Speak for the Trees! the American Environmental Movement As Told Through The Arts & Literature

Catalog description

Students will explore the impacts that previous generations had in forming todays environmental ethos. What role did paintings, photos, cartoons, essays, books, radio, television, film, & artworks play in forming modern attitudes towards the environment? Who were the people behind these works? And what was their legacy? How did nineteenth century industrialists like Henry Ford and Laurance Rockefeller influence wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation? What did President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, have in common? How did the transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau, and twenty-first century hippie radicals like Abbie Hoffman and David Brower call people to activism and protest? What were the impacts to society of literary works such as Aldo Leopolds Sand County Almanac, Rachel Carsons Silent Spring and Edward Abbeys Monkey Wrench Gang? What laws and regulations were promulgated? What federal agencies were created? How did television & radio hosts like Roger Caras and Marlin Perkins influence public opinion towards nature and wildlife? How does the media help shape our thoughts? Is environmental consciousness pervasive? Are enough people influenced to think environmentalism is inherent to our culture? Class discussions involve a wide range of topics including environmentalism, conservation, preservation, ecotage, ecofemnism, deep ecology, environmental justice, and greenwashing. Come explore the history of the American environmental movement.