Cultural Geographies of Nature - Essay Example

CULTURAL GEOGRAPHIES OF NATURE Introduction In the broader sense, nature is said to be equivalent or associated to the material, natural and the physical universe world. In actual world, nature describes the various phenomena that exist in the physical universe or life in general. The concept is broad, ranging from subatomic to the larger cosmic world. In the larger context, nature often describes the geology, as well as wildlife. It refers to the overall realm that comprises different kinds of living animals and plants. Additionally, it also comprises of various inanimate objects and the way things exist and change in certain ways. For instance, it comprises of the earth’s geology and weather, energy and matter and other natural concepts in the world. In most cases, nature is taken to mean, the wilderness or natural environment. In this case, it comprises of beaches, forests animals, rocks and generally, the many things that have remained unchanged though human activities. These things also do not change despite the increased dynamism in human activities from one part of the world to another. It is important to note that human interactions and various manufactured objects are not usually considered as part of nature. These activities can only be grouped as part of nature if only they are qualified, for instance, human nature. This paper makes a comparison of how cultural geographies of nature have been explored by two research articles that have been made by people concerned about cultural management of geographical aspects. The paper examines the concepts of Spatialization of nature, according to how these two journals have explored its application. Additionally, it also makes a comparison of how relationships between nature and culture have been done in the two journals, as well as how time has also been explored. Spatialization of Nature Spatialization of nature comprises of the effective combinations of various scientific and visual techniques having spatial metaphors in representing data, which cannot be described as being spatial according to nature. Some of the most familiar spatial ideas like direction and distance, arrangement and scale among others make up some of the experiences that people have in their daily lives. Bhatti & Church (2004), in their research article, explain that these ideas are used in many instances to develop two and three-dimensional representations of various complex digital information (38). Castree is also of the view that so far, no subject testing has been conducted in the process of determining the effectiveness of these methods for the purpose of visualizations (2005, 26). In this case, it is not accurate enough to tell whether people really understand the various spatial views. At the same time, it is not easy to tell whether if these components of Spatialization like direction and distance effectively known by people. Evans’ article offers that evolution of geographical sciences as they have happened along the historical lines. From his analysis, he seems to agree to the fact that Spatialization of nature has been evident along the lines of history, all the way from centuries back (2012, 260). Castree, in his book on Making Sense of Nature, explains that investigations in Spatialization of nature have been vital people’s understanding of the way natures is represented in various forms (2013, 46). He says that it has presents an important experimental design that can be essential in exploring spatial metaphors for query user interfaces. For instance, many people can query large information archives and effectively understand ways of representing direction and distance, scale changes and regionalization. Relationship between nature and culture It is important to note that the concept of nature and culture has been a leading issue of debate among various geographical boards across the world. This concept has gone through various significant changes, questioning, changes in values and the overall state of the contemporary thinking. Culture and nature have always been having difference and oppositions in the way they address various concepts. As concerns this concept, Castree and Braun (1998) explain that nature is simply an important and essential human institution, which reflects the implementation of free will for certain things. On their part, Bhatti & Church (2004), explain that people are supposed to care for nature out of their free will. This may not necessarily have to be a cultural perspective. They have given the idea of making managing and conserving gardens and the fauna in these gardens. This idea is complemented by Castree & Braun, who observed in the analysis that the nature offers a kind of solidity upon which humanity can depend on for various actions and activities in life, as well as in enterprises (2001, 24). Evans’s article emphases the need to create cultural systems and institutions from which natural and its historical evolution can be preserved from the future generations to esteem and learn other ways of doing the same (2012, 263). In managing these processes, they note that nature is significant in concealing the kind of truth that has to be discovered and protected. In this case, people can use their cultural understanding to devise concepts that they can rely on when implementing these aspects of nature. In many parts of the world, efforts to conserve and manage nature have seen the development and use of the bicultural approach to natural resource management. This is where cultural and nature concepts blend in managing and conserving nature. Time Time has been an important factor influencing nature and its evolution patterns across generations. Currently, the responsibility of protecting and managing nature has changed, people are expected to personalize the process of managing nature. In their approach, Bhatti & Church have elaborately explained the essence of creating and managing gardens in the homes. They explain that maintaining gardens has a lot of social significance and plays a major role in the home studies and research about nature (2004, 48). On his part, Evans’ article has dwelt much on the changing forms of natural and physical resources according to the way people have been using them for their activities in social lives (2012, 263). He notes that it is important that people keep the things they posses and value most, this is important in identifying and predicting the future expectations in terms of such changes. Time determines the way people value nature, for instance, population increased and the changed lifestyle among many human societies means that methods of management and conservation of nature have changed (Hinchliffe S. 2007, 52). Many people do not see the need to conserve certain cultural aspects because they lack the historical context, which if it would have been preserved, would be helpful in these efforts. Bibliography Castree N. 2005. Nature, Routledge, London. Castree N. 2013. Making Sense of Nature, Routledge, Abingdon.  Castree, N. and Braun, B. 2001. Social Nature: theory, practice and politics, Blackwell, Oxford. Castree, N. & Braun, B. 1998. Remaking Reality: nature at the millennium. : Routledge, London & New York. Evans J. 2012. Social Constructions of Nature. Pearson, Harlow. Hinchliffe S. 2007. Geographies of Nature. Sage, Ney York, NY. Evans S. 2002. The field, the museum and the lecture hall: the spaces of natural history in Victorian Cornwall. Royal Geography Society. Vol 1, No 1, 494-513. Bhatti M & Church C. 2004. Home, the culture of nature and meanings of gardens in late modernity. Housing Studies, Vol 19, No 1, 37-51. Read More