The Garden and the Red Barn - Book Report/Review Example

The Garden and the Red Barn In the essay, the author acknowledges of the significant role pastoral themes are playing in the American culture. It makes individuals have an idea about how the countryside looks like and how it is supposed to look like based on their idea. The author also notes that the behavior and believes towards environmental management is based on individual gratification from the landscape in the countryside. The perception is also seen in today societies and the popular culture (Schauman, 1998). In the essay, there is an exploration of contemporary pastoralism. This is done using the two concepts; search for a garden and the red barn icon (Schauman, 1998). The essay notes that aesthetic expectation in our mental images is that of green, peaceful, and productive (Schauman, 1998). However, this has not been the case in the current society. On the other hand, the essay notes that the opposite is expected of cities in our mental images. Such places are expected to be a lack any aesthetic measures as it is messy, industrial, and littered (Schauman, 1998). The author notes that the difference in mental perception is based on nostalgic expectations individuals have on the countryside. This is not based on real interaction individuals have with the environment as they practice agriculture. Moreover, the author notes that pastoral aesthetic beauty of the countryside has been under threat. This has been commonly due to poor agricultural practices. This has led to loss degradation and loss of fertile soil responsible for maintenance of such beauty. The author notes that modern American agriculture is the main contributor of loss of pastoral aesthetic. This has been by use of chemicals, and poor conservation measures. Additionally, the author notes that there has been reduced chance to experience an actual agricultural landscape. The essay notes that those that existed before had time to enjoy the aesthetic value offered by agricultural land. This is because most of their time was spent in farms. The recent generation has had few interactions with the farm life. This has been due to changes in agricultural practices and decline of a number of farms. Hence, the generation lacks opportunities to experience a real working farm. Moreover, most of their grandparents live in towns or retirement villages in the Sun Belt (Schauman, 1998). Here, farming is either nonexistent or large scale. This means the future generation will have no real interaction with the actual countryside. The author also acknowledges the difference that occurs in aesthetic expectation. The expectation are shown to be real, and others are unreal (Schauman, 1998). There are unreal things that exist in our mind, and the real things are what we come across. Many people have little knowledge of farmed landscapes yet it appears prominent in the country. The author also notes that both cities and countryside are a superb example of human evolution. Moreover, the author shows that man has adopted gardening as a way to possess or be in a real symbolic garden (Schauman, 1998). On the other hand, human is shown to be in pursuit of garden in the red barn icon concept (Schauman, 1998). The essay has led to exposition of human behavior. It has helped in showing that human behavior is sometimes not inline with the expectations. For example, human has a preference for pastoral aesthetic while at the same time is working towards its degradation. This has been seen through the adoption of poor agricultural practices. On the other hand, the essay helps in showing how the current generation is moving away from pastoral aesthetics. This has occurred through urbanization and industrial process. Moreover, the essay helps in showing the current shift in agriculture from small scale to large scale. I have a strong opinion on issues raised in the essay. One, there is a need of preserving environment to enjoy the beauty that has been in existence for a long time. Moreover, young people should be encouraged to have an understanding of agriculture as well as roles in preserving landscapes to sustain natural beauty of the environment. American Contradictions and Pastoral Visions In this article, the author notes that pastoral vision has been there for a long time. In fact, it is acknowledged to have existed together with the traditions of man. The author notes that the pastoral idea has failed to recognize nature to exist in its natural state (Cannavò, 2001). The endeavor has been on the changing nature through a fusion of work and spontaneous process (Cannavò, 2001). The article notes that in the past pastoral nature has been independent of social constraints and political oppression (Cannavò, 2001). However, the independence has been challenged by a rise of corrupt form of civilization. On the other hand, the pastoral idea as put forth by Marx is shown to bear a enormous explanatory burden (Cannavò, 2001). The author also faults the Marx idea on the rise of conflict between nature and industrial advancements and civilization. The author argues that he failed to trace the competing lineages of the opposing values and visions (Cannavò, 2001). The author acknowledges the idea has been a burden as it was imported from other countries to an area with few numbers of people. On the other hand, he argues the idea has been revived when the country is enjoying rapid settlement and industrial growth (Cannavò, 2001). Marx is also shown to highlight the contradictions that exist between culture and society (Cannavò, 2001). The contradiction highlighted has been shown to be significant in understanding conflict and inconsistency that have occurred in United States environmental politics (Cannavò, 2001). Currently, most of the environment activists are calling for delinking of nature from corrupt form of civilization. Moreover, the wilderness is shown to be free from any form of human interference. Moreover, the article shows that pastoral purity has been changed with the rise of civilization (Cannavò, 2001). Moreover, the article highlights ways in which reconnection with the natural world can take place. These include care and preservation of land, contemplation of landscape, outdoor recreation, material simplicity, and acknowledgement of one's ecological surroundings (Cannavò, 2001). Moreover, in there is call for sustainable existence with nature. It is argued that there should be restoration of an original human harmony with nature (Cannavò, 2001). This is because earlier human beings managed to live in harmony with the rest of nature, in a sustainable manner. Hence, the society has either to reject or change the modern ways of life. This is because urban life has been responsible of destruction of nature. However, the author shows that such form of restoration as impossible. He notes the Americans basic approach to environmental challenges has been marred with contradictions (Cannavò, 2001). As a result, such form of approach to restoring the pristine state is not possible. Moreover, the author notes that there has been also split of personality towards restoration and conservation. For example, he notes America as the world leading polluter (Cannavò, 2001). In contrast, the same country has been the leading advocator of environmental conservation. Additionally, the author highlights weakness environmentalists have faced on recognizing effects to nature due to civilization (Cannavò, 2001). This is because some of the environmentalists have adopted the notion on civilization(Cannavò, 2001). On the other hand, Marx arguments have been criticized in this article. He is noted to overlook the modern form of environmentalism (Cannavò, 2001). However, Marx recognizes his weakness of ideas and hence makes an amendment to earlier stand. As a result, he ends calling for unification of civilization and nature (Cannavò, 2001). The article has played a significant role on informing one environmental issues. It is a clear example of hypocrisy adopted by leading proponent of conservation of nature. For example, it has shown that leading countries in conservation are also responsible for sudden destruction of nature. Moreover, the paper address the challenges faced in restoration of the original state of nature. The author notes that this is not possible due to conflict arising from civilization and technological advancement. In my opinion, it is possible to overcome some of the challenges. This can take place through sustainable way of living by recognizing the benefits we get from nature. This way it will be possible to avoid destructive means of nature. References Cannavò, P. (2001). American Contradictions and Pastoral Visions: An Appraisal of Leo Marx, The Machine in the Garden. Organization & Environment, 14(1), pp. 74-92. Schauman, S. (1998). The Garden and the Red Barn: The Pervasive Pastoral and Its Environmental Consequences. The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 56 (2), pp.181-190. Read More