Geo2630 fall2013 session1

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Session 1: Intro to course & introductory concepts in the geography of culture and environment 1) Instructor introduction & course syllabus 2) Course prep participatory exercise 3) Short lecture on social construction 4) Wade Davis TED Talk video on the ‘ethnosphere’ Jeju, South Korea September 5, 2013 Norton, W. (2005). Cultural Geography: Environments, Landscapes, Identities, and Inequalities. Oxford University Press, Don Mills. Readings : Chapter 1 of Norton – Doing Cultural Geography; Providing a Context

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This is the PPT for the first class GEO2630, September 5, 2013

Transcript of Geo2630 fall2013 session1

Page 1: Geo2630 fall2013 session1

Session 1: Intro to course & introductory concepts in the geography of culture and environment

1) Instructor introduction & course syllabus

2) Course prep participatory exercise

3) Short lecture on social construction

4) Wade Davis TED Talk video on the ‘ethnosphere’

Jeju, South Korea

September 5, 2013

Norton, W. (2005). Cultural Geography: Environments, Landscapes, Identities, and Inequalities. Oxford University Press, Don Mills.

Readings: Chapter 1 of Norton – Doing Cultural Geography; Providing a Context

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Course prep participatory exercise

1. How does this course relate to your broader goals in education and career?

2. What kinds of tools are helpful for you when learning new material (i.e. how do you learn)?

3. Are you familiar and have experience with how to write a critical review / present critical analyses of materials?

*please include your student #

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Concepts relating to theory and paradigm

Social construction – social, cultural, and historical contexts

Similar to epistemology: “The theory of knowledge, especially with regards to its methods, validity and scope” What is ‘true’/’real’? Many ways in which people define what is ‘true’ according to their worldviews

What is ‘true’? – can be guided by:

1. Empiricism: set of rules developed through trial and repetition positivism and the scientific method industrial revolution and capitalism

Capitalism is a social construction, has not always existed, and while widespread and dominant is not the only social construction existing today.

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Social construction example: capitalism

Capitalism - Some Definitions:

“Capitalism is a social system based on the principle of individual rights. Politically, it is the system of laissez-faire (freedom). Legally it is a system of objective laws (rule of law as opposed to rule of man). Economically, when such freedom is applied to the sphere of production its’ result is the free-market.” - (capitalism.org)

“An economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market” - (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

“An economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state: an era of free-market capitalism private ownership is a key feature of capitalism” - (Oxford English Dictionary)

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Other social constructs

Alternative social constructs to capitalism...

Socialism: “any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Marxism: “a theory and practice of socialism including the labor theory of value, dialectical materialism, the class struggle, and dictatorship of the proletariat until the establishment of a classless society” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Indigenous epistemologies:

responsibility = “ownership”relational accountability = promotion of “good”

*stories are typically the sources knowledge and practice

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Ceci n’est pas une pipe – by René Magritte

Structuralism and Post-structuralism

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Example: A Good Education

Structuralism:

A good education would have a classroom, classroom supplies, a teacher, a principal, different subjects, etc.

Post-structuralism would ask:

A good education according to who and for what?

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The trouble with dichotomies is that most things lie on a scale

Is why in cultural geography we tend to understand the world through discourse rather than through simple binaries (yes/no), (present/not present), (wrong/right).

If we are to understand relationships between culture and the environment we need to see the world more broadly

This does not mean accepting everything at face value and does require critical thinking

***There is an important difference between being criticizing and thinking critically – one is judgmental and the other inquisitive/exploratory, one closes and one opens a topic

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Wade Davis TED Talk video on the ‘ETHNOSPHERE’

There are no absolutes! Why critical thinking is so important

*cautionary word: Davis uses the mild sh** swear word to illustrate a point after about the half way point of the video. If you are at all uncomfortable with this word please leave after the first 10 minutes and you will not be penalized.

Davis is one of the premiere scholars working in the field of cultural geography

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Session 2: Exploring culture and themes in cultural geography

1) News item / food for thought of the day (10 mins);

2) Discussion about preparing for the concept test (10 mins);

3) Mental mapping (15 mins);

4) Culture & Themes explored.

September 10, 2013

Berg Lake Glacier,British Columbia

Norton, W. (2005). Cultural Geography: Environments, Landscapes, Identities, and Inequalities. Oxford University Press, Don Mills.

Readings: Chapter 1 of Norton – What is culture?; Themes in Cultural Geography