Bay Lexicon

We have lost the ability to understand and see the natural world around us due to the growth of human populations in cities. Bay Lexicon is a field guide to San Francisco's shoreline that establishes a working language for hybrid landscapes. It documents, deciphers, and classifies places and phenomena, and applies analytical and representational tools to findings from geography, environmental and cultural history, public policy, urban ecology, and landscape studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2021
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

The rapid growth of human populations living in cities has resulted in a significant loss of our ability to comprehend and appreciate the natural world that surrounds us. Our language lacks the necessary vocabulary to describe our surroundings, thereby hindering our ability as citizens to actively participate in political discussions regarding the urban landscape, particularly in areas where land and water converge.

Bay Lexicon, a field guide to San Francisco's shoreline, serves as a compelling case study in developing a functional language for hybrid landscapes. Focusing on a walk along the iconic San Francisco Bay, it meticulously documents, deciphers, and categorizes the places and phenomena encountered, as well as the underlying forces, histories, and interactions that shape what is visible. Through a unique blend of text and drawing, Jane Wolff employs analytical and representational tools rooted in design and documentary work to extract insights from various fields such as geography, environmental and cultural history, public policy, urban ecology, and landscape studies.

As cities grapple with the challenges posed by climate change, there is an urgent need to reimagine them in ways that truly capture their intricate complexity. The methods employed by Bay Lexicon for cultivating landscape literacy are designed to be adaptable and applicable beyond the boundaries of San Francisco Bay. By undertaking activist scholarship that transcends disciplinary boundaries and expertise levels, this book explores the workings of the landscape at the water's edge, documents its historical evolution, brings forth the values held by its citizens, and frames discussions about potential changes.

Through its comprehensive approach, Bay Lexicon contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay between human societies and their natural environments. It empowers individuals to engage more meaningfully with the urban landscape, fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards the places we inhabit. By expanding our vocabulary and fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world, we can work towards creating more sustainable and resilient cities that thrive in harmony with their surroundings.

Weight: 370g
Dimension: 181 x 227 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228006855