What is Geography?

Let me explain "geography" a bit more fully. "Geo-" means "land" and "-graph-" means "writing" (or drawing), "-y" is a noun suffix that here means "study of." So, "the study of drawing/writing the land", in other words, "mapping." So anything to do with countries, cities, landscapes, landmarks, mountains, sea, weather, civilization, travel, culture, the environment, the Earth are all parts of legitimate discussions of geography.

ALSO, let's imagine the earth, the world as an "environment", in other words, a contained system with certain features and functions. Can we not also transfer that idea to that microcosm of the planet Earth that is our human body? The human body is composed of 75-80% water (just like the Earth). Our body can be hurt or damaged or killed by "polluting" it--- with chemicals like smoke and radiation and cancer-causing agents and too much overuse---(just like the Earth). There are other features by which we can discuss a "geography of the body."

ALSO, we can extend this idea to virtual "systems". For example, we can discuss the Internet as having a geography, and "traffic", and "landmarks", and even "pollution" (spam). Other virtual geographies include relationships, the brain (mental processing) and economies.

Some current examples of books from Amazon.com: The Geography of Thought; Geography of Religion; Woman, An Intimate Geography; and The Geography of Childhood (see book pictures).





Be creative. Let's discuss "geography" from various wide perspectives. We have a magnificent start with the excellent mention of a relation between El Nino and tofu. Interesting, huh? There are many such interrelations. Blog on!