Globalism and Sense of Place: On Elizabeth Bishop’s Geography Poems

[[abstract]]In the age of globalism in which its easy global culture ignores diversity and differences, to advocate a new awareness of place as a way to challenge such ignorance is an urgent issue. This paper has two goals: first, it tries to discuss in the context of globalism the significance and importance of a place-based consciousness; then it will explore Elizabeth Bishop?s geography poems to see how such a consciousness is embodied in literary work. In the discussion of a place-based consciousness, this paper will go to the analyses and interpretation of ?place? in terms of place/space, local/global relationship made by Lawrence Buell, Arif Dirlik, Yi-Fu Tuan, and Eugene Victor Walter to help define the new awareness of place in the context of globalism. And, in treating Bishop?s poetry, the paper will focus on the way her geography poems transfer either abstract or geographical space into location with place-based multiplicity, multi-opposites,disconnection, and diversity in nature, gender, ecology, and culture to show how these poems dwell on place-based imagination with felt value and meaning for their strength and significance