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Arkography

A Grand Tour through the Taken-for-Granted

Gunnar Olsson author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:University of Nebraska Press

Published:1st May '20

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Arkography cover

This book explores the journey of an arkographer, revealing the connections between ancient epics and modern power structures through a unique lens.

In Arkography, Gunnar Olsson presents a compelling narrative centered around an arkographer who embarks on a remarkable journey. With the blessings of Pallas Athene, the protagonist traverses the Red River Valley, explores the Kantian Island of Truth, and takes a captivating house tour through the Crystal Palace. This imaginative edifice is inspired by Gunnael Jensson’s sculpture, Mappa Mundi Universalis. The journey unfolds as a travelogue that connects ancient creation epics with contemporary power dynamics, revealing a deep exploration of obedience and predictability in human behavior.

The arkographer's quest raises profound questions about the nature of authority and the structures that govern our lives. Olsson delves into the mechanisms employed by self-proclaimed authorities, from the God of the Old Testament to modern dictators, often supported by a cadre of officials disguised as representatives of the people. Throughout Arkography, the author illustrates how every creation epic reflects the transformation of chaos into cosmic order, suggesting an intricate interplay between identity and difference.

As the narrative progresses, readers are invited to consider the implications of these power struggles and the unrecognized discipline of arkography. This work serves not only as a mapping of the no-man’s-land between the senses and culture but also as a reflection on the foundational rules that shape human existence. Ultimately, Arkography is a thought-provoking exploration of the layers of meaning that define our understanding of the world.

“This book is a significant contribution to what might be configured as the meeting points between academic geography, Western philosophy, critical social science, and arts-humanistic experimentation. It is the major reference point, the go-to source, for anyone wishing to familiarize themselves with the extraordinarily rich arc of Olsson’s thinking over the past four-plus decades.”—Christopher Philo, professor of geography at the University of Glasgow
“Olsson continues to be an exciting thinker because he situates key problems within the field of geography in the broader contexts of Western humanism. . . . A fun, weird, inspiring, and engaging theoretical work. . . . It is a fascinating contribution that will likely be viewed as the capstone work of a major thinker.”—Keith Woodward, assistant professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

ISBN: 9781496219473

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

228 pages