Details
| Translated title of the contribution | Germany - Geographical discourse. The region in spatial reference discourse: The 'Ruhrgebiet' example |
|---|---|
| Original language | German |
| Pages | 339-370 |
| Number of pages | 32 |
| Volume | 78 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Journal | Berichte zur Deutschen Landeskunde |
| Publication status | Published - 2004 |
Abstract
In our paper we deal with the "Ruhr" (German: ,,Ruhrgebiet ), a notion numerous readers will probably associate with some more or less distinctive images. Characteristically such mental representations refer to empirical phenomena and yet they cannot be equated with these. In other words: there is no "Ruhr as such". Images of the Ruhr are always individual and social interpretations of a multi-faceted social, temporal and socio-spatial reality. Reducing social reality by means of spatial abstractions serves the double function of structuring the empirical world and thus facilitating communication and of exercising power by influencing the ways in which people perceive, structure and assess socio-spatial reality. There is plethora of different historical and current representations of the "Ruhr". There are, however, certain recurrent patterns which can be distinguished and which play a role in different social contexts. The main aim of our contribution is to give a picture of these patterns and to highlight 'some of the prominent purposes of those who make use of them. By embracing a constructivist view of how to obtain knowledge we realise that our contribution is yet another (re-)construction of earlier social constructions of the "Ruhr" a further "story of the Ruhr" gets added to the many already in existence. We do hope, however, that our account may be novel and inspiring enough to make it interesting reading.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences(all)
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- General Earth and Planetary Sciences
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In: Berichte zur Deutschen Landeskunde, Vol. 78, No. 3, 2004, p. 339-370.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Contribution in non-scientific journal › Transfer
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Deutschland - geographische Diskurse. Die Region im raumbezogenen Diskurs
T2 - Das Beispiel "Ruhrgebiet"
AU - Danielzyk, Rainer
AU - Wood, Gerald
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - In our paper we deal with the "Ruhr" (German: ,,Ruhrgebiet ), a notion numerous readers will probably associate with some more or less distinctive images. Characteristically such mental representations refer to empirical phenomena and yet they cannot be equated with these. In other words: there is no "Ruhr as such". Images of the Ruhr are always individual and social interpretations of a multi-faceted social, temporal and socio-spatial reality. Reducing social reality by means of spatial abstractions serves the double function of structuring the empirical world and thus facilitating communication and of exercising power by influencing the ways in which people perceive, structure and assess socio-spatial reality. There is plethora of different historical and current representations of the "Ruhr". There are, however, certain recurrent patterns which can be distinguished and which play a role in different social contexts. The main aim of our contribution is to give a picture of these patterns and to highlight 'some of the prominent purposes of those who make use of them. By embracing a constructivist view of how to obtain knowledge we realise that our contribution is yet another (re-)construction of earlier social constructions of the "Ruhr" a further "story of the Ruhr" gets added to the many already in existence. We do hope, however, that our account may be novel and inspiring enough to make it interesting reading.
AB - In our paper we deal with the "Ruhr" (German: ,,Ruhrgebiet ), a notion numerous readers will probably associate with some more or less distinctive images. Characteristically such mental representations refer to empirical phenomena and yet they cannot be equated with these. In other words: there is no "Ruhr as such". Images of the Ruhr are always individual and social interpretations of a multi-faceted social, temporal and socio-spatial reality. Reducing social reality by means of spatial abstractions serves the double function of structuring the empirical world and thus facilitating communication and of exercising power by influencing the ways in which people perceive, structure and assess socio-spatial reality. There is plethora of different historical and current representations of the "Ruhr". There are, however, certain recurrent patterns which can be distinguished and which play a role in different social contexts. The main aim of our contribution is to give a picture of these patterns and to highlight 'some of the prominent purposes of those who make use of them. By embracing a constructivist view of how to obtain knowledge we realise that our contribution is yet another (re-)construction of earlier social constructions of the "Ruhr" a further "story of the Ruhr" gets added to the many already in existence. We do hope, however, that our account may be novel and inspiring enough to make it interesting reading.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=8644273264&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Beitrag in Publikumszeitung/-zeitschrift
AN - SCOPUS:8644273264
VL - 78
SP - 339
EP - 370
JO - Berichte zur Deutschen Landeskunde
JF - Berichte zur Deutschen Landeskunde
SN - 0005-9099
ER -