Assignment 2: Your Landscape Symbols

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Time frame

Weeks 1 – 4: 31.03. - 21.04.2016

We encounter symbols - or symbolic languages – everywhere in our landscapes and especially in the public realm. This can be sculptures referring to historical or political events, public art, religious symbols and various other visual elements or the architectural/urban form itself. Very often we are even not so much aware of them or we simply take their presence for granted.
However, their existence is based on cultural and political conventions of a community. They came into being in moments – often in the past – where such conventions were supported by the respective power structures. Power structures are changing while their symbols are either kept or removed or reinterpreted.
On the other hand, symbols can also appear outside the conventional power structures, spontaneously, representing alternative approaches to mainstream ideas.
With this exercise we invite you to have a differentiated view at your everyday landscape. Which symbols are present there? How and why did they appear in your landscape? Did their meaning change along with socio-political changes in your country? What do they mean to you today? Are they understandable for someone who comes from a completely different culture than you? What do you think?

Weeks 1 and 2: Identify landscape symbols in your everyday environment and localize them on the wiki
Week 3: Complete your template on the wiki (images, analytical drawings, reflection), reflect in your group
Week 4: Present your findings in the group plenary on 21st of April 2016

Adequate visual representation of your landscape symbol(s) on the wiki
Use of original materials and images (taken by yourself in your own landscape context), no copy-paste from online resources (!)
Differentiated reflection (social, historical, political, religious…)
Quality of oral presentation (i.e. keeping time limits, clarity, expression, quality of presentation slides)