1. Session 2: Exploring culture and themes in cultural
geography
1) Mental maps from course prep participatory
exercise;
2) Discussion about preparing for the concept test;
1) News item / food for thought of the day;
2) Group discussion – “What is culture?”
3) Culture & Themes explored.
September 10, 2013
Berg Lake Glacier,
British Columbia
Norton, W. (2005). Cultural Geography: Environments, Landscapes, Identities, and
Inequalities. Oxford University Press, Don Mills.
Readings: Chapter 1 of Norton – What is culture?; Themes in
Cultural Geography

2. Familiarity with
critical analysis and
review
Yes
•but still room for
improvement
No/ first time
hearing of it
Some / not
much experience with it
•yes, but not in geography
•familiar with but no experience
•some, from previous courses
•some difficulty
•need descriptive outline
•need a refresher

3. Writing a critical review
See resources posted on course WordPress site

4. Interest
Broader goals in
education and
career
Degree program
Skill
development
Direct relevance
to career
•enjoyment of topic
•sociology & humanity
•global environmental
issues
•the human-environment
nexus
•life interests
•elementary school
teaching
•sustainable development
•honours thesis
•work with Indigenous
communities
•speaking, writing,
group work
•build cooperation with
coworkers
•build understanding of
culture and newcomer
transitions

5. Types of learners
and helpful learning
tools
Visuals
•diagrams
•pictures
•videos
Technology / Internet
Kinesthetic learning
(by doing)
Reading
•ppts
•memorization
•textbooks
•writing notes
Group discussions
Illustration / Examples
Definitions
Listening
Repetition

6. Key concepts Test
Format: 3 short essay questions from each chapter 1, 2, & 3
You will be asked to discuss broach topics from the text book sections
assigned to class sessions.
Points will be given based on your ability to:
•Provide reasonable definitions/explanations of the key terms
•Relate terms to each other
•Provide alternate explanations for the terms (critical component)
•Relate the terms to examples from the class (or other examples
that your know of from other sources)
Total: 15% of your grade  each question is worth 5% or your total
grade

7. New item / thought provoking item of the day
http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/08/14/sun-
dance-ceremony-part-2-the-buffalo-dance/
Sundance Ceremony Part 2:
The Buffalo Dance
Illustrates: Worldviewsrelated to healing, community, and
environment

8. Group discussion
1. What are the attributes culture?
2. How was culture represented in the video about the
Buffalo dance? What was the meaning of culture in this
context?
Form 5 groups of 4 or 5 and discuss the following questions:
Take about 15-20 minutes to discuss and record responses.
Select one person who will present.

9. What is culture?
Sauer (father of the landscape school) treated culture as a reality
rather than an human concept
Culture is a complex term: Has changed throughout history and will
continue to change
Culture – changes, is fluid, adapts...
Convention is described in the text as:
1) the values and abstract ideals that members of a human group
hold;
2) the norms and rules that they follow;
3) and the material goods that they create.
Many disciplinary interpretations

10. What is culture?
Everything produced by humans: •Art
•Clothing
•Buildings
•Music
•Tools
•etc.
“The study of humans and the land” or “humans and nature”
* Relationship between humans and their earthly (and to a lesser extent
celestial) habitat
Broad in scope

11. Culture is evolving - temporal
and...culture and cultural identity exists at differentscales

14. Themes in cultural geography
Concerned with
relationships
b/w human
and natureHistorical
transformation
of landscapes
Occupance and
evolution of
landscapesPolitical
dimension,
power
imbalancesAlso political
but focuses on
the concepts of
self and ‘other’
Extends beyond
the physical to
identity and
symbolic
meaning
Source: Norton 2005, Table 1.2, pg. 27