Cultural Geography

Session 1Session 1

IntroductionsIntroductions

The study of 'material culture'The study of 'material culture'

Cultural Geography

Session 1Session 1

IntroductionsIntroductionsWhat is culture ?What is culture ?

The study of 'material culture'The study of 'material culture'

Cultural Geography

Session 1Session 1

IntroductionsIntroductionsWhat is culture ?What is culture ?What is cultural geography ?What is cultural geography ?

The study of 'material culture'The study of 'material culture'

What is culture ?

"Culture is one of the two or three most "Culture is one of the two or three most complicated words in the English language" complicated words in the English language" (Williams, 1983, p. 87).(Williams, 1983, p. 87).

What is culture ?

Origins lie in Latin word 'Origins lie in Latin word 'culturacultura' : 'the ' : 'the cultivation or tending of something'cultivation or tending of something'

- - plants and animalsplants and animals- - the mind (of a person or people)the mind (of a person or people)

C18th -C19th used by German intellectuals to C18th -C19th used by German intellectuals to mean "the cultivation, improvement and mean "the cultivation, improvement and ennoblement of the physical and spiritual ennoblement of the physical and spiritual qualities of a person or people" (Thompson, qualities of a person or people" (Thompson, 1990, p. 125)1990, p. 125)

"the process of developing and ennobling the human faculties, a "the process of developing and ennobling the human faculties, a process facilitated by the assimilation of works of scholarship and process facilitated by the assimilation of works of scholarship and art and linked into the progressive character of the modern era" art and linked into the progressive character of the modern era" (Thompson, 1990, p. 126). (Thompson, 1990, p. 126).

"a kind of idea, or spirit, or Geist", centred upon a combination of "a kind of idea, or spirit, or Geist", centred upon a combination of philosophy, religion and art and which "provided a basis for ... a philosophy, religion and art and which "provided a basis for ... a society, denoting its advancement and distinctiveness" (Smelser, society, denoting its advancement and distinctiveness" (Smelser, 1992, p. 41992, p. 4))

CultureCulture::

• a process of 'civilising' a process of 'civilising'

• associated with a 'minority' activity and social elitesassociated with a 'minority' activity and social elites

Approaches to culture:Approaches to culture:

(1) the classical concept(1) the classical concept

Approaches to culture:Approaches to culture:

Culture no longer applied to just to artistic Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or intellectual products used by a social and/or intellectual products used by a social eliteelite

"Corporate culture, popular culture, pub culture, "Corporate culture, popular culture, pub culture, retail culture, service culture, cultures of racism, retail culture, service culture, cultures of racism, regional cultures, enterprise cultures and practical regional cultures, enterprise cultures and practical cultures are just a few" (Anderson and Gale, 1992, cultures are just a few" (Anderson and Gale, 1992, p. 1)p. 1)

(2) the descriptive concept(2) the descriptive concept

Approaches to culture:Approaches to culture:(2) the descriptive concept(2) the descriptive concept

Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or intellectual products used by a social eliteintellectual products used by a social elite

Classical concept joined by a 'descriptive' Classical concept joined by a 'descriptive' concept of culture (Thompson, 1990)concept of culture (Thompson, 1990)

Culture= "an array of customs, conventions, Culture= "an array of customs, conventions, habits and practices characteristic of a particular habits and practices characteristic of a particular society or historical period" (Thompson, 1990, p. society or historical period" (Thompson, 1990, p. 123)123)

Approaches to culture:Approaches to culture:(2) the descriptive concept(2) the descriptive concept

Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or intellectual products used by a social eliteintellectual products used by a social elite

Classical concept joined by a 'descriptive' Classical concept joined by a 'descriptive' concept of culture (Thompson, 1990)concept of culture (Thompson, 1990)

Associated with 'scientific' practices of Associated with 'scientific' practices of classification and comparisonclassification and comparison

(anthropology, geography, the material (anthropology, geography, the material approach to cultural geography)approach to cultural geography)

Approaches to culture:Approaches to culture:

"the pattern of meaning embodied in symbolic forms, "the pattern of meaning embodied in symbolic forms, including actions, utterances and meaningful objects including actions, utterances and meaningful objects of various kinds, by virtue of which individuals of various kinds, by virtue of which individuals communicate with one another and share their communicate with one another and share their experiences, conceptions and beliefs" (Thompson, experiences, conceptions and beliefs" (Thompson, 1990, p. 132).1990, p. 132).

Culture =Culture =

"webs of significance" (Geertz, 1973)"webs of significance" (Geertz, 1973)

"ways of seeing"(Berger, 1972; Cloke et al. 1991)"ways of seeing"(Berger, 1972; Cloke et al. 1991)

"gazes" (Urry, 1990), "discourses" (Foucault)"gazes" (Urry, 1990), "discourses" (Foucault)

"structures of feeling" (Williams, 1977; Thrift, 1994)"structures of feeling" (Williams, 1977; Thrift, 1994)

(3) the symbolic concep(3) the symbolic conceptt

Approaches to culture:Approaches to culture:

2 major expressions in geography:2 major expressions in geography:

humanistic geographyhumanistic geography

postmodern, post-structuralist, post-postmodern, post-structuralist, post-colonial geographiescolonial geographies

(3) the symbolic concep(3) the symbolic conceptt

Approaches to culture:Approaches to culture:

Follows the symbolic approach in seeing culture as Follows the symbolic approach in seeing culture as 'webs of meanings' which people spin out and and 'webs of meanings' which people spin out and and drawn upon.drawn upon.

Seeks to analyse these meanings with respect to Seeks to analyse these meanings with respect to "socially constructed contexts and processes" "socially constructed contexts and processes" within which, and by means of which, "meaningful within which, and by means of which, "meaningful actions, objects and expressions" are "produced , actions, objects and expressions" are "produced , transmitted and received" (Thompson, 1990, p. transmitted and received" (Thompson, 1990, p. 136).136).

Sees culture linked to the exercise of 'power'.Sees culture linked to the exercise of 'power'.

(4) the critical concept(4) the critical concept

Approaches to culture:Approaches to culture:

The study of culture seen to be the study of The study of culture seen to be the study of 'cultural politics''cultural politics'

"different cultural discourses engage each other in "different cultural discourses engage each other in a constant struggle for power" (Cosgrove, 1994, p. a constant struggle for power" (Cosgrove, 1994, p. 112)112)

Associated with Marxist, feminist, Associated with Marxist, feminist, postmodern, post-structuralist and post-postmodern, post-structuralist and post-colonial approaches to cultural geographycolonial approaches to cultural geography

((4) the critical concept4) the critical concept

Cultural geography: contentCultural geography: content Studies of material cultureStudies of material culture

Humanistic and critical studies of cultureHumanistic and critical studies of culture

Landscape paintings and powerLandscape paintings and power

Travel writings and powerTravel writings and power

Photography and tourist gazePhotography and tourist gaze

Film and televisionFilm and television

The nationThe nation

GlobalisationGlobalisation

Consuming culturesConsuming cultures

SoundscapesSoundscapes

Cities a cultural textsCities a cultural texts

Embodied culturesEmbodied cultures

The study of material culture

Carl Ortwin SauerCarl Ortwin Sauer

Often described as the Often described as the 'father of cultural 'father of cultural geography'geography'

Advocate of a 'catholic' Advocate of a 'catholic' approach to geography approach to geography and cultureand culture

Advocate of a narrow - Advocate of a narrow - 'material culture' - 'material culture' - approach to cultural approach to cultural geographygeography

Sauer on geography and cultureSauer on geography and culture

Catholic approach to geography and cultureCatholic approach to geography and culture

Development of geography being restricted by "the Development of geography being restricted by "the existence of ruling theories, jealously protected by existence of ruling theories, jealously protected by their proponents (Entrikin, 1984, p. 389).their proponents (Entrikin, 1984, p. 389).

Social science reductionist and rationalist, viewing the Social science reductionist and rationalist, viewing the world from the perspective that "things are most world from the perspective that "things are most generally done in only one way" (Sauer, 1963, p. 378).generally done in only one way" (Sauer, 1963, p. 378).

Argued for the investigation of "cultural experiences, Argued for the investigation of "cultural experiences, behaviours and drives", many of which differ from behaviours and drives", many of which differ from those we hold.those we hold.

Sauer on geography and cultureSauer on geography and culture

Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal differentiations"differentiations"

Human geography = the study of the "Human geography = the study of the "localization of localization of ways of livingways of living""

'Ways of living' narrowed down to the ''Ways of living' narrowed down to the 'material cultural material cultural complexcomplex' = "the geographic version of the economy of ' = "the geographic version of the economy of the group"the group"

Economy - that which is involved in the provision of "food, shelter, Economy - that which is involved in the provision of "food, shelter, furnishings, tools and transport"furnishings, tools and transport"

Sauer on geography and cultureSauer on geography and culture

Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal differentiations"differentiations"

Human geography = the study of the "Human geography = the study of the "localization of localization of ways of livingways of living""

'Ways of living' narrowed down to the ''Ways of living' narrowed down to the 'material cultural material cultural complexcomplex' = "the geographic version of the economy of ' = "the geographic version of the economy of the group"the group"

Material cultural complex = "the fields, pastures, woods and mines, Material cultural complex = "the fields, pastures, woods and mines, the productive land on the one hand, and the roads and structures the productive land on the one hand, and the roads and structures on the other, the homes, workshops, and store houses"on the other, the homes, workshops, and store houses"

Sauer on geography and cultureSauer on geography and culture

Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal differentiations"differentiations"

Human geography = the study of the "Human geography = the study of the "localization of localization of ways of livingways of living""

'Ways of living' narrowed down to the ''Ways of living' narrowed down to the 'material cultural material cultural complexcomplex' = "the geographic version of the economy of ' = "the geographic version of the economy of the group"the group"

'Material cultural complex' also termed ''Material cultural complex' also termed 'cultural landscapecultural landscape''

Sauer and the concept of Sauer and the concept of material culturematerial culture

Localization of ways of livingLocalization of ways of living

material cultural complex/ cultural landscapematerial cultural complex/ cultural landscape

Study of material culture is the core of the things that we Study of material culture is the core of the things that we know how to approach "systematically".know how to approach "systematically".

Sauer advocated a 'phenomenological'/empirical approach Sauer advocated a 'phenomenological'/empirical approach to scienceto science

Some further elements of Sauer's view of culture

"The cultural landscape is fashioned from a natural landscape by a "The cultural landscape is fashioned from a natural landscape by a culture group. Culture is the agent, the natural area is the medium, culture group. Culture is the agent, the natural area is the medium, the cultural landscape is the result" (Sauer, 1963, p. 343).the cultural landscape is the result" (Sauer, 1963, p. 343).

Implies that it is possible to:Implies that it is possible to: trace a society's culture from its landscape featuretrace a society's culture from its landscape feature understand landscapes as being created through the formation understand landscapes as being created through the formation

and diffusion of culturesand diffusion of cultures

Studies in the diffusion of material cultureStudies in the diffusion of material culture

Fred KniffenFred KniffenCarl Carl SauerSauer

J. B. JacksonJ. B. Jackson

LandscapeLandscape

Fred Kniffen and the study of Fred Kniffen and the study of folk housingfolk housing

Fred Kniffen studied the 'cultural landscape' of the USFred Kniffen studied the 'cultural landscape' of the US

Focus on 'folk housing': "human habitations, barns and outbuildings" constructed by Focus on 'folk housing': "human habitations, barns and outbuildings" constructed by "ordinary folk""ordinary folk"

Close affinity to arguments of Sauer:Close affinity to arguments of Sauer:

» Folk housings reflect "cultural heritage, current fashion, functional needs, and the positive and negative Folk housings reflect "cultural heritage, current fashion, functional needs, and the positive and negative aspects of the noncultural environment"aspects of the noncultural environment"

» Folk housing seen as "diagnostic of whole cultural complexes".Folk housing seen as "diagnostic of whole cultural complexes".

» Identified sites of 'initial occupation' and 'diffusion' of house types into other parts of the United StatesIdentified sites of 'initial occupation' and 'diffusion' of house types into other parts of the United States

Kniffen and American folk housingKniffen and American folk housing

Folk housing and cultural regionsFolk housing and cultural regions

Folk housing areasFolk housing areas

What might be problematic about the What might be problematic about the material culture approach?material culture approach?

Are cultures always 'materially' expressed?Are cultures always 'materially' expressed?

Do cultures remain the same as they are Do cultures remain the same as they are diffused through space and time?diffused through space and time?

Do people in groups have the same culture, Do people in groups have the same culture, and if so, why?and if so, why?

Concluding pointsConcluding points

Introduced 4 concepts of culture:Introduced 4 concepts of culture: ClassicalClassical DescriptiveDescriptive SymbolicSymbolic CriticalCritical

Discussed 1 concept of cultural geographyDiscussed 1 concept of cultural geography:: Material culture approachMaterial culture approach Sauer, KniffenSauer, Kniffen Adopts the descriptive approach to culture ?Adopts the descriptive approach to culture ?