Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Experiment Videos

The Alps and the imagination.

Fergus Fleming1

  • 1Leygore Manor, Cheltenham, Glos, United Kingdom. efergus@ferg5.demon.co.uk

Ambio
|December 4, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The European Alps transformed from a place of fear to a beloved playground. This shift in perception, driven by science and arts, redefined mountain appreciation globally.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Real-World Associations of KidneyIntelX Risk Stratification With Guideline-Directed Therapy, Kidney Outcomes, and Metabolic Trajectories in Early Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Diabetes, obesity & metabolism·2026
Same author

Baseline Risk and Longitudinal Changes in kidneyintelX.dkd and Its Association With Kidney Outcomes in the CANVAS and CREDENCE Trials.

Diabetes care·2025
Same author

Joslin Kidney Panel of Circulating Proteins: A Tool for ESKD Risk Discrimination and Individualized Diabetic Kidney Disease Treatment.

Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN·2025
Same author

A Real-World Precision Medicine Program Including the KidneyIntelX Test Effectively Changes Management Decisions and Outcomes for Patients With Early-Stage Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Journal of primary care & community health·2024
Same author

Derivation and independent validation of kidneyintelX.dkd: A prognostic test for the assessment of diabetic kidney disease progression.

Diabetes, obesity & metabolism·2023
Same author

Real World Evidence and Clinical Utility of KidneyIntelX on Patients With Early-Stage Diabetic Kidney Disease: Interim Results on Decision Impact and Outcomes.

Journal of primary care & community health·2022
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Area of Science:

  • Cultural Geography
  • History of Science
  • Aesthetics

Background:

  • Historically, the Alps were perceived as a dangerous wilderness, evoking fear and mystery.
  • Until the late 18th century, the European Alps remained largely uncharted and inaccessible.
  • This perception contrasted sharply with their later status as a prime recreational area.

Observation:

  • Sir Leslie Stephen's late 19th-century description of the Alps as "Europe's Playground" marked a significant cultural shift.
  • A dramatic transformation in perception occurred between 1800 and 1914.
  • This period saw the Alps mapped, developed, and exploited for recreational purposes.

Findings:

  • The metamorphosis of the Alps' image was driven by evolving perspectives in science, music, literature, and aesthetics.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Popular perception shifted from viewing mountains as realms of terror and superstition to places of beauty and contemplation.
  • This re-imagination began in the 16th century and accelerated significantly in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

    • Implications:

    • The changing perception of the Alps influenced the appreciation of all mountain ranges worldwide.
    • This cultural shift highlights the profound impact of arts and sciences on environmental perception.
    • The Alps' transformation underscores the dynamic relationship between human imagination and the natural landscape.