
Making Meaning Out of Mountains
The Political Ecology of Skiing
Mark C.J. Stoddart(Author)
University of British Columbia Press
Will be published approx. on 3. April 2012
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-0-7748-2196-4 (ISBN)
Description
Mountains bear the imprint of human activity. Scars from logging andsurface mining sit alongside national parks and ski lodges. Althoughthe environmental effects of extractive industries are well known,skiing is more likely to bring to mind images of luxury, wealth, andhealth.
In Making Meaning out of Mountains, Mark Stoddart draws oninterviews, field observations, and media analysis to reveal themultiple, often conflicting meanings attached to skiing in BritishColumbia. Corporate leaders promote the industry as sustainabledevelopment, while environmentalists and some First Nations argue thatskiing sacrifices wildlife habitats and traditional lands to tourismand corporate gain. Skiers themselves appreciate the opportunity tocommune with nature but are concerned about skiing'senvironmental impact.
This multilayered analysis not only challenges us to reflect moreseriously on skiing's negative effects, it also brings to lighthow certain groups came to be viewed as the "natural"inhabitants and legitimate managers of mountain environments.
In Making Meaning out of Mountains, Mark Stoddart draws oninterviews, field observations, and media analysis to reveal themultiple, often conflicting meanings attached to skiing in BritishColumbia. Corporate leaders promote the industry as sustainabledevelopment, while environmentalists and some First Nations argue thatskiing sacrifices wildlife habitats and traditional lands to tourismand corporate gain. Skiers themselves appreciate the opportunity tocommune with nature but are concerned about skiing'senvironmental impact.
This multilayered analysis not only challenges us to reflect moreseriously on skiing's negative effects, it also brings to lighthow certain groups came to be viewed as the "natural"inhabitants and legitimate managers of mountain environments.
Reviews / Votes
Stoddart provides an insightful examination of skiing from the perspective of ecopolitics...a unique study. Recommended. (CHOICE, Vol. 50 No. 03)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Vancouver
Canada
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Illustrations
10 b&w photos, 4 tables
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
460 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7748-2196-4 (9780774821964)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Mark C.J. Stoddart is an assistant professor ofsociology at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Content
1 Introduction: The Attractive Economy of Skiing
2 Skiing Naturecultures and the Mountainous Sublime
3 Cyborg Skiers and Snowy Collectives
4 Environmental Subjectivity and the Ecopolitics of Skiing
5 Skiing and Social Power
6 Conclusion: Toward a Political Ecology of Skiing
7 Epilogue: The 2010 Olympics and the Ecopolitics of Snow
Notes
Bibliography
Index
2 Skiing Naturecultures and the Mountainous Sublime
3 Cyborg Skiers and Snowy Collectives
4 Environmental Subjectivity and the Ecopolitics of Skiing
5 Skiing and Social Power
6 Conclusion: Toward a Political Ecology of Skiing
7 Epilogue: The 2010 Olympics and the Ecopolitics of Snow
Notes
Bibliography
Index