Morel Tales: The Culture of MushroomingDrawing on the observations of three years spent in the company of dedicated amateur mushroomers and professional mycologists, Gary Alan Fine explores the ways in which Americans attempt to give meaning to the natural world, while providing an eye-opening look inside the cultures they construct around its study and appreciation. A landmark work of environmental sociology, Morel Tales is an engaging and instructive examination of a thriving community, one with its own language, ceremonies, jokes, narratives, rivalries, and social codes. Fine also provides a detailed discussion of the American phenomenon he calls "naturework" -- that is, culturally constructing one's own place in the natural environment through communities with shared systems of assigned meaning. "Naturework," Fine observes, is something we all do on some level -- not only birders, butterfly collectors, rock hounds, hunters, hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts, but all of us who construct community through narrative and nature through culture. |
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activity aesthetic Amanita birdwatching boletes Brian chanterelles Chicago claim club members cohesion collecting collectors common names Conservation consume cultural danger Dave David Arora described edible mushrooms emotional environmental experience feel fieldguides foray fungi fungus Gary Alan Gary Alan Fine genus going human humor hunting identify mushrooms individuals Interaction interest Jerry joked knowledge leisure groups leisure organizations leisure world linked look Maggie Rogers meaning ment metaphorical Minnesota Mycological Society Molly moral morels mush mushroom hunters mycelium Mycena mycologists narratives natural environment natural objects naturalists naturework Newsletter noted novices one's organizational oyster mushrooms participants percent perspective pick poisonous professional mycologists quotation reality relationship roomers rooms Russulas scientific secrecy shared social world Sociology species specimens Spore Print spots Spring stinkhorn stories suggests talk taste things tion told treasure trust University Press voluntary wild mushrooms wilderness woods York York Mycological Society
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Page 11 - Visible nature is all plasticity and indifference, — a moral multiverse, as one might call it, and not a moral universe. To such a harlot we owe no allegiance ; with her as a whole we can establish no moral communion...