Tropism

tro·pism
(from the american heritage dictionary)
n.
"The turning or bending movement of an organism or a part toward or away from an external stimulus, such as light, heat, or gravity."

Tropism
(from wikipedia)
"A tropism is a biological phenomenon, indicating growth or turning movement of a biological organism, usually a plant, in response to an environmental stimulus. In tropisms, this response is dependent on the direction of the stimulus (as opposed to nastic movements which are non-directional responses). Viruses and other pathogens also affect what is called "host tropism" or "cell tropism" in which case tropism refers to the way in which different viruses/pathogens have evolved to preferentially target specific host species, or specific cell types within those species. The word tropism comes from the Greek trope ("to turn" or "to change"). Tropisms are usually named for the stimulus involved (for example, a phototropism is a reaction to light) and may be either positive (towards the stimulus) or negative (away from the stimulus).

"Tropisms are typically associated with plants (although not necessarily restricted to them). Where an organism is capable of directed physical movement (motility), movement or activity in response to a specific stimulus is more likely to be regarded by behaviorists as a taxis (directional response) or a kinesis (non-directional response).

"In English, the word tropism is used in sometimes derisive way to indicate an action done without cognitive thought: However, "tropism" in this sense has a proper, although non-scientific, meaning as an innate tendency, natural inclination, or propensity to act in a certain manner."

contemporary landscape projects
(in observation):
Downsview Park
Fresh Kills
High Line
Orange County Great Park
Erie Street Plaza

other projects
(in observation):
Not A Cornfield
Rebar Group

selected landscape/urbanism firms
(in observation):
Andropogon
CHORA
Claude Cormier
Coen + Partners
Conservation Design Forum
Dirt Studio
Field Operations
GROSSMAX
Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd.
Hargreaves Associates
Inside Outside
Landworks Studio
Martha Shwartz
Michael Van Valkenburgh
MVRDV
NIP paysage
Peter Walker
Stoss Landscape Urbanism
Tom Leader Studio
Turenscape
Veenenbos en Bosch
West 8

other blogs
(in observation):
anArchitecture
archidose
atlas(t)
bldblg
brand avenue
city of sound
curbed
data is nature
design observer
design sponge
eyecandy
feedmecoolshit
free soil
forum for urban design
future feeder
information aesthetics
inhabitat
interactive architecture dot org
land+living
moco loco
next nature
pruned
social fiction
space and culture
strange maps
subtopia
the map room
transmaterial
treehugger
tropolism
varnelis
we make money not art
world changing

Contact me at:
patrick@tropismblog.com

tro·pism (from the american heritage dictionary) n. "The turning or bending movement of an organism or a part toward or away from an external stimulus, such as light, heat, or gravity." Tropism (from wikipedia) "A tropism is a biological phenomenon, indicating growth or turning movement of a biological organism, usually a plant, in response to an environmental stimulus. In tropisms, this response is dependent on the direction of the stimulus (as opposed to nastic movements which are non-directional responses). Viruses and other pathogens also affect what is called "host tropism" or "cell tropism" in which case tropism refers to the way in which different viruses/pathogens have evolved to preferentially target specific host species, or specific cell types within those species. The word tropism comes from the Greek trope ("to turn" or "to change"). Tropisms are usually named for the stimulus involved (for example, a phototropism is a reaction to light) and may be either positive (towards the stimulus) or negative (away from the stimulus). "Tropisms are typically associated with plants (although not necessarily restricted to them). Where an organism is capable of directed physical movement (motility), movement or activity in response to a specific stimulus is more likely to be regarded by behaviorists as a taxis (directional response) or a kinesis (non-directional response). "In English, the word tropism is used in sometimes derisive way to indicate an action done without cognitive thought: However, "tropism" in this sense has a proper, although non-scientific, meaning as an innate tendency, natural inclination, or propensity to act in a certain manner." contemporary landscape projects (in observation): Downsview Park Fresh Kills High Line Orange County Great Park Erie Street Plaza other projects (in observation): Not A Cornfield Rebar Group selected landscape/urbanism firms (in observation): Andropogon CHORA Claude Cormier Coen + Partners Conservation Design Forum Dirt Studio Field Operations GROSSMAX Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd. Hargreaves Associates Inside Outside Landworks Studio Martha Shwartz Michael Van Valkenburgh MVRDV NIP paysage Peter Walker Stoss Landscape Urbanism Tom Leader Studio Turenscape Veenenbos en Bosch West 8 other blogs (in observation): anArchitecture archidose atlas(t) bldblg brand avenue city of sound curbed data is nature design observer design sponge eyecandy feedmecoolshit free soil forum for urban design future feeder information aesthetics inhabitat interactive architecture dot org land+living moco loco next nature pruned social fiction space and culture strange maps subtopia the map room transmaterial treehugger tropolism varnelis we make money not art world changing Contact me at: patrick@tropismblog.com	_TROPISM about landscape: design, dynamics and related issues
	*green energy/food supply image: n/a credits: n/a	added: 01.28.2008 In this somewhat dated article from the Guardian we find that the green revolution is producing more biofuels like ethanol in order to offset foreign oil consumption and global warming, but at what cost? The increase in acreage used to grow fuel crops is subtracting acreage from food production. Although the increase in commodity prices like corn has had a minimal affect in the world's developed nations, the world's poorest are at a severe disadvantage. The situation is only going to get worse as developed nations shift additional farm commodity surpluses to fuel instead of food, exactly where the profit is.
	*new blogs added image: n/a credits: n/a	added: 01.27.2008 Varnelis and Next Nature. Check them out.
	*maps: finding our place in the world image: carved wooden map of greenland shoreline credits: http://www.danstopicals.com/woodmap.htm	added: 01.26.2008 I recently checked out the Field Museum's exposition on maps. One of the more intriguing ones is shown here. The exhibit runs until 01.27.2008.
	*new blogs added image: n/a credits: n/a	added: 01.26.2008 Strange Maps and The Map Room. Check them out.
	*bullshit generator image: n/a credits: n/a	added: 01.26.2008 No, I am not talking about your smart-ass friend. The Landscape Urbanism Bullshit Generator is an ingenius mocksite of the sometimes verb-rich theoretical writing in the field of landscape urbanism. My mind has been consumed with this theory for the past several years as I complete my thesis work and this site always offers a comedic interlude to my work as well as inspiration in not taking theory too seriously. The site is part of Sarah Cowles Gerhan's website ruderal.com. She currently works for Tom Leader Studio and her site showcases some of her own work in the fields of landscape architecture, art and graphic design. For more on landscape urbanism check out the wiki.