Tuan Yi-Fu is a Chinese-American geographer whose work explores landscape as a mirror of human culture and identity. He investigates how people perceive and make sense of the world around them, and how these perceptions shape our relationship with place. His influential studies demonstrate that geography is not merely about the physical attributes of the Earth, but fundamentally about human experience and interpretation.
Landscapes of Fear is renowned geographer Yi-Fu Tuan's influential exploration of the spaces of fear and of how these landscapes shift during our lives and vary throughout history. In this groundbreaking work--now with a new preface by the author--Yi-Fu Tuan reaches back into our prehistory to discover what is universal and what is particular in our inheritance of fear.
Exploring the intersection of geography and philosophy, Yi-Fu Tuan's latest work reflects over fifty years of his contributions to humanistic geography. This book serves as a culmination of his insights and experiences, providing a deep intellectual examination of the human condition through a geographic lens. Tuan’s unique perspective invites readers to engage with the complexities of human experiences and the spaces we inhabit.
From Place to Placelessness
What does it mean to be religious in the modern world? This is the question posed by well-known human geographer, Yi-Fu Tuan in Religion: From Place to Placelessness. In this, the latest book in his long and distinguished career, Tuan turns to this specific challenge, which has been a uniting current in much of his previous work. To illustrate the modern meaning of religion, Tuan calls on the work of photographer-artist Martha A. Strawn, whose impressive gallery of photographs from around the world concludes the book.Religion, Tuan argues, is a perennial quest for safety, certainty, and spiritual elevation that began oriented in place and particular cultural practices; but, in its highest reaches, religion moves toward universalism and placelessness. Drawing examples from both Christian and Buddhist traditions, Tuan explores, with his characteristic grace, sensitivity, and insight, the ultimate placelessness of religious experience. Tuan’s meditations combine with the elegance of Strawn’s photographs to create a book that is both thought-provoking and quietly beautiful.
Exploring the significance of everyday courtesies, this book highlights how simple actions, like busing your dishes, contribute to a functional and harmonious society. It delves into the lasting effects of communal kindness, emphasizing the importance of these small gestures in fostering a sense of community and enhancing the quality of life over time.
The narrative explores the deep connection between humanity and the Chinese landscape, emphasizing how centuries of habitation have shaped both the land and its culture. It delves into the intricate relationship between people and their environment, illustrating how human presence has transformed the earth into a tapestry of history, tradition, and resilience. Through vivid imagery and insightful commentary, the book reveals the profound impact of human activity on the natural world in China.
In the 25 years since its original publication, Space and Place has not only established the discipline of human geography, but it has proven influential in such diverse fields as theater, literature, anthropology, psychology, and theology. Eminent geographer Yi-Fu Tuan considers the ways in which people feel and think about space, how they form attachments to home, neighborhood, and nation, and how feelings about space and place are affected by the sense of time. He suggests that place is security and space is freedom: we are attached to the one and long for the other. Whether he is considering sacred versus "biased" space, mythical space and place, time in experiential space, or cultural attachments to space, Tuan's analysis is thoughtful and insightful.
The narrative follows distinguished geographer Yi-Fu Tuan's return to China in 2005, where he revisits his childhood home after sixty-four years. His journey includes speaking at an architectural conference, engaging with college audiences, and exploring the landscapes from Beijing to Shanghai, culminating in a reflective riverboat trip down the Yangtze River. This personal journey intertwines themes of nostalgia and cultural exploration, highlighting Tuan's deep connection to his homeland.
The book delves into the philosophical question of how to live a fulfilling life, inviting readers to reflect on their own definitions of the good life. Tuan's engaging writing style appeals to both general readers and professionals, encouraging a deeper exploration beyond mere enjoyment. It challenges individuals to actively identify their values and aspirations, fostering a personal journey towards constructing a meaningful existence.
Exploring the concept of "dwelling," the book delves into how various civilizations narrate their relationship with the environment. Anne Buttimer examines a diverse range of sources, from ancient philosophers to modern writers, revealing how humanity has used natural science, theology, and myth to understand the earth as a home. This interdisciplinary approach sheds new light on contemporary environmental ideas and the human spirit's connection to the world.
Acclaimed cultural geographer Yi-Fu Tuan considers humanity's enduring desire to escape reality— and embrace alternatives such as love, culture, and Disneyworld In prehistoric times, our ancestors began building shelters and planting crops in order to escape from nature's harsh realities. Today, we flee urban dangers for the safer, reconfigured world of suburban lawns and parks. According to geographer Yi-Fu Tuan, people have always sought to escape in one way or another, sometimes foolishly, often creatively and ingeniously. Glass-tower cities, suburbs, shopping malls, Disneyland—all are among the most recent monuments in our efforts to escape the constraints and uncertainties of life—ultimately, those imposed by nature. "What cultural product," Tuan asks, "is not escape?" In his new book, the capstone of a celebrated career, Tuan shows that escapism is an inescapable component of human thought and culture.