Why study culture in geography?

So, after finally getting my head around the definition of what cultural geography entails I thought it was time to consider its place in the curriculum and ask myself the question –why study culture in geography?

Well firstly research tells me that cultural geography is the most basic component that is needed to understand human geography, which focuses on where and why human activities exist. This is distinctly different from what I have been used to studying throughout my physical geography degree, whereby the main concern is what controls natural forces such as climate and what effect these phenomena have on the environment. However, aside from considering what research told me was the benefit of cultural geography; I decided to consider its potential role in the classroom for myself and came up with the following:

Ø  The study of varying cultures helps demonstrate how diverse planet earth really is. Empathy and understanding of different cultures to our own should therefore prepare students for existence in what is becoming an increasingly global society.

Ø  Awareness of cultures can also help give students perspective. For instance the comparison of our culture to one less fortunate can help ground a person, whilst looking at privileged cultures and beliefs can help aspire and motivate individuals.

Ø  Cultural knowledge helps develop two distinct areas of geographical knowledge. Firstly, how culture controls practises and ways of life. A clear example of this would be exploration of why societies inhabit the flanks of active volcanoes including reasons such as the need for fertile land, and spiritual beliefs that the volcanoes are controlled by gods. Secondly, by analysing how geography itself controls cultural shifts e.g. the rise of the Fertile Crescent.

Ø  Finally, the study of cultural geography will provide a great learning platform to expose students to a range of resources that will develop both their geographical and literacy skills. For instance, paintings, diary entries, and artefacts etc can help students interpret past and present geographical phenomena. This does not only have to be human topics such as collapsing societies, but also natural events such as historical volcanic eruptions and glacier extents.

...I think it’s fair to say the list is fairly endless as to how culture is an integral part of teaching geography! On that note I found this YouTube clip of inspirational quotes surrounding culture which is a great resource to get students thinking that bit deeper...