Theory Research- Landscape and Englishness, David Matless

This theory book has been really helpful because it has given me more in depth ideas of Englishness. This book is mainly about the Englishness of landscape within a variety of art movements, however I have read through and analysed some quotes that helped me to understand englishness and to review this idea within my project. This book has inspired me through the review of Englishness with landscapes. I am not photography landscapes but this book has been a great read, explaining the theme of Englishness. I am able to link my own project to some of the quotes, which I think fully examine the English environment.

"The idividual and the collective mind could be remade through environmental practice".

This quote examines the idea that the identity of a human and the identity of the environment are linked. Therefore englishness is definately reflected through tourism, buildings and leisure. I belive that human minds and views are created by the environment, which is known as the idea of human adaptaion. This quote links vividly to B&B's through the idea that tourists is involved with this.

"Matters of culture, psychology and geography were at the heart of a highly influential discourse of self and environment whose assumptions often remain taken for granted in everyday life".

I belive that this quote has influenced human identification. It explains the idea that environments that are seen in a everyday life aren't noticed, however if they drastically changed humans would think more about it. I believe that this quote strongly links to older B&B's because they aren't at all noticed but when they disappear, they might be highlighted more as an English treasure that will be missed.

Overview

Overall, this book is useful in understanding themes of Englishness and cultural identity. The book examines how Englishness can be reflected through objects visually, for example the landscape, geography and buildings. This makes the theory more accessable to me and links strongly to the practice of photography. In my photoshoots I am now looking to capture objects that reflect Englishness and I am more confident that I can do this, from reading this book.

#FinalMajorProject