Farmers’ Perspectives on Cultural Landscapes in Central Switzerland: How Landscape Socialization and Habitus Influence an Aesthetic Appreciation of Landscape

Abstract

In terms of land use, agriculture is still important in shaping the appearance of the cultural landscape. For the tourism industry as well as for the local population, aspects of landscape are becoming ever more significant. The perception of landscape among farmers plays a decisive role in the implementation of the multifunctional task of agriculture, which is anchored in the Swiss Federal Constitution. To investigate this issue, selected farmers in three different communities in Central Switzerland took photos on their farms with single-use cameras, following the method of reflexive photography. Those pictures later served as a stimulus for problem-centered interviews. The interviews were evaluated using qualitative content analysis and were discussed within Bourdieu's theoretical framework of habitus and of symbolic capital. Results show that in all three communities farmers regard cultural landscape as a process resulting from their work. Further aspects of a regional habitus emerge from the different communities.

Keywords:

• Alpine area
• agriculture
• habitus
• landscape socialization
• reflexive photography

Acknowledgment

I thank Markus Schermer and the anonymous reviewers for comments that greatly improved the article.

Notes

Term especially used and applied in German-speaking Switzerland.

Is beautiful when it is well, or rather properly, cultivated.

Altogether, the three hotels in Wolfenschiessen have a capacity of 60 beds, whereas just the three biggest hotels in Engelberg have a capacity of 470 beds. The local ski resort of Bannalp provides 2 km of ski runs, whereas the resort of Engelberg-Titlis provides 82 km.

The community of Wolfenschiessen is not part of one of the official classified parks or park projects (Swiss Parks Network 2015).

For example, on photo elicitation, where photos are provided (and often taken) by the researcher (Harper 2002; Clark-Ibáñez 2004; Dirksmeier 2013).

A significant difference is estimated between male and female farmers (Gao, Barbieri, and Valdivia 2014), which indicates further research demand. This study aims to focus on regional differences, so that the investigation was kept among the officially registered farmers.

As the focus of the interviews is based on the content of the statements (Dresing and Pehl 2012).