landscape criticism

Landscape criticism is the thoughtful analysis and evaluation of landscapes—whether natural or designed—focusing on their aesthetic, cultural, environmental, and social aspects. It considers how a landscape's features, composition, and context evoke certain feelings or ideas, and how it reflects or influences cultural values. Critics analyze elements like scale, balance, and symbolism, as well as the landscape's historical development and ecological impact. This discipline helps deepen our understanding of how landscapes shape and mirror our identity, environment, and history, encouraging appreciation and responsible stewardship.