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Geography/ Cultural Studies

Essays that point to the emergence of a critical humanist geography.

A fresh and far-ranging interpretation of the concept of place, this volume begins with a fundamental tension of our day: as communications technologies help create a truly global economy, the very political-economic processes that would seem to homogenize place actually increase the importance of individual localities, which are exposed to global flows of investment, population, goods, and pollution. Place, no less today than in the past, is fundamental to how the world works.

The contributors to this volume-distinguished scholars from geography, art history, philosophy, anthropology, and American and English literature-investigate the ways in which place is embedded in everyday experience, its crucial role in the formation of group and individual identity, and its ability to reflect and reinforce power relations. Their essays draw from a wide array of methodologies and perspectives-including feminism, ethnography, poststructuralism, ecocriticism, and landscape iconography-to examine themes as diverse as morality and imagination, attention and absence, personal and group identity, social structure, home, nature, and cosmos.

Contributors: Anne Buttimer, U College Dublin; Edward S. Casey, SUNY Stony Brook; Denis Cosgrove, UCLA; Tim Cresswell, U of Wales, Aberystwyth; Michael Curry, UCLA; Dydia DeLyser, Louisiana State U; James S. Duncan, U of Cambridge; Nancy G. Duncan, U of Cambridge; J. Nicholas Entrikin, UCLA; William Howarth, Princeton U; John Paul Jones III, U of Kentucky; David Ley, U of British Columbia; David Lowenthal, U College London; Karal Ann Marling, U of Minnesota; Patrick McGreevy, Clarion U; Kenneth R. Olwig, U of Trondheim, Norway; Marijane Osborn, UC Davis; Gillian R. Overing, Wake Forest U; Edward Relph, U of Toronto; Miles Richardson, Louisiana State U; Robert D. Sack, U of Wisconsin, Madison; Jonathan M. Smith, Texas A&M U; Yi-Fu Tuan, U of Wisconsin, Madison; April R. Veness, U of Delaware; and Wilbur Zelinsky, Pennsylvania State U.

Paul C. Adams is assistant professor of geography at Texas A & M University. Steven Hoelscher is assistant professor of American studies and geography at the University of Texas, Austin. Karen E. Till is assistant professor of geography at the University of Minnesota, Morris. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An insider's view
I would like to append my comment's to panopticonman's below (which I much appreciate).To contextualize myself, I am a graduate student in geography at UCLA.This quarter I am enrolled in a seminar which is reading this book, alongside Claudio Minca's volume "Postmodern Geography: Theory and Praxis."The seminar is run by Denis Cosgrove, a contributor to both volumes, and is attended by Karen Till (one of the editors of "Textures of Place") and Michael Curry, another contributor and former student of Yi-Fu Tuan.Furthermore, I have taken to identifying myself as a "humanistic geographer."Thus I have a particular insider's perspective on the work.

Some minor corrections of panopticonman's comments, to contextualize the work itself.First off, humanistic geography is nothing new.Prior to this book, the most definitive statements on humanistic geography were produced in the mid-1970s, in a series of papers by Nick Entrikin, Yi-Fu Tuan, Ed Relph and Anne Buttimer (all of whom contribute to this volume), and a book titled "Humanistic Geography: Prospects and Problems."What makes "Textures" so interesting is that it is the first book in nearly 25 years to actually have the phrase "humanistic geography" in the title.In our (post)modern times, the very idea of 'humanism' has become less than fashionable, with some avowed postmodernists (see the Minca volume or "Place and the Politics of Identity") actually taking an "antihumanist" stance.Most of the contributors to "Textures" have wrestled with postmodernism before, and many would perhaps take issue with being labeled "humanists," but all have benefited from the work of Tuan and other humanistic geographers.So what you see in this volume is not so much work on postmodernism particularly, but rather on the viability and value of humanistic modes of inquiry in our postmodern context.

Secondly, this book offers a very particular representation of academic geography.As panopticonman noted, what binds all the essays together is the presence (explicit or implicit) of Yi-Fu Tuan.(In fact, the book has its roots in a set of paper sessions held at a national meeting of the American Association of Geographers in Tuan's honor.)The three editors are all former students of Tuan (Till was his last formal student) and several of the contributors are former students.As well, quite a few of the contributors are colleagues of Tuan.The contributing geographers include several emeriti professors, several who have been active in the field since "humanistic geography" first emerged (and, indeed, helped to shape that perspective), and several who have begun their professorial careers in only the last 5 or 6 years.In other words, you have presented here close to 30 years or more of academic geography's history.This volume, then, is a good indicator not only of contemporary work in geography, but the historical trajectory which geography has taken.Furthermore, beyond the discipline of geography, you have represented the fields of English and American literature, art history, philosophy and anthropolgy, marking the influence of Tuan beyond his formal disciplinary boundaries.

Finally, I would just like to offer something moving (slowly but inexorably) towards panopticonman's question: what is a geographer, anyway?Certainly for many of the contributors to this volume (and including myself, though I am merely a reader of the book, and lack an authorial presence), Tuan does offer a model of the ideal geographer.His intellectual project begins with a simple supposition: that geography is the study (and, following Sack's analysis, the practice) of how humans transform the world into 'home.'Tuan has been concerned throughout his career to analyze how people have actively shaped their world -- nature, relations with other people, even 'raw' space itself -- in order to transform it into meaningful places.This project involves active (materialist), normative, and aesthetic dimensions; these various dimensions are explored, singly and in combination, by the contributors to "Textures."As well, Tuan has exerted a significant pedagogical influence on geography, exemplified in Entrikin's closing essay of the volume.Entrikin identifies Tuan as "the perfect humanistic geographer," focusing on Tuan's understanding of liberal education and humanism as a philosophical outlook on the world (as expressed most particularly in "The Good Life").The purpose of humanistic inquiry, for Tuan, "is to develop the whole person, to create a good person, and in this way to cultivate humanity" (Entrikin here connects Tuan's project up conceptually with Martha Nussbaum).This volume, drawing on the force of Tuan's personality and perspective, contributes to the cultivation of humanity through its engagement with the material, moral, and educational directives and achievements of contemporary geography.

All Over the Place
Collections are difficult to review, especially one as wide-ranging as this.The thread that (supposedly) holds this collection together is that it is inspired by Yi-Fu Tuan, a "humanist geographer" (who, judging from his essay, and the many bouquets thrown his way in the other essays), is the very picture of a modernist major geographer.

What is a geographer these days you might ask?If you were to read this book, you would have to believe that everyone who has ever read any postmodern thinkers on the subject of boundaries and/or space is a geographer.That means just about everybody, of course, as postmodernists are all about space and, dare I say it, spatiality. How soon will place be converted into platiality?

Despite my snarky comments above, I like this book.Some of itpostmodern ideas are only rearticulations of stuff hardcore guys like Derrida are known for, except here is is told from the perspective of geographers.I'm not sure what makes these folks geographers exactly -- in fact a couple of them are teachers of medieval literature -- but, I am sure that the majority of these essays are thoughtful and thought-provoking.Particulary fine is Wilbur Zelinsky's "The World and Its Identity Crisis" which sketches out a (very) shematic history of the world and our place in it.Here's a quote:

"We find ourselves caged in a curious world of contradictions, of unprecedented personal and group anxieties.The freedom to comparison-shop among lifestyles, to rotate among multiple identities, this culmination of millennia of human struggle and progress, such power and flexibility, all this has failed to generate the bliss one might have anticipated or hoped for.Instead an increasingly large segment of First World populations, and incipiently others as well, has begun to wonder who or what they are, or should be."

Here he is quoting Zygmunt Bauman:

"Postmodernity is the point at which modern untying (dis-embedding, dis-encumbering) of tied (embedded, situated) identities reaches its completion: it is now all too easy to choose identity, but no longer possible to hold it.At the moment of ultimate triumph, the liberation succeeds in annihilating its object...Freedom...has given the postmodern seekers of identity all the powers of Sisyphus."

So, this collection offers the general reader a chance to check out what's going on in the new world of humanist geography. Essentially it's re-thinking the ways the world, space and place have been thought about, and are thought about, which is what most post-modern stuff does.Good illustrations, mostly good writing which in some cases opens up new territory, and in others, treads over old, but still interesting, ground. ... Read more

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Put kids on the road to discovery with the series that brings the United States to life, state by exciting state. It's all here - the history and geography, the people and culture, plus colorful photos, entertaining extras, easy recipes, and so much more. For an armchair tour of the U.S., from sea to shining sea, nothing beats these marvelous books - except maybe a tour guide! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Taking a tour of Minnesota, the North Star State
I have to admit that I was surprised there was not a photograph of Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge in this look at "Minnesota" for the From Sea to Shining Sea (second) series, because it is the iconic image of the Zenith City.When Jessica Lange, who was born down the road in Cloquet, come up here to make "Far North" (1988), they managed to put the Aerial Lift Bridge in most of the shots so that it became something of a running joke in the film.It gets mentioned in this book, but no picture.In fact the photograph that accompanies Chapter One, Introducing the North Star State, shows a Minnesotan embracing the cold winter, which serves as a reminder that up here it is winter six months of the year, most of the 12,000 lakes get frozen, along with Lake Superior, which means there comes a time when the Aerial Lift Bridge no longer needs to be lifted.But then that is just our little corner of the North Star State.

The second chapter is devoted to the geography of The Land of Minnesota, which covers how the melting of the glaciers resulted in four geographic regions: the Superior Upland, the Young Drift Plains, the Dissected Till Plains, and the Driftless Area (you have to love these names).Pay attention to the Rivers and Lakes section this time around because with the 6,564 rivers and the aforementioned 12,000 lakes, Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, which is more than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined.Then there is the great understatement in the Climate section where Hasday informs us that, "Minnesota gets very cold."This, I will admit, is true, and explains why this book has one of the longest sections on climate in the series (think of it as an apologia).

Minnesota Through History is the subject of Chapter Three, where several pages are devoted to the Native American settlements that were supplanted by the arrival of the European fur trappers.Hasday covers Minnesota as a developing land, a territory, and then a state in 1858.The slavery issue and the Civil War are covered, as is the Dakota conflict that was happening at the same time.The impact of the Homestead Act and the logging and mining industries on Minnesota are explained.The final sections in the chapter are devoted to the two World Wars, and how the postwar period led to the modern times of today (ending with some rather kind words for former governor Jesse "the Body" Ventura).

The fourth chapter talks about Governing Minnesota, although after explaining the three branches of state government, the rest of the chapter is devoted to a tour of Saint Paul, the one of the Twin Cities that is the state capital. The map of downtown shows where the Minnesota Children's Museum, Science Museum of Minnesota, and Minnesota History Center are located. The final chapter is about The People and Places of Minnesota, which goes into detail on where people came from (although talking only along Finnish people when you mention the Scandinavians in the state is treading on thin ice), and what they do for work up here.With great joy I can tell you that the recipe here is for Minnesota Blueberry Tiramisu, and while the last word frightens me a bit, nothing beats blueberries.The last section is a tour of Minnesota that gives you an indication of what there is to see from the Mall of America to the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca (where you can walk across), and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Throughout the book there are the standard sidebars categories Find Out More (What can be made from iron ore?), Who's Who in Minnesota (Hubert Humphrey), Extra! Extra! ("whaleback" steamers), and What's in a Name? (Minneapolis is a combination of the Dakota word "minne" for "water" and Greek "polis" for "city"), but apparently nothing every happened here first because there is not Famous First box.There are some nice color photographs of Split Rock Lighthouse and the shore of Lake Superior at Grand Marais, and also shots of things further south from here.

The back of the book has an Minnesota Almanac, two-pages of statistics and basic information.A Timeline contrasts Minnesota state and U.S. history, while the Gallery of Famous Minnesotans has photos of Garrison Keillor and Charles Schulz, but also names Bob Dylan and Prince, although younger readers will be most excited about Mary GrandPre (illustrator of the American "Harry Potter" books in case you are out of the loop).After the Glossary, Hasday has a list of websites, books and addresses where young students can go For More Information. But there is plenty of basic information here and if you need something more specific for a school report it might entail more research.The Mighty Mississippi begins in Minnesota and we are going to follow is down to the Gulf of Mexico, so our next stop on the tour is going to be Iowa, the Hawkeye State. ... Read more

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A geography of Minnesota, with chapters on geology, geography, history, people and the six regions that comprise the state ; and featuring sketches on notable sights. ... Read more

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Surveys the history, geography, and people of and interesting facts about the state known as "The Land of 10,000 Lakes." ... Read more

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Introduces the geography, history, industries, people, and other highlights of Minnesota. ... Read more

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The Mississippi River has intrigued the footloose for centuries. Here, for the first time in paperback, are briskly told biographies of the chief protagonists in the drama, with Old Man River as the constant and invincible antagonist. From conquistadors to nineteenth-century gentlemen explorers, Severin depicts the disasters and adventures of familiar, but often misunderstood, figures in American history, as well as the chicanery of others, less well known, who used the river for their own purposes.

"A first-rate piece of work, rich in period and personality. Severin considers the true elucidators of the river-Joliet, Marquette, La Salle, and Henry de Tonti-plus a smattering of frauds and dilettantes, among whom he includes Lieutenant Zebulon Pike." New Yorker

" Traveling side by side with each of his intrepid voyagers, Severin will make every armchair Huck Finn yearn to sign up for the next trip." New York Times Book Review

Historian Timothy Severin has made a career of retracing and writing about epic voyages. His myriad adventures include canoeing the Mississippi River from beginning to end, sailing in St. Brendan the Navigator's path across the Atlantic Ocean, and journeying on horseback in Mongolia in search of Gheghis Khan's heritage. He lives in Ireland ... Read more

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Travel/Regional

The long-awaited republication of this fascinating travel guide to Minnesota.

Due to popular demand, this classic guides to the highways and back roads of Minnesota is back in print. The unique purpose behind this previously hard-to-find travel companion is to explore the history of towns along the most well-traveled highways of this state. The reader will learn the stories behind the road signs-not only why towns formed where they did and how they were named, but also local anecdotes, historical accounts, and personal glimpses. The volume is enlivened by maps, illustrations, and historical photographs.

Among the fascinating stories is that of Hibbing, Minnesota, which at one point had to be moved several miles because of its situation atop rich deposits of iron ore, and later gave birth to the Greyhound Bus Line. ... Read more

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Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Minnesota," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Minnesota in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Minnesota when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Minnesota, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

Product Description
Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Minnesota," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Minnesota in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Minnesota when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Minnesota, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

Product Description
Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Minnesota," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Minnesota in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Minnesota when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Minnesota, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

Product Description
Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Minnesota," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Minnesota in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Minnesota when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Minnesota, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more