On Landscapes

by Susan Herrington

There is no escaping it's everywhere and part of everyone's life. Landscapes have received much less attention in aesthetics than those arts we can choose to ignore, such as painting or music – but they can tell us a lot about the ethical and aesthetic values of the societies that produce them. Drawing on examples from a wide range of landscapes from around the world and throughout history, Susan Herrington considers the ways landscapes can affect our emotions, our imaginations, and our understanding of the passage of time. On Landscapes reveals the design work involved in even the most naturalistic of landscapes, and the ways in which contemporary landscapes are turning the challenges of the industrial past into opportunities for the future. Inviting us to thoughtfully see and experience the landscapes that we encounter in our daily lives, On Landscapes demonstrates that art is all around us.

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2008

Reviews

[Pearl Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowed this thinking it was about landscapes in art - I was wrong. Pleasantly surprised with the content, I feel like landscape is an under recognized art form. Provides a nice overview of landscapes across culture and time. Left me with a newfound appreciation for the spaces I spend time in.

[Kyra Kwiatkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit vague but a good intro for landscape design philosophy.

[Greg]

This book does not meet the high standards of the "Thinking in Action" series. The analysis of key concepts and terms is simplistic, and the style of writing is merely adequate. Thankfully, the end notes for each chapter, including bibliographic references, contain several intriguing references.