I am a particular fan of the works by Cronon, Marx, and Stilgoe which 
have been already mentioned and would add that the idea of stewardship 
of the landscape in order to render it productive is an important part 
of American history and expansion. Not only could wilderness stand for 
irrationality and fear as Stilgoe holds, but he also notes it is 
counter to a producer ethos which values a "middle landscape" of 
improved, constantly worked land. Blanton similarly notes that "a 
mindset among these colonists (was) that it was their rightful place, 
even duty, to make the Virginia environment a productive one, which in 
their view usually meant imposing an English model" (Rockman and Steele 
2003: 191). This idea of a proper aesthetic associated with cultural 
values of improvement can also be juxtaposed with the study of 
dereliction and revitalization of which Jakle or Hofer would be notable 
authors. As an industrial archaeologist I have found these sources to 
be important for studying the modern post-industrial landscape in North 
America. I am in the process of putting together a session for the SHAs 
this year focusing on landscapes of labor and phenomenological 
approaches (Tilley 1994) for understanding the goals, values, and 
identities of different participants within these contested landscapes. 
If anyone is interested in talking more about this please email me 
personally.

 Regards,

 Stathi Pappas

 ______________________________________________________

 Efstathios I. Pappas, MS
 Doctoral Student
 Department of Anthropology/096
 University of Nevada, Reno
 Reno, NV 89557
 (775) 323-5730

 -----Original Message-----
 From: Davis, Daniel (KYTC) <[log in to unmask]>
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Sent: Wed, 08 Mar 2006 12:14:27 -0500
 Subject: Re: American open spaces

  I'm fairly certain that concept is still largely in vogue. The 
"wilderness", be
  it pasture, forest, or two-lane country road is seen as not being 
productive.
  Some folks feel that we must "help" these areas reach their full 
potential,
  which would be the economic gold mines of Wal-Mart, McDonalds, and 
strip malls.
 Huzzah!

 -----Original Message-----
 From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Ron
 May
 Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 11:56 AM
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Subject: Re: American open spaces


  The entire concept of undeveloped land has been a cultural thing. Many 
early
  settlers saw raw, natural land full of gnarly old trees as something 
to be
  feared, evil and metaphysical that had to be tamed by removing 
forests, grading
  the land, and harnessing the waters. Ethnic roots of these odd ideas 
are
 fascinating in themselves.

 Ron May
 Legacy 106, Inc.