Contemporary Views

1. Contemporary Views of Natural Environments

2. What is a View? • A view is an opinion or attitude we have about natural environments. • A view can be defined as a particular way of looking at or thinking about environments that shape our relationships with them. • (eg. a museum, playground, temple, adversary or gymnasium) • Views are often formedas a result of an experience with it. • (direct relationship) • The natural environment can be viewed in many different ways. It is possible for an individual to view the same environment differently, depending on their purpose for being there and their mood or frame of mind at the time. • A person’s view of the environment may also alter, before, during and after a particular experience. • Views of natural environments and outdoor experiences have changed over time.

3. Natural Environments can be viewed in many different ways “What you see in a particular place depends on what you’re thinking, and what you’re thinking depends on your value system, your education, your social status, your experiences and the culture you live in.”

4. The Natural Environment can be Viewed: • as a resource • for meeting human needs to gain profit • as an adversary • an enemy, something to beat as a challenge for recreation or as a threat to safety and life, to conquer • as a gymnasium or playground • a place to participate in physical activities • as a cathedral/temple • a place of beauty, peace and tranquility to appreciate and connect with nature

5. The Natural Environment can be Viewed: • as a museum • a place of history to understand past and future human-nature relationships • as a laboratory • a place used to gain a better understanding and knowledge of the natural environment • as a classroom • a place to gain knowledge of the natural environment

6. Contemporary views of natural environments

7. Contemporary views of natural environments • Focus on the ways these views are portrayed, for example in media, behaviour, advertising, music and writing. • Images • Adversary • Gymnasium • Temple / Cathedral • Resource • Museum

8. Adversary • Definition:The environment as a challenge to be won, eg a mountain conquered or a fear overcome.

9. Gymnasium • Definition:Use of the environment as a place to work out, get fit, eg running on a beach, rock climbing…

10. Temple • Definition:WORSHIP of the environment as something bigger and more complex than we are.

11. Resource • Definition:Use of the environment for monetary gain, eg timber, place to take customers for tourism/recreation reasons

12. Museum • Definition:Use of the environment as a story line for history, eg fossils, cave paintings, types of rocks, movement of earth, life span of trees…

13. What is an Image? • An image can be defined as a mental picture, representation, idea or conception of nature in relation to its purpose as a result of an experience with it. • Images can be used by various groups in the media and other forums to represent the environment and provoke perceptions by those exposed to them • (indirect relationship) • Images are often used to portray a particular perspective. • Images can influence individuals to form opinions or attitudes/views towards the natural environment • You need to consider how images are presented and what effect that these would have on the reader.

14. Views and Images • Not all views are determined/shaped by direct experiences. • Individuals can form views of an environment as a result of images presented to them. • Groups present a particular image as a way of influencing others to form a specific opinion (view). • This can influence the way we interact with the land • I.e. Shape our relationships with nature.

15. Views and Images • Images can be linked with relationships • KINSHIP • Relating the environment as part of yourself • Indigenous cultures and absolute naturalists • WORTHSHIP • Seeing nature for its instrumental value • Landowners, scientists, adventurers • Resource, Adversary, Gymnasium • WORSHIP • Seeing nature for its intrinsic value • Cathedral, Museum

16. Views and Images • The various images can come from or be linked to the views of various groups. • Early settlers • Generally perceived the Australian environment as an adversary • Artists • have long created both cathedral- like images of the outdoors and ones of adversity in portraying the outdoor environment • Adventurers • Can view the environment as an adversity or a gymnasium

17. Views and Images • Images can be portrayed in various forms of the media • advertisements, articles, television programs, movies etc. • You need to explore and reflect on your own images of particular environments • were your images prior to a visit different from those formed after going to a particular place? • Compare images portrayed of a familiar environment with your own views of that environment.

18. Views and Images • Our views are quite personal but there are broad ‘Categories’ of views. • Based on large scale intentions or purposes shared by groups • There can be a broad range of views within each group.

19. Activity: • Reflect upon our Grampians Trip: • What we some of your perceptions/views of the ‘Gramps prior to the trip? • Did they change at all? • Think about some of the activities we participated in: • What were your views prior/during/after? • Did they change? IF so why?