Passion of the people – 1.4.2
Perception and interpretation of cultural landscapes
There is a huge variety of cultural landscapes. They all have different characteristics: observing a landscape is a process that has to be adapted to each one. Sometimes, the observation and the interpretation seem to be simple. But in reality, some “basic” cultural landscapes may contain historical and evolutionary elements that deserve to be better explained and understood. In fact, some landscapes present more difficult elements to analyse.
Our perception and interpretation of landscapes is different from person to person. They show different feelings and interests for each person, even if some historical or architectural elements can’t be analysed differently.
Specialists have developed several models of interpretation. For example, the geographer Donald Meinig interprets cultural landscapes by observing the different layers of culture and types of signatures left by this culture in terms of architecture, trade, spatial layout, etc. This model is called the “Core-domain-sphere” and shows that, most of the time, cultural influences come from the core of the region and then dilute around it.
According to Donald Meinig, when we are interpreting landscapes, we have to analyse the different elements that reveal the past, reflect the present and shape the future of an area (e.g., infrastructures, names of streets/buildings…, natural elements, local customs as well as other material and immaterial cultural elements).
In the last decades, cultural landscapes are facing evolutions because of socio-economic and environmental transformations. Some of them are threatened by different factors. The evolution of mentalities towards environment protection, capitalism limits and the various crises that impact our societies can reconnect us with our past and our culture, which must be preserved to ensure a good future for the next generations. The discovery of cultural landscapes and monuments may be of interest to some people and can be an opportunity for the tourism sector. Public participation has to be more and more important to preserve the cultural sites affected by the current issues. Inhabitants of cultural landscapes have different perceptions of their environment according to their place in the society and their profession. It is important to make them participate to find effective solutions to valorise historic landscapes and to improve the quality of life.
Further resources
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Videos
Blaenavon Industrial Landscape (UNESCO/NHK)
Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland (UNESCO/NHK)
Cultural Landscapes and Patterns
On line resources
Further readings
Intercultural landscapes: towards an interpretation
Landscape Culture – Culturing Landscapes The Differentiated Construction of Landscapes
Tourism and Cultural Landscapes in Southern China’s Highlands
Teaching Materials
For Kids