Rural Sociology an der Westsächsische Hochschule

Sociology:

• Study about social (interaction, human behavior, interpretation of interaction) 
• related to non-urban/non-metropolitan areas

Rural Sociology:

• Rural sociology is historically defined as the sociological study of social organization and processes that are characteristic of rural societies and geographical areas where population densities are relatively low
• related to non-urban/non-metropolitan areas →  environment
• 
  
• increasingly addresses the relationships between rural society and society as a whole and within the global economy and society

Definition: Sign (Carl Jung): Sign is something known, words stands for its
referent

• Sth. Such as an object picture/written word/… that represents sth. else by association, resemblance, or convention
  ▪ Symbol is something unknown, cannot be made clear or precise

1. European/American Landscape Concept: Cultural LS
2. Asian Concept: Signs & Symbols
3. Austrailan (aboriginal) concept: Inscape

• Landscape as a symbolic heritage 
  • Inscape (cultural, collective) → Poems, Characters (Letters), Paintings
  • Definition: Symbol
    • Sth. Such as an object picture/written word/… that represents sth. else by
      association, resemblance, or convention
    • Symbol is something unknown, cannot be made clear or precise
  • Symbolic Forms – Ernest Cassirer
    •  Man is symbolic animal
      • Animals perceive their world by instincts and direct sensory perception
      • Man has created his own universe of symbolic meaning that structures and shapes his perception of reality
•  Definition: Sign (Carl Jung): Sign is something known, words stands for its referent

• Symbol is something unknown, cannot be made clear or precise
• Sign is something known, words stands for its referent

Australian/Aborigenies concept

• LS painting under the surface of the painting
  •  Under the surface: information + look form the inside on LS
• Map is a part of a mental landscape story

Europe x America

• How to reach a place?
•  Europe: Formalize map + boundaries + ownership → control + info on eco. development
• look from the outside on landscape
  → our European Point of view is not the only one!

Approach: Social constructivism

• Human environment = no species-specific environment
•  Social Order
• Revolution: content/aims of institutions are no longer valid

Reality
o social reality

as being distinct from biological and individual reality, where reality is relative to
the individual.
▪ concerned with the phenomenon of social interactions being responsible for
reality, which transcends any individuals actions
o Reality: Subjective or objective (social constructivists)?
▪ Reality as objective: Reality that exists outside of our minds. Reality that
everyone else sees.
▪ Reality as subjective: Reality that is subject to the individual. The reality that
only the viewer sees.

▪ Symbol is something unknown, cannot be made clear or precise
▪ Symbolic Forms – Ernest Cassirer
• Man is symbolic animal.
• Animals perceive their world by instincts and direct sensory
perception,
• Man has created his own universe of symbolic meaning that
structures and shapes his perception of reality

• Inscape – is landscape perception influenced by social and culture condition
• Pierre Dansereau” fathers of ecology".”:
•  Ecology and sociology synthesis 
•  Concept of Inscape / Landscape
• Inscape= internal picture of the landscape = mental map

• Social sciences understand landscapes more often to be as a result of social construction, this is a result of individual and societal progress. 
•  Landscape is socially constructed + historically grown + controlled