Heimatkunde

Book excerpt: An integrative Heimatkunde – defined as the holistic study of localities and regions – has been a core interest in Ullrich (aka Ulli) Kockel’s research since he first graduated with a double primary in 1984. Frequently described as an interdisciplinary – and sometimes undisciplined – academic, his research draws liberally on art, geography, human ecology, philosophical anthropology, political economy, and social anthropology, with its primary focus located in the field of Empirical Cultural Science / European ethnology. The contributions to this collection celebrate Ulli’s explorations of place and belonging at different junctures on his quest for Heimatkunde. Laid out in four thematic sections – Borders, Regions and Frontiers; Human Ecology; Creative Ethnology; and, Memories – they feature creative work along with research essays. Given Ulli’s love of cooking and food, we describe our offering as a ‘feast-script’.