Race Reed February 19, 2026 Dr. Redick's Conference Paper (Assigned)

 I want to revisit the Geo Aesthetics Conference paper from a different angle because I keep thinking about it. Something I didn't focus on enough the first time was the idea of creative symbol making and how it connects to our relationship with the environment. Dr. Redick talks about Susan Langer's idea that symbol making is a fundamental human need, as basic as eating or breathing. When we encounter something in nature that moves us, we instinctively try to express it somehow, through language, art, or just telling someone about it.

This makes me think about why I always want to take pictures at the beach or describe what the ocean looks like to people who weren't there. It's not just sharing a pretty image it's participating in that gift exchange Dr. Redick describes, taking in what the natural world offers and giving something back. I think that's a really beautiful way to think about why art and environmental studies actually belong together.


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