Landscape Definition in Human Geography: A Shift from Representational to Nonrepresentational Approaches

The study of landscapes has undergone significant shifts in human geography over the years. From the early 20th century to the present day, scholars have moved away from a representational approach to studying people and place, and towards nonrepresentational approaches that emphasize practices and experiences.

One of the earliest approaches to landscape studies was proposed by Carl Sauer, who focused on describing rural areas and cultural products such as artifacts. However, this approach has been criticized for assuming that experiences can be isolated from images, and for neglecting the social reproduction and context of landscape analysis. In response, scholars have proposed a rerepresentational approach that considers things, theories, and experiences equally.

In recent years, there has been a shift towards nonrepresentational approaches to studying people and place. This shift emphasizes the importance of practices and experiences rather than things, and calls for a consideration of social reproduction and context in the process of landscape analysis.

The study of cultural landscapes is now recognized as an interdisciplinary pursuit that involves the use of multiple disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, history, and architecture. Scholars have come to realize that urban areas hold as many or more clues to modernizing culture as do rural ones, and that social movements such as the civil rights movement and feminism have had a significant impact on the way we study the landscape.

Geographers such as Don Mitchell have proposed that human action on the land is quite purposeful and controlling in an effort to convey particular messages. On the other hand, geographers such as Carl Sauer and Peirce Lewis believe that most of our marks on the land are unconscious or subliminal.

The practice of 'reading' and interpreting the landscape can be difficult because most people are not used to taking a critical look at what they see. However, by adopting a nonrepresentational approach, scholars can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between people and place.

In conclusion, the study of landscapes has undergone significant shifts in human geography over the years. From the early 20th century to the present day, scholars have moved away from a representational approach to studying people and place, and towards nonrepresentational approaches that emphasize practices and experiences. The study of cultural landscapes is now recognized as an interdisciplinary pursuit that involves the use of multiple disciplines and requires a critical approach to understanding the complex relationships between people and place.

Landscape definition human geography