The Sea: A Cultural History

In this scholarly tome, Mack (The Art of Small Things), an anthropologist and professor of World Art Studies, begins by examining the physical characteristics of the seas, from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and the Pacific. He hypothesizes that the human relationship to the waters and shores is impacted by wind and current conditions and goes on to discuss the sea as it appears in both literature and art, including The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Robinson Crusoe, and Snow-Storm. On a more technical level, Mack reviews navigation, its challenges and methods, and various aspects of living on or near the water. "[A]rguably way-finding is about a fluid process, not the fixity of a picture of objective geography. It is about the sensory experience of movement, the movement of the maritime environment and the movement of a vessel within that environment." He addresses the ways in which humans interact with the sea and how our interactions with this entity have consistently shaped the human race. Mack broaches this gigantic topic with enthusiasm but hardly lives up to the expectations inherent in the title. With many reproductions of photographs and diagrams, as well as detailed references, it's likely to entertain those with an intense or academic interest in water and its impact on humans. 20 halftones. (May)