A question of place and space

I have had numerous discussions with several friends and academic 'enemies' on the importance of place and space, particularly in geography. So which concept is more important, or are they inextricably linked? Place implies specificity to me, a degree of certainty of knowledge, or having the ability to properly describe the specifics of an area. To me, then, place = area, in that it is bounded by something, whether it is material cognitive. Space on the other hand is everything and anything that exists, even immaterial items like ideas and concepts, because they all have or need space. Without space where would we be? How could we orient any activity or process if it were'nt for space? Space, then, is the foundation of place and together they are the component elements of our world, our society, and our lives.

That shadowy discipline...

On a number of recent occasions I've been asked just exactly what it is that I'm studying. I get these wonderfully puzzled looks when I tell people I'm studying geography--what is it, they want to know, that one does in a graduate geography program? It's about making maps, right? Their looks become more puzzled still when I tell them, well, yes and no--and then I try to explain.

A few weeks ago my department gave its comprehensive exam for the MA program. In hindsight, it occurred to me that the entire exam could have been built around the question what is geography?

Many of the times that I've been asked about this, I hit a stumbling block. My areas of interest converge around the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of geography--aspects that are as much theoretical as practical, abstract as concrete, and intangible as mappable. I'll mention something I'm reading and inevitably the response will be, "Isn't that really sociology [or anthropology, or philosophy, etc.]?" Yes, but...

I came to geography from a trail of other disciplines: archaeology and anthropology, criminology, psychology. I've always loved the potential for cross-pollenation, the inspiration that one field can take from another. To me, geography has provided the perfect synthesis of all these fields and more, all tied together by the thread of place. It all makes perfect sense to me--but explaining this on the spot to someone of the conviction that all social sciences should fall into discrete boxes is a challenge. And really, I'm not so good at off-the-cuff kinds of things.

In the end, I usually return to what has become sort of a mantra for me: If you can use the words space, place, landscape, or topography, chances are a geographer is interested in it. And that's what I plan on talking about here. Pigeonholes be damned.

Introductions

Welcome to Geographical Eclectica, an experiment in group blogging. Our mission is to use this blog as a forum for discussing, analyzing, commenting on, and even complaining about various aspects of geographical issues ranging from the popular to the journalistic to the scholarly. While we all have academic backgrounds in geography, we have very different specializations, interests, and perspectives. We hope this mix will be as entertaining for you as it is for us.

A little about our contributors:
Our current contributors are Gavia Immer, Globalfreak, Katie, and Placemaker. Here's a little about each of us.

Gavia Immer has just finished an MA in geography and has several years of experience as a GIS professional. His interests include physical geography and technical applications.

Globalfreak is finishing an MA in geography and an MA in sociology, looking to pursue a PhD in geography in the near future. His areas of interest include political and cultural geography, landscapes, and social theory and policy.

Katie is finishing an MA in geography and will be entering a PhD program in planning in the fall. Her interests include social theory, postmodernism, and the works of David Harvey.

Placemaker is working on an MA in geography with the intent to earn an PhD in the discipline. Her areas of interest are geographical phenomenology, cyberspace, place identity and place making, developmental geography, and urban design.

As this blog grows we hope to add more contributors. Keep an eye out for new contributor introductions along the way.