by Les Roberts
First published 2016
Les Roberts examines how the spatial turn has transformed arts and humanities research. He traces the concept of deep mapping from William Least Heat-Moon's original writings to its broader applications across multiple disciplines. Roberts shows how this approach captures layered connections between place, narrative, history, and memory. The book covers qualitative GIS methods, literary and cinematic geography, site-specific performance art, cultural memory studies, and psychogeographical approaches. Roberts argues that deep mapping represents a multifaceted set of practices that give fuller expression to spatial humanities research. He demonstrates how scholars use these methods to tap into complex, layered understandings of place rather than simple geographical descriptions. The work reveals how temporal questions underpin spatial research, showing that time and space intersect in meaningful ways across humanities disciplines. Roberts offers readers a comprehensive framework for understanding how deep mapping techniques can illuminate the rich connections between physical spaces and human experience.
Genres: literary-criticism, geography, art-history, humanities, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: interdisciplinary, layered-connections
250 pages · Hardcover · Mdpi AG