The concept of landscape is intrinsically caught between varied associations and uses, appearing in different disguises in discourses of philosophy, history, literature, architecture, urban planning and art. While seemingly self-explanatory, a deeper examination quickly exposes its ideological, political, and social undercurrents. As landscape designer J.B. Jackson seminally wrote, “the word is simple enough, and it refers to something which we think we understand; and yet to each of us it seems to mean something different” (Jackson 1984: 3).

This research seminar will address these multiple identities of landscape to inquire: what is landscape, actually? What is its relation to space? To (geo)politics? To ecology? How and to what ends are landscapes imagined and mobilised in texts and visual media? What insights can landscape offer us on theoretical, ethical, and aesthetic levels? How does landscape relate to the objects and subjects that inhabit it? What are its darker secrets? What stands at the base of the desire to experience landscape, to apprehend it, to unpack its meaning?

In 6 meetings spread across the academic year, we will explore these and other questions through focusing on the sub‐themes: landscape in theory; landscape and the body; landscape and ecology. For each session except the introductory one, a joint case study will serve as a base of addressing the theoretical texts. Participants will be asked to bring additional cases from their own fields, disciplines, and research interests. Ideally, the final session will also be devoted to exploring publication and other output venues.

The overall 6 meetings are spread across fall 2023 and spring 2024. To earn credits (6EC) students need to participate in at least four of the meetings and hand in a final project.

To sign up and receive readings please email Irina Souch:  i.s.souch@uva.nl