Rurality Re-imagined: Villagers, Farmers, Wanderers and Wild Things

Urality Re-imagined explores the diverse aspects of rural life,from villages to farmers,wanderers to wild things,and critically examines the cultural terrain of the wilderness.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 26 July 2018
Publisher: Oro Editions

Urality Re-imagined is a captivating exploration of diverse facets of human existence, divided into four loosely-themed sections: Villagers, Farmers, Wanderers, and Wild Things. Within these sections, there are five or six diverse chapters, each offering a unique perspective on the human experience.

In the Villagers section, rural communities are portrayed as vibrant assemblages and spaces of vernacularity, serving as the backdrop for TV dramas, capturing the essence of new wave photography, and becoming hubs for community arts projects. These communities are seen as dark settings, yet they hold immense cultural significance, showcasing the richness and diversity of local traditions.

The Farmers section takes a critical approach to re-invigorating the historical fascination with peasantry and farming in the arts. Through a combination of essays, painting, and photography, artists place the agency of the artist under intense scrutiny, challenging the traditional representations of agricultural space and people. This section explores the complexities of rural life, highlighting the struggles, triumphs, and the enduring spirit of farmers in their pursuit of livelihood.

Stereotypically, the word "Wanderers" conjures images of gypsy caravans or country ramblers, but in this section, the term is expanded to encompass a wide range of migrations. It includes not only the traditional movements of reindeer herds but also the migrations of motorway drivers, as well as the cultural migrations of forms such as hip-hop, which traverses urban clubs in New York and finds its way into the fields of rural Devon. The Wanderers section explores the fluidity of human existence, highlighting the interconnectedness of people and cultures across different landscapes.

In the Wild Things section, the wilderness emerges as a highly contested cultural terrain, far from any state of purity. The essays and images within this section depict the wilderness as a dynamic and complex environment, where human behaviors, flora, and fauna intertwine in cultivated and uncultivated landscapes, parks, and natural reserves. The wilderness is portrayed as a site of both beauty and danger, where the boundaries between human and natural worlds blur, and the complexities of human-nature interactions are revealed.

Urality Re-imagined offers a rich and multifaceted exploration of human existence, challenging our perceptions and illuminating the diverse tapestry of our world. Through its diverse sections, the book invites readers to contemplate the complexities of rural life, the dynamics of cultural migrations, and the intricate relationships between humans and the natural environment. It serves as a testament to the power of art to capture the essence of human experiences and to inspire a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.

Weight: 1014g
Dimension: 208 x 256 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781940743349