What is the Rural Idyll and why do Geographers find it important?

The idea of a ‘rural idyll’ is an area of great discussion amongst geographers. Finding the rural idyll is part of an area of human geography that has become a major talking point over the last century. This area is known as rural geographies and the idea of finding a rural idyll is a small but fundamental part of this geographical study. Many geographers have sought to define the term ‘rural idyll’ because it has become fashionable for people to find, or in some cases create, the perfect rural environment, especially in the 21^st century where reverse urbanization (people migrating back into the countryside) is occurring and technological advancements make it possible to do so. Some geographers believe that the idea is universal; whereas some feel it is adapted depending on the region. This paper aims to look at the many factors which help in defining the ‘rural idyll’ by looking at various geographical views and attitudes relating to the topic. Geographers have started to define the rural idyll by looking at people perceptions of the idyll

Some geographers argue that we all have our own views on what the rural lifestyle is, that it is spurred on by many things, and that it can be shocking when it isn’t how one expects it to be. Cloke argues that we all have ‘pre-influenced perception’ of what we feel the rural lifestyle should be like. He called upon this as our ‘geographical imaginations’ and that they are shaped by the ‘small but powerful minority which grab the imagination of what country life stands for’ (Cloke 1999). Cloke was explaining that elements of the media and history can create a stereotype of what the rural should be things like rural magazines, television programmes, books, paintings such as John Constables Hay Wain (1891) show a peaceful, natural lifestyle which people seek to find nowadays because it is an escape from the busy, stressful urban lifestyle.  Although Europeans have their expectations of their rural idyll, it cannot be applied compatibly to other regions around the world like, for example the USA. Jonathan Raban in his book Hunting Mister Heartbreak: A Discovery of America (1991) outlines the disbelief that European immigrants felt when they experienced the rural America for the first time. Raban explains that the immigrants where in such an alien environment and that the scale and massiveness of the rural was startling. It appeared that the preconceptions of what the rural is can be shocking to those who find that it isn’t what they thought, but exactly do people want from their rural idyll 

and how have these expectations been met today?

Jeremy Burchardt in “Paradise Lost: Rural Idyll and Social Change since 1800” (2002) explains how rural life has changed almost completely during the 20^th century. He says how the industrialisation and technological change in the rural economy has led to a decline in industry and, inevitably, the need for a population to sustain it. He adds that the occupational structure and age demographic has switched as a result to an older aged and small business make-up. People expect from their perceived rural idyll a slower paced, historic, traditional and more nature interactive lifestyle that will make them healthier and less stressed and they will try to find their perfect experience to live in that suits their needs.

Matt Baker, a columnist for Countryfile Magazine posted an article on its accompanying website detailing reasons why people move to the country and seek their rural idyll. He says that people just wish to move to the country to appreciate the natural environment‘ One of the main draws of rural life is the ability to soak up the landscape on your doorstep” he then continues in saying that some people escape to the rural to pursue business opportunities  “Matthew Rawlings had left a stressful life in Oxford as a design engineer and, in his words, “selfishly moved the whole family to the north to follow a life of baking” But another element of the rural idyll which is important and interesting to geographers is the lengths in which people go to in order to not just find, but create their rural idyll.

Some people have taken very drastic measures to create their own rural paradise. In order to maintain the image and expectation of the rural idyll some have taken measures actively modify many factors of the landscape to create a ‘Model Village’. Jeremy Burchardt in his book “Paradise Lost: Rural Idyll and Social Change since 1800” (2002) talks about an estate owner removing cottages that obstructed his view and rebuilding them elsewhere. These measures are very common in the holiday business too. The company Center Parcs is successful for creating the rural idyll that consumers want. With many parks in the UK and Europe, and with most built within forests, guests are immersed in a rural sanctuary. Only bicycles are allowed within the parks which help to reduce pollution and damage to the environment but also influence people to become more interactive with nature. Geographers such as Sibley have attempted to analyse the exact nature behind the rural idyll, which makes it so attractive to some, but a social nightmare for others.

To most the rural way of life is a safe haven away from the stress, noise and culturally diverse (and often alienating) lifestyle that urban living brings and that most English ‘patriots’ find fearful. But for some the rural life isn’t appealing as it can be socially exclusive, discriminative and incompatible with many creeds and backgrounds. Sibley claims in his book “Geographies of Exclusion: Societies and Differences in the West” (1995) that ‘some cultures create a level of fragmentation to such a degree that certain ideals produce clear cut definitions of “Insider” and “Outsider”. He goes on to say ‘this mode of thinking about cultures produces geographies of exclusion’.  Dr. Keith Halfacree provided his view on the ‘social exclusivity’ of the rural idyll, he examined the social make-up of the rural and how it segregates itself from society “The rural idyll is a selective representation. It is exclusive in its class, race and status connotations, is profoundly conservative and demands conformity” (1996).  One geographer outlines the importance of women in upholding the rural idyll.

Nira Yuval-Davis points out in her book “Gender and Nation” (1997) that women uphold the standards or rural social sects. She quotes “Women are often considered the guardians of borders and culture…Women have in important role on maintaining values and ideals as they bear children and are the ones who are most likely to marry outside the group”. Some geographers now believe that the ‘perfectness’ of the rural idyll is being threatened. The rural idyll has always appeared to be achievable for those willing to seek it, but lately in modern times, with the onset of globalisation appearing to invade the isolated culture of rural life, some believe that the idyllic life people strive for is being irreversibly changed. In their book ‘A Place in the World’ (1995) Massey and Jess believe that localised cultural ideas, in this case the rural idyll, are being  threatened by the invasive nature of globalisation. They talk about globalization posing serious challenges to the meaning of place with ‘previous coherences being disrupted’ and ‘old notions of the local being interrupted by new connections from the world beyond’. They emphasise the fact that changes in cultural and technological fashions are too influential on the fragile and easily affected ‘perfectness’ of the rural idyll. As well as searching for the pros of the rural idyll, geographers are interested in the social problems faced by outsiders willing to fit in rural life, in a website article, findings show how the rural idyll can have unexpected experiences.

On the Telegraph Newspaper website, an article named “Dreams of Rural Idyll can end in nightmares” detailing the anguish felt by shunned members of a rural community. The article states that rural communities can be a “haven for gossip, backbiting and social exclusion for those who did not fit the mould of the perfect village resident”.  Even though rural life can seem perfect, many flaws where uncovered in the article. “It was found that residents who were gay, divorced, childless and even single were victimised and even outcast by other villagers”. Further into the article it documents the finding of a University of Liverpool psychiatrist who spent three months in an ‘idyllic’ village. She discovered a bartender of the local pub was shunned when he announced that he was gay. Additionally “Another long-term resident said former friends in the village had given him the "cold shoulder" after he had an affair, his marriage broke up and his wife and children moved away. A third example revealed a woman who “felt she was excluded from some social activities because she was single. Married women were "suspicious" of her because they thought she would be after their husbands, making her feel "lonely and isolated"

Geographers have been interested in the idea of the rural idyll as its importance has emerged greatly over the last century for many reasons. We all seem to have our own premonitions of what we expect from rurality and that this has been strongly influenced by the media, holiday companies and the change in rural use over the last century. Regardless of the change, people have still chosen to pursue their own ventures and discover their own rural idyll. For some however, the likelihood of them reaching their rural idyll dreams is restricted by social barriers and unfair discrimination. With so many factors that could support the existence of the rural idyll, there are many factors that contribute against the notion. Geographers have contended with the idea of whether the rural idyll even exists at all, let alone whether or not its reachable or not.

References

Cloke P. et al, "Introducing Human Geographies" 1999 pp. 256

Burchardt, Jeremy. "Paradise Lost: Rural Idyll and Social Change since 1800". London, GBR: I.B. Tauris, 2002. pp. 58-59

Massey, D. Jess, P. “A place in the world?” Oxford University Press , London 1995

Sibley, D. “Geographies of Exclusion: Societies and Difference in the West” Routledge, London 1995

Burchardt, Jeremy. “Paradise Lost: Rural Idyll and Social Change since 1800”. London, GBR: I.B. Tauris, 2002. pp. 187-189

Cloke, P. Little, J. “Contested countryside cultures: otherness, marginalisation, and rurality” Routledge, London 1997

Halfacree, K (1996)

Yuval-Davis, N “Gender and Nation” Sage Publications 1997

“Dreams of Rural Idyll can end in nightmares” The Telegraph, 13^th June 2007

Baker, Matt http://www.bbccountryfilemagazine.com/feature/country-people/perfect-rural-idyll. May 2009