Cultural Geography Session 1 Introductions Introductions The study of 'material culture' The study of 'material culture'

Cultural Geography Session 1 Introductions Introductions What is culture ? What is culture ? The study of 'material culture' The study of 'material culture'

Cultural Geography Session 1 Introductions Introductions What 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 complicated words in the English language" (Williams, 1983, p. 87).

What is culture ? Origins lie in Latin word 'cultura' : 'the cultivation or tending of something' Origins lie in Latin word 'cultura' : 'the cultivation or tending of something' - plants and animals - the mind (of a person or people) C18th -C19th used by German intellectuals to mean "the cultivation, improvement and ennoblement of the physical and spiritual qualities of a person or people" (Thompson, 1990, p. 125) C18th -C19th used by German intellectuals to mean "the cultivation, improvement and ennoblement of the physical and spiritual qualities of a person or people" (Thompson, 1990, p. 125)

"the process of developing and ennobling the human faculties, a process facilitated by the assimilation of works of scholarship and art and linked into the progressive character of the modern era" (Thompson, 1990, p. 126). "a kind of idea, or spirit, or Geist", centred upon a combination of philosophy, religion and art and which "provided a basis for... a society, denoting its advancement and distinctiveness" (Smelser, 1992, p. 4) Culture: 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: (1) the classical concept

Approaches to culture: Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or intellectual products used by a social elite Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or intellectual products used by a social elite "Corporate culture, popular culture, pub culture, retail culture, service culture, cultures of racism, regional cultures, enterprise cultures and practical cultures are just a few" (Anderson and Gale, 1992, p. 1) (2) the descriptive concept

Approaches to culture: (2) the descriptive concept Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or intellectual products used by a social elite Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or intellectual products used by a social elite Classical concept joined by a 'descriptive' concept of culture (Thompson, 1990) Classical concept joined by a 'descriptive' concept of culture (Thompson, 1990) Culture= "an array of customs, conventions, habits and practices characteristic of a particular society or historical period" (Thompson, 1990, p. 123)

Approaches to culture: (2) the descriptive concept Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or intellectual products used by a social elite Culture no longer applied to just to artistic and/or intellectual products used by a social elite Classical concept joined by a 'descriptive' concept of culture (Thompson, 1990) Classical concept joined by a 'descriptive' concept of culture (Thompson, 1990) Associated with 'scientific' practices of classification and comparison Associated with 'scientific' practices of classification and comparison (anthropology, geography, the material approach to cultural geography)

Approaches to culture: "the pattern of meaning embodied in symbolic forms, including actions, utterances and meaningful objects of various kinds, by virtue of which individuals communicate with one another and share their experiences, conceptions and beliefs" (Thompson, 1990, p. 132). Culture = "webs of significance" (Geertz, 1973) "ways of seeing"(Berger, 1972; Cloke et al. 1991) "gazes" (Urry, 1990), "discourses" (Foucault) "structures of feeling" (Williams, 1977; Thrift, 1994) "structures of feeling" (Williams, 1977; Thrift, 1994) (3) the symbolic concep t

Approaches to culture: 2 major expressions in geography: 2 major expressions in geography: humanistic geography postmodern, post-structuralist, post- colonial geographies postmodern, post-structuralist, post- colonial geographies (3) the symbolic concep t

Approaches to culture: Follows the symbolic approach in seeing culture as 'webs of meanings' which people spin out and and drawn upon. Follows the symbolic approach in seeing culture as 'webs of meanings' which people spin out and and drawn upon. Seeks to analyse these meanings with respect to "socially constructed contexts and processes" within which, and by means of which, "meaningful actions, objects and expressions" are "produced, transmitted and received" (Thompson, 1990, p. 136). Seeks to analyse these meanings with respect to "socially constructed contexts and processes" within which, and by means of which, "meaningful actions, objects and expressions" are "produced, transmitted and received" (Thompson, 1990, p. 136). Sees culture linked to the exercise of 'power'. Sees culture linked to the exercise of 'power'. (4) the critical concept

Approaches to culture: The study of culture seen to be the study of 'cultural politics' The study of culture seen to be the study of 'cultural politics' "different cultural discourses engage each other in a constant struggle for power" (Cosgrove, 1994, p. 112) Associated with Marxist, feminist, postmodern, post-structuralist and post- colonial approaches to cultural geography Associated with Marxist, feminist, postmodern, post-structuralist and post- colonial approaches to cultural geography ( 4) the critical concept

Cultural geography: content Studies of material culture Studies of material culture Humanistic and critical studies of culture Humanistic and critical studies of culture Landscape paintings and power Landscape paintings and power Travel writings and power Travel writings and power Photography and tourist gaze Photography and tourist gaze Film and television Film and television The nation The nation Globalisation Globalisation Consuming cultures Consuming cultures Soundscapes Soundscapes Cities a cultural texts Cities a cultural texts Embodied cultures Embodied cultures

The study of material culture Carl Ortwin Sauer Often described as the 'father of cultural geography' Often described as the 'father of cultural geography' Advocate of a 'catholic' approach to geography and culture Advocate of a 'catholic' approach to geography and culture Advocate of a narrow - 'material culture' - approach to cultural geography Advocate of a narrow - 'material culture' - approach to cultural geography

Sauer on geography and culture Catholic approach to geography and culture Catholic approach to geography and culture Development of geography being restricted by "the existence of ruling theories, jealously protected by their proponents (Entrikin, 1984, p. 389). Social science reductionist and rationalist, viewing the world from the perspective that "things are most generally done in only one way" (Sauer, 1963, p. 378). Argued for the investigation of "cultural experiences, behaviours and drives", many of which differ from those we hold.

Sauer on geography and culture Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal differentiations" Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal differentiations" Human geography = the study of the "localization of ways of living" Human geography = the study of the "localization of ways of living" 'Ways of living' narrowed down to the 'material cultural complex' = "the geographic version of the economy of the group" 'Ways of living' narrowed down to the 'material cultural complex' = "the geographic version of the economy of the group" Economy - that which is involved in the provision of "food, shelter, furnishings, tools and transport" Economy - that which is involved in the provision of "food, shelter, furnishings, tools and transport"

Sauer on geography and culture Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal differentiations" Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal differentiations" Human geography = the study of the "localization of ways of living" Human geography = the study of the "localization of ways of living" 'Ways of living' narrowed down to the 'material cultural complex' = "the geographic version of the economy of the group" 'Ways of living' narrowed down to the 'material cultural complex' = "the geographic version of the economy of the group" Material cultural complex = "the fields, pastures, woods and mines, the productive land on the one hand, and the roads and structures on the other, the homes, workshops, and store houses" Material cultural complex = "the fields, pastures, woods and mines, the productive land on the one hand, and the roads and structures on the other, the homes, workshops, and store houses"

Sauer on geography and culture Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal differentiations" Narrowed focus within own study of geography: to engage in "the comparison of patterns, or areal differentiations" Human geography = the study of the "localization of ways of living" Human geography = the study of the "localization of ways of living" 'Ways of living' narrowed down to the 'material cultural complex' = "the geographic version of the economy of the group" 'Ways of living' narrowed down to the 'material cultural complex' = "the geographic version of the economy of the group" 'Material cultural complex' also termed 'cultural landscape' 'Material cultural complex' also termed 'cultural landscape'

Sauer and the concept of material culture Localization of ways of living material cultural complex/ cultural landscape Study of material culture is the core of the things that we know how to approach "systematically". Study of material culture is the core of the things that we know how to approach "systematically". Sauer advocated a 'phenomenological'/empirical approach to science Sauer advocated a 'phenomenological'/empirical approach to science

Some further elements of Sauer's view of culture "The cultural landscape is fashioned from a natural landscape by a culture group. Culture is the agent, the natural area is the medium, the cultural landscape is the result" (Sauer, 1963, p. 343). Implies that it is possible to: trace a society's culture from its landscape feature trace a society's culture from its landscape feature understand landscapes as being created through the formation and diffusion of cultures understand landscapes as being created through the formation and diffusion of cultures

Studies in the diffusion of material culture Fred Kniffen Carl Sauer J. B. Jackson Landscape

Fred Kniffen and the study of folk housing Fred Kniffen studied the 'cultural landscape' of the US Fred Kniffen studied the 'cultural landscape' of the US Focus on 'folk housing': "human habitations, barns and outbuildings" constructed by "ordinary folk" Focus on 'folk housing': "human habitations, barns and outbuildings" constructed by "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 aspects of the noncultural environment" »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 States

Kniffen and American folk housing

Folk housing and cultural regions Folk housing areas

What might be problematic about the material culture approach? Are cultures always 'materially' expressed? Are cultures always 'materially' expressed? Do cultures remain the same as they are diffused through space and time? Do cultures remain the same as they are diffused through space and time? Do people in groups have the same culture, and if so, why? Do people in groups have the same culture, and if so, why?

Concluding points Introduced 4 concepts of culture: Introduced 4 concepts of culture: Classical Classical Descriptive Descriptive Symbolic Symbolic Critical Critical Discussed 1 concept of cultural geography: Discussed 1 concept of cultural geography: Material culture approach Material culture approach Sauer, Kniffen Sauer, Kniffen Adopts the descriptive approach to culture ? Adopts the descriptive approach to culture ?