig, 1979 – 10 versions of the same scene  “landscape” the concept itself is defined differently depending on a individual in terms of not what they actually physically see but what is in their heads and what links they are able to make between these areas in terms of cultural as well as not being concerned with the actual elements of an location such as housing, the shapes of forms of a location but the essence and ideas we bring to make things make sense 1) Landscape as Nature - The idea that nature is always compared with the works of man, however man cannot even put a dent in what nature has to offer such as the building of things such as dams, the greatest skyscrapers will never be able to compare to what nature can actually do both above and below man in terms of storms and the strength it has - In order to sustain nature man must be removed out of the equation. - Nature is deemed as pure, good and beautiful and man is taking this away with the creation of all sorts of things - Man’s work can be regarded as despoliation the more that nature is regarded as pristine and perfect – man’s actions is regarded as corruption to this - Romantic views towards nature, are still alive – this is brought by kinds of nostalgia. 2) Landscape as a habit - Landscape is a piece of earth as home to man. - Every landscape is regarded as a blend of man and nature as man uses the resources that nature provides to make resources, so man can live such as building fences - Man does make mistakes in the SR and destroys the nature however in the LR man learns and nature does heal - Ideological view: the harmony between nature and man as this is the garden of mankind – man as stewards – caretakers. - Man’s effect on the nature can be seen more and more as time passes and the effects are seen far more – to a point that you cannot find any pristine nature as it has been touched by humans. - Things such as soils, trees and streams are not nature they are affected by humans in various ways – such as burning, ploughing, fertilizing, draining and cutting forests – even streams which are affected by things such as dams – even the weather – which has been altered by the surface and in the heat, dust and chemicals discharged. - The weather isn’t important either as man is indoors more and therefore doesn’t affect man as much - Ideologically: this is the view of man as a creator and as the conqueror of nature – showing also a manipulative expression. 3) Landscapes as system - Not viewing things as individual objects but as systems – when looking at land, trees, roads and buildings there is always a system – when looking at precipitation he sees that there is a hydrological cycle and that landscapes are seen as functions - Can be seen through things such as formulas and diagrams also - Ideology: implies a faith in man as omniscient (all knowing) – his mind has power to understand landscapes through the use of science

4) Landscape as problem -

The view that landscape is inadequate – due to issues such as eroding hills, flooding rivers, trees dying, clutter and congestions. Required need to understand problems with the world and better awareness of what is happening and why Problems may be seen as functional – such as congestion, danger and incompatible uses

5) Landscape as wealth -

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Assigning of monetary value on things Its value is within the market economy – when looking at a house they look at the sizing’s as well as the environment and the location of the area to work out the market values for that particular location Public properties such as schools and libraries and such The properties may cause things such as selfishness as it benefits the individual but with public property it could also benefit the individual American ideology: land = form of primary capital and secondary home or familiar inheritance

6) Landscape as ideology - Scientist looks at the facade of elements and sees processes in operations. - Values used the governing ideas – underlying philosophies of a culture – those who see landscape as problem see disorder, congestion, pollution and ideology. - American interpretations – of freedom, individualism, competition, utility, power – expansion progress. - Cannot see the problems, but they look at landscape more and how landscape represents a translation of philosophy into tangible features. - American landscape – may evoke those ideas - Social philosopher and to express a firm’s beliefs – view clearly insists have created and sustained what we see, and landscapes are vivid in reflecting areas of the social system. - Landscape as ideology: how it was created – best is reflective and philosophic = more detailed and concrete to see 7) -

Landscape as history Works of nature and man in this place. Deeper meaning through written record and deep into natural history and geology. By classifying features according to age, the landscape can be visualized in terms of layers of history. – sometimes distinctly separated in area – as with a new housing tract – Visible landscape isn’t a full record of history Historian becomes skilled detective sorts of bits and pieces the patterns of the past. Historical view clearly – implies a belief the past has fundamental significance – Landscape – is a great exhibit of links between specific attitudes, decisions, actions. Historical view = serves curiosity, reflection or instruction – landscape provides infinite possibilities

8) Landscape as place - Landscape = locality, individual piece in the infinitely varied mosaic of the earth.

9) Landscape as aesthetic - Artistic values...