7. Sport, Literature, Risk Culture Flashcards
How were images captured of Mountains?
Surveyors with equipment climbing. Aerial cameras would later render this useless
Why did George Mallory want to explore the mountains?
“because it’s there”
What is alpinism?
Sport that involves reaching, or attempting to reach, high points in mountainous locations, primarily for the enjoyment of the ascent. One of the first mountain sports
Mountains offered an __________
Arena (terra incognita)
Who is Albert Smith?
(1816-1860) in the late 1950s. Performer, entrepreneur, the ascent of Mount Blanc (telling the story of his ascent) in the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London, c. 1911
What was the “Ascent of Mont Blanc, Holland, and up the Rhine?
An extravaganza of Alpine. Sold out for 6 years in a row. Increased travel to the Alps
How many members were there in the Austria Alpine Club?
18 000 members
Albert Smith and his relationship to the Alpine club?
He was one of the founding members of the Alpine club
What was the growth of mountaineering in britain (1850-1914) related to?
Development of midstream capitalism.
The Alpine Journal: A Record of Mountain Adventure and Scientific Observation (1863-1864)
The Social Background of Victorian Mountaineers
Gustave Doré, “Ludgate Hill—A Block in the
Street” from London: A Pilgrimage (1872). The
image expresses why many contemporaries
found cities and modern life – with its frenetic
energy, violence, disorder, and filthiness –
distressing and frightening
2/3 firm law: expanded middle class
The Pattern of Institutionalization
The Alpine Journal: A Record of Mountain Adventure and
Scientific Observation, Vol. 1, 1863-1864
Very literary based sport
What is Scientism?
climbing for geographical knowledge – “to see beyond the last blue mountain ” – which was embraced and
encouraged by the learned scientific societies of London.
What is Romanticism?
Ascending to Sublime heights so to gain access to fundamental truths touching the human condition. To be close to affinity – to Godliness.
ex. poets, artists, early climbing culture
What is Athleticism?
A discourse of rewards for hard and resolute effort, manliness, physical and moral fitness, competition and mastery over nature
- purely sport, physical improvement when climbing
Who was John Ruskin?
(1819-1900) was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist.
