Climbers' narratives of mountain spaces above 8000 metres

A social constructivist perspective

Dados Bibliográficos

ID8360587
AutoresGeoff A Wilson (0000-0002-5703-9710, University of Plymouth, autor correspondente)
Ano2012
Volume44
Fascículo1
Páginas29-36
Data de publicação2012-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoArea (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0004-0894 • E-ISSN: 1475-4762
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1475-4762.2011.01021.x
OpenAlexW2160534174
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas16

This article analyses narratives used by mountaineers experiencing mountain spaces above 8000 metres. Adopting a social constructivist perspective, the article focuses on published narratives by established mountaineers (focusing on Everest and K2), with the aim of exploring perceived notions of mountain spaces above 8000 metres as psychological and geographical physical and mental thresholds. By discussing specific narratives associated with technological aids (e.g. oxygen masks), summit fever, risk‐taking, the role of guides as important intermediaries for the reinforcement of socially constructed extreme mountain spaces, or the politicisation of mountain spaces through risk perceptions clouded by nationalism, the article argues that narrative constructivism helps us question nature‐society dualisms linked to high mountain spaces, especially by emphasising the artificiality of dehumanised spaces such as the ‘death zone’ above 8000 metres

Aesthetics · Archaeology · Art · Artificiality · Constructivism (international relations) · Epistemology · Geography · International relations · Literature · Mountaineering · Narrative · Nationalism · Perspective (graphical) · Physical geography · Political science · Politics · Social constructivism · Social science · Sociology · Summit · Visual arts · Adventure Sports and Sensation Seeking · Cryospheric studies and observations · High Altitude and Hypoxia · History · Philosophy