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Dominant Representations (dominant + representation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Humanities and Social Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Symbols, not data: rare trees and vegetation history in Mali

THE GEOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL, Issue 4 2003
Chris S Duvall
Historical analysis of botanical literature concerning the trees Gilletiodendron glandulosum and Guibourtia copallifera in Mali's Manding Plateau reveals that the dominant representation of these plants has helped to perpetuate colonial-era theories of vegetation history, African land management, and natural resource politics in West Africa. The French botanist Aubréville described these plants as proof of the theory of vegetation history that blamed poor land management by rural Africans for a steady and continuing destruction of vegetation from its presumed original forest climax. Although Aubréville's representation of these trees was justified within the 1930s scientific context he worked, subsequent researchers uncritically maintained his conclusions even though the changed scientific context in which they worked did not justify such representation. Subsequent ecological research also failed to substantiate Aubréville's representation of these trees, yet several influential modern botanical works have uncritically accepted colonial-era botanical literature founded on his ideas. Thus, modern botanical works have perpetuated a simplistic and inaccurate narrative of resource use under an appearance of objectivity. As a result, policy recommendations based on the modern botanical sources remain almost identical to colonial-era policies. Based on the similarity of colonial-era and modern portrayals of these trees, this paper argues that a regional discursive formation recently described by other authors may be expanded to include southern Mali, which carries negative implications for decentralization reform in Mali. [source]

The Strange Career of the Canadian Beaver: Anthropomorphic Discourses and Imperial History

JOURNAL OF HISTORICAL SOCIOLOGY, Issue 2-3 2004
Margot Francis
I argue that dominant representations of the national rodent have suggested important social territories, like the norms of industry, bodily decorum, sexual respectability and racial progress. At the same time, I also explore how the subterranean language of sexual slang is the logical underside of the narratives found in more "legitimate" representations. [source]

Sites of Social Centrality and Segregation: Lefebvre in Belfast, a "Divided City"

ANTIPODE, Issue 2 2009
John Nagle
Abstract:, This paper applies Henri Lefebvre's ideas on participatory democracy and spatial politics to the context of "divided cities", a milieu often overlooked by scholars of Lefebvre. It considers, via Lefebvre, how the heterogeneous and contradictory statist methods to deal with ethno-national violence in Belfast have in effect increased segregated space. State-led approaches to public space as part of conflict transformation strategies appear contradictory, including attempts to "normalize" the city through inward capital investment and cultural regeneration, encouraging cosmopolitan notions of inclusive "civic identity", and reinforcing segregation to contain violence. These processes have done little to challenge sectarianism. However, as Lefebvre suggests that dominant representations of space cannot be imposed without resistance, this paper considers the alternative strategies of a disparate range of groups in Belfast. These groups have formed cross-cleavage networks to develop ritualized street performances which challenge the programming of public space for segregation. [source]

Femmes musulmanes au Canada: altérité, paroles et politique de l'action,

CANADIAN REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGY/REVUE CANADIENNE DE SOCIOLOGIE, Issue 4 2004
RATIBA HADJ-MOUSSA
This paper examines the question of how first-generation Muslim women in Canada respond to and interpret dominant representations of themselves. The goal is to consider the positionalities of these women, pointing out the importance of their interpretive capabilities. It discusses the displacement that they experience as being due in part to stereotypes which situate them as "Other," the dynamics of their own communities and their own beliefs. Cet article examine comment les femmes musulmanes de première génération au Canada répondent aux représentations qui leur sont données d'elles-mêmes et comment elles les interprètent. Il s'agit de rendre compte des positions prises par ces femmes et de comprendre comment, dans la parole et l'action, elles opèrent un déplacement non seulement par rapport aux stéréotypes qui les situent comme l'Autre, mais aussi par rapport à leurs groupes d'appartenance ainsi qu'à leurs propres croyances. [source]