Fall 2009 Professor Jennifer Mapes Office: KAP 450C Office Hours: MWF 11 am to noon, or by appointment Phone: 213-790-0743 Email1: jmapes@usc.edu GEOG 325: Culture and Place This course examines the intricacies of culture, place, and how these two concepts are interwoven. The first portion of the course will consider the theoretical underpinnings of cultural geography, while the second half of the course will critically observe how these concepts play out “on the ground,” across space and in the everyday lives of those who inhabit those spaces. In addition to reading key writings on these topics, this course will also use visual, audio, and interactive media to examine how the interaction between culture and place has been represented by those experiencing and observing this interaction. Course objectives • • • • To introduce and examine critically concepts of culture and place To understand directions in contemporary cultural geography To be able to connect theoretical understandings of culture and place to everyday life To recognize and interpret visual representations of culture and place Required texts Cresswell, T. 2004. Place: A short introduction. Blackwell. Oakes, T. and P. Price. 2008. The Cultural Geography Reader. Routledge. (referred to in schedule as “O&P.”) Additional required readings will be made available as PDFs, or as a reader, depending on class preference. Please use proper email etiquette when contacting me at this address. Also, please include GEOG 325 in the subject line. Failure to include this will result in a delayed response. 1 1