For this post I will be talking about “The Blue Humanities” (Humanities: The Journal of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Web. 2013).

The article discusses the changing perception of the ocean among those in the Western world, more specifically in America and middle-class Americans. To some extent, the ocean probably provides more harmony with nature than land does. As the article puts it, “A passion for yachting developed on both sides of the Atlantic in the later nineteenth century, and, by the early twentieth century, swimming had become very popular”. While it depends on the person, you technically see a lot of land scenery all the time, living your life. So the ocean is new. But there is a difference in how people enjoy the land’s nature in comparison to the ocean’s nature. I’ve personally heard and seen online posts that often say you have to separate from civilization (aka human progress) to reconnect with nature. You’ll have to go somewhere deep, without any structures, roads, cars, etc. But with the ocean, there’s an immediate connection, and you don’t have to go somewhere devoid of civilization to fully enjoy. This brings to mind the perception that man is separate from nature.

To quote Paterson-Hamilton from the article, “Often it seems that the more people become urbanized, the more they want about them talismans of nature on their walls, their shelves, their keyrings”. There is a desire to connect with nature, and the ocean is a good place that allows one to see urbanized areas (coastal towns/cities, for example) alongside the refreshing breeze and hear the gentle waves of the ocean. Thus, there is no separation but rather unity.