German playwright Berthold Brecht once observed that "the Finns are silent in two languages." To those familiar with Finnish society and conversation, Brecht's remark aptly summarizes the difficulty of exchanging pleasantries, let alone ideas, with Finns. Those who have come up against these impenetrable boundaries have asked themselves if the problem is climatic, sociocultural, Gemeinschaft without Gesellschaft, or some other explanation for the manifest unwillingness to confront and engage.
The intent of these essays is to explore the notion of a "culture of silence" through the basis...

Metaphysical conceptions have always influenced how human societies create the built environment. Mexico--with its rich culture, full of symbol and myth, its beautiful cities, and its evocative ruins--is an excellent place to study the interplay of influences on space and place. In this volume, the authors consider the ideas and views that give the constructed spaces and buildings of Mexico--especially, of Queretaro--their particular ambience. They explore the ways the built world helps people find meaning and establish order for their earthly existence by mirroring their metaphysical...