Final answer:
Minority/alternative cultures have their presence minimized in the landscape through original architectures that do not reflect their culture; their impact is asserted through modifying landscape elements like businesses and public art to reflect their heritage. The cultural landscape is shaped by customs, heritage, and religion, demonstrating a dynamic interaction between people and their environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The presence of minority/alternative cultures has been minimized in the landscape in various ways. The traditional architectures of ethnic neighborhoods, often constructed by Anglo-Europeans, seldom reflect the cultural values and histories of minority groups who later inhabited these areas. Therefore, geographers turn to other elements like distinct businesses, public space use, public art, graffiti, yard decoration, and statuary to gain insights into these communities. Alternative cultures assert their impact on the landscape by altering these elements to reflect their cultural values and norms.
Customs and heritage influence the cultural landscape, which includes urban elements like building styles and rural ones like fields and barns. Religious practices also shape landscapes and this, in turn, affects adherents’ beliefs and practices. In ethnic enclaves, buildings and businesses offer intriguing insights into the cultural values and norms of the groups that created them. These alterations express the cultural identity and serve as a response to the broader cultural landscape. The continual changes in landscapes condition what we think and how we act. This reciprocal relationship underscores the dynamic nature of human interaction with the cultural landscape.