Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
None of these defi nitions are too far apart. They invoke the
core concepts and they stress the integrative role that gives
geography its special meaning. At various times in the history of
geography, a particular key concept may have been emphasized
more than the others, but all three have co-existed and form
the core of the subject. Similarly, within physical and human
geography, more or less emphasis may be given to particular
concepts for particular purposes, and their precise interpretation
may vary. In modern times, there is greater awareness that the
'facts' of geography are not unambiguous; they mean different
things to different people at varying points in time. The concept
of place, for example, has moved from the simple demarcation
of areas to a study of the affective values with which they are
imbued. This acceptance of the ambiguities in the meaning of
geography is in itself a positive attribute that opens up new lines
of understanding.
Geography (Figure 2) should therefore be thought of as the
nexus where the three core concepts - space, place, and
environment - overlap. Space, place, and environment, as we
have defi ned them above and as will be elaborated further in later
chapters, are a necessary part of the discipline of geography. None
is suffi cient, on its own, to defi ne geography. Hence the essence of
geography is represented by the shaded area in Figure 2. Is there
a single term to describe this integrated area? Possibly not, but
the concept of landscape comes close to defi ning this nexus that
is geography. There are two metaphors that help to illuminate
this claim. The fi rst is the idea that landscape has the qualities
of a palimpsest. Literally, a palimpsest was a form of parchment
that, before the advent of paper, was written upon many times.
Although the aim was to erase the previous writing, it inevitably
left its traces. A landscape can be seen in the same way. It has been
written over many times by both physical and human processes,
but traces of the past are still discernible. The second metaphor
is provided by the French human geographer Vidal de la Blache,
