GEOG 3762 Geography of Europe Week 4 - Cultural Landscapes of Europe

Overview Introduction Introduction Defining European cultural landscapes Defining European cultural landscapes Landscape meanings Landscape meanings Ideas of Landscape Ideas of Landscape Aesthetic expressions of landscape Aesthetic expressions of landscape Landscape ideology Landscape ideology Landscape and collective memory Landscape and collective memory Example of European landscapes and its aspects - Case study of GERMANY Example of European landscapes and its aspects - Case study of GERMANY

Landscape Meanings “Landschaft” “Landschaft” Land-schaft Land-schaft Land = land Land = land Schaft = to create, to build, to make Schaft = to create, to build, to make Collective modification and cultivation of the natural environment Collective modification and cultivation of the natural environment Different natural environments Different natural environments different cultivation different cultivation different landschaft different landschaft Form of spatiality (“production of space”) Form of spatiality (“production of space”) Experiences, intentions, traditions, customs are expressed in localized territorial form Experiences, intentions, traditions, customs are expressed in localized territorial form Experiences, intentions, traditions, customs are expressed and reinforced by distant hegemonic control Experiences, intentions, traditions, customs are expressed and reinforced by distant hegemonic control

Ideas of Landscape Landschaft as a concrete abstraction of the physical and cultural realities of an area Landschaft as a concrete abstraction of the physical and cultural realities of an area Landschaft as idea to be implemented universally across different cultural realms Landschaft as idea to be implemented universally across different cultural realms Aesthetic, not functional evaluation of landscape Aesthetic, not functional evaluation of landscape Certain landscapes come to represent certain core values of society Certain landscapes come to represent certain core values of society Class issues Class issues Elite consciousness Elite consciousness “Country” versus “city” “Country” versus “city”

Aesthetics of Landscape Landschaft as a commercial commodity Landschaft as a commercial commodity European modern capitalism European modern capitalism Land as capital on market Land as capital on market Markets require measurable units Markets require measurable units Surveying techniques defined the shape of properties Surveying techniques defined the shape of properties Landscape as functional and aesthetic commodity Landscape as functional and aesthetic commodity Aesthetics and political ideology Aesthetics and political ideology

Ideologies of Landscape Landschaft as a aesthetic ideal Landschaft as a aesthetic ideal Landscapes represent historical, cultural, social and political ideas, ideals and reality of an area Landscapes represent historical, cultural, social and political ideas, ideals and reality of an area Example 1: The Autobahn Example 1: The Autobahn Example 2: East German urban design under the Socialist regime Example 2: East German urban design under the Socialist regime

Ideologies of Landscape Example 1: The Autobahn Begun in 1930s Begun in 1930s Extremely well maintained Extremely well maintained No general speed limit No general speed limit Landscape interaction Landscape interaction Curves Curves Tunnels Tunnels Bridges Bridges Rest Areas Rest Areas Expansiveness Expansiveness Symbols of Rootedness Symbols of Rootedness

Ideologies of Landscape Example 2: East German Architectural Landscapes State Socialism State Socialism Anti-fascism Anti-fascism Realism Realism Functionality Functionality Equality Equality Sameness Sameness Selective cultural memory Selective cultural memory

Landscapes of Memory Landschaft as a container for the past Landschaft as a container for the past Landscapes represent the selective historical, cultural, social and political ideas, ideals and reality of an area Landscapes represent the selective historical, cultural, social and political ideas, ideals and reality of an area Capital cities and monuments Capital cities and monuments Selective romanticization of historical space Selective romanticization of historical space Identification tool Identification tool Marketing tool Marketing tool Case Study Case Study