MON En mittpunkt i periferin

Abstract

This thesis takes its starting point in the humanistic cultural-geographical concept of place, with the aim of achieving a greater understanding of what constitutes the place Mon today. Mon is located in the northwestern part of Dalsland. Until 1879, the area was described as outlying land, but with the extension of the railway between Vänern and the Norwegian border, Mon's station community emerged. In the mid-20th century, all activities in Mon were phased out, and since then, the place has been inhabited by only about 10 year-round residents. This process of change raised the question: Once Mon was a center, but what is Mon today? The study of Mon is based on material collected through site studies, local historical literature, and interviews with people who live or have lived in Mon. Through these sources, Mon emerges as a place consisting of various shifting and merged layers over time. The depictions of Mon today and Mon as it once was differ but also share many similarities. The Mon of the past appears in older descriptions as a station community that was phased out. Today, Mon has different meanings and new layers; the place is perceived as a family center, a new beginning, and even as a resemblance to paradise. However, the historical place, both physically and through narratives, still plays a significant and important role. A recurring theme in the descriptions has been how the place once was a center and still remains so. Mon has always been a kind of midpoint; despite various changes and processes, the place emerges then and now as central for the people who have lived or live there. Human activity has given the place meaning, even though what is considered meaningful has changed over time. A place is a complex entity consisting of many layers and connections, which is also evident in the study of Mon.