Claval, Paul

Cultural Geography in English-Speaking Countries - 2008.


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Anglophone perspectives on cultural geography have evolved rapidly. A revolt against Sauer's geography occurred around the 1980's. It was fuelled by British literary criticism and 'cultural studies'¯ as well as by American anthropology. As a consequence, cultures are studied according to more critical perspectives. Growing attention is given to women, young people or minorities. The scales change : the significance of localities and domestic space is underscored. The historical dimension is reintroduced thanks to the postcolonial movement. Post-modernism insists on the weaknesses and contradictions inherent in the idea of science. Geography becomes closer to the humanities, since it covers, just as they do, a field made of words, narratives and images. Geography is experiencing a cultural turn.