Habitat, Habitus and Landscape

In Solace of Fierce of Landscapes, Belden Lane describes habitat as an actual place of dwelling. This is differentiated from habitus, the way in which one dwells there. Habitus can also be understood as a ritualized (through interactions, religious ritual) way of perceiving reality, thus sacramental in nature. Without habitus, one becomes alienated from, or even hostile to the environment. Consequently, landscape is reduced to scenery, an inconsequential background, or “out there” eye candy. Habitus thus necessarily provides a way for an aesthetic to be shaped by the whole culture. For example, if one raises sheep, they wear wool.