Cultural geography “focuses on the ways in which space, place, and landscape shape culture at the same time that culture shapes space, place and landscape” (Knox et al., 2013, p. 206). In this assignment you will explore this in more detail and reinforce your knowledge of terms and concepts in cultural geography. The assignment has also been designed to familiarize you with research methods used by human geographers, in particular, the use of maps.
In this assignment, you will analyze the different ways in which culture can be inscribed in the landscape, for example, through the naming of places, settlement patterns, or changes in land cover by a group of people who have their own distinctive customs and who practice a particular way of life there. Place names (i.e., toponyms), for example, can reflect attributes of the landscape or a natural resource that are important to people living there, as well as other cultural values. One can also learn something about the culture and history of a place and how people have adapted and modified to the natural environment by looking at the spatial patterns of land use – for example, the way that property boundaries have shaped the landscape, or the distribution of agricultural or forested areas in relation to rivers or elevation. Keep in mind also that features written onto the landscape can reflect social and political power, and the introduction of new settlement patterns and land ownership.
While the concept of a cultural landscape has been around for decades, it is only more recently that cultural geographers have begun to analyze the cultural landscapes of towns and urban neighborhoods. While the visible aspects of “streetscapes” tell only part of the story, they can be read as a text that reveals something about the culture and identity of the people who have helped to create them.
In this assignment you will analyze information on topographic maps and the interactive Google Maps website. Maps are key tools used by geographers for examining landscapes and how they change over time. However, different maps can show very different things about the same area. When using a map, it is important to consider such things as when it was made, for whom, and for what purpose. It is important to think about what is included, as well as what has been left off the map. Map scale – which affects the amount of detail that can be included on a map – is also an important factor in shaping what is represented. In other words, maps are very effective as a way of telling stories, but as a source of data they need to be examined and interpreted with a critical eye.
Part A
– The Problem with Toponyms
Much has been made in the news about the removal of a statue of Edward Cornwallis in Halifax and the removal of Confederate statues in the US (leading to white nationalist protests and violent clashes). These monuments commemorate controversial moments/ people/ events in the past. Likewise, place names, building names and street signs have often raised similar concerns. Doing a quick internet search find an example of a problematic toponym in Canada and briefly describe the issues associated with it. What are the concerns of people in the community? What are the proposed solutions? (5 marks)
Part B
– Investigating Cultural Landscapes (using Google Maps)
The purpose of this part of the assignment is to examine and analyze two landscapes using Google Maps. The first consists of Taber, Alberta and its surrounding lands (i.e., the area within about 5-6 kilometers of the village). Taber was established by American and European immigrants in the late 19th
century. Initially settled as a mining town, agriculture became dominant with the spread of irrigation technologies. The second place is Montmagny and its surrounding area, located in Quebec on the south shore of the St. Laurence River. Montmagny was first settled in the 17th
Century under the long-lot seigniorial system which provided families with access to the river. Both places can be characterized as rural areas where many residents rely on agriculture and other primary industries.
4. (a) In your own words, what is a cultural landscape? Give an example of a cultural landscape that you are familiar with. What are the key features that differentiate it from surrounding areas? (5 marks)
(b) From what you can observe using Google Maps (map, satellite and/or street views), describe the cultural landscapes of the Tabor and Montmagny areas, using specific examples. For example, what are the spatial patterns of land use and settlement? You should also consider the physical geography of the two areas, and how people have adapted or reshaped the natural environment over time. For example, how has the topography or hydrology of each region seem to have either facilitated or hindered different forms of development? Are there other clues that can be read about the connections between the cultural background and the landscape in these two different regions? For example, what are the toponyms that have been inscribed onto the landscape and what do they reveal? As part of your answer, you can zoom in to the “street view” for the central part of both villages and find one or more features of the landscape (e.g., a building, monument, or sign) that demonstrates something about the cultural makeup (e.g., religion, language, ethnic background) of the community. (4 marks)
(c) What is one of the limitations of relying exclusively on Google Maps to understand a cultural landscape? (1 mark)