Have we as Americans lost our regional consciousness that began so strong in the 18th century? Or has it been overshadowed by our preoccupation with our own national consciousness?
While these questions are vague, they point to a longstanding continuum of social identity in this country. Western historians would cringe to hear anyone discredit regionality historically; especially in the American West. Yet is this the direction we are facing with national media and the cloud? As I write this blog and tweet at @calhistorian I myself am living predominantly in a national life, not regional or local. My political media intake rests on national audience pressures and generalized coverage for the masses. While the digital world has obliterated the tyranny of space, has this only silenced the micro and local world where we actually exist or at least rendering it insignificant? Problems in local governance, general public apathy, and a weak civil culture are, it seems, manifestations of this movement towards a unrooted national consciousness.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Bodie: Within the Gilded Empire
One of the most picturesque 'ghost towns' I have ever visited. To walk through the streets and in between the homes leaves a creepy feeling. Tours of the mine are a must. The price reasonable in these economic times, and the payoff is not disappointing. Take the time, investigate and feel the physical history.
As a historian of the 19th century I cannot get past the visions of Rough It melded with the Gilded Age by Mark Twain, as some homes are ornate, papered and adorned, others are breathlessly bare. Of course much I am sure has be staged throughout the park. Yet the juxtaposition is true nonetheless as that was the nature of silver boom towns of the intermountain west.
Several things strike my interest. How the elites of Bodie lived atop the laboring gyre of miners and peddlers leads me into all sorts of ideations. To those atop the froth, Bodie likely was little different but scenery from where they might otherwise invest their time and capital. However to those whom sojourned with a gamble in the mountain desert, a very disjointed life most certainly ensued; one more silent, isolated, and imprisoning than those above. To hear of regional and national news, as opposed to reading it in print is a very different connection to the outer world.
Thoughts:
Closer to my own work, what affiliation if any did those in Bodie give to San Francisco or California as a region or state?
As a historian of the 19th century I cannot get past the visions of Rough It melded with the Gilded Age by Mark Twain, as some homes are ornate, papered and adorned, others are breathlessly bare. Of course much I am sure has be staged throughout the park. Yet the juxtaposition is true nonetheless as that was the nature of silver boom towns of the intermountain west.
Several things strike my interest. How the elites of Bodie lived atop the laboring gyre of miners and peddlers leads me into all sorts of ideations. To those atop the froth, Bodie likely was little different but scenery from where they might otherwise invest their time and capital. However to those whom sojourned with a gamble in the mountain desert, a very disjointed life most certainly ensued; one more silent, isolated, and imprisoning than those above. To hear of regional and national news, as opposed to reading it in print is a very different connection to the outer world.
Thoughts:
Closer to my own work, what affiliation if any did those in Bodie give to San Francisco or California as a region or state?
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Popular Vote v. Electoral College
A popular idea for making California's votes count @SFGate
Can the switch to the popular vote dramatically alter national politics?
In my opinion, regardless of the politics involved in the switch, increased "democracy" is generally positive. But one question that I do have is how will this influence the connection between America's unique local governance structure and national politics?
@ iTunesU under California and the West from The Huntington Library, a webcast titled "For Whome Bell Tolls: What Can Be Done about Local Governance in California?" investigates this unique local government structure.
Digital Archives and Accessibility
The Online Archive of California is one of the most significant tools for investigating California history through the cloud. Being able to essentially browse thousands of documents and collections with a click or search has allowed me to be more prepared for physical visits as well as save myself immense amounts of time. Anyone, academic or lay, interested in California history must at least know this site exists. While it certainly only covers the largest institutions, the OAC saves enough time in order that you can visit the more distant and rural archives which can be just as valuable as the Huntington for certain questions.
California History and New Media
The Huntington Library offers a great collection of webcasts on California history. What a world we now live in where I can surf the web and hear leading intellectuals discuss their work on my own time.
"Democratizing the Beach: From Therapy to Recreation" in California and the West @iTunesU:
Dr. Robert Ritchie describes how "beach culture shifted from an emphasis on the therapeutic properties of sea water to the growing interests of recreational pleasures of a trip to the shore."
Dr. Ritchie offers an entertaining and useful investigation into the evolution of beach culture from the 19th century into the 20th. While the talk was founded on his wider work of beach culture from 18th century England to America and the present, it offers valuable evidence of both the evolution and the malleability of cultural hierarchies. As the title implies, the spreading of beach culture into the working classes created a very different culture of recreation and amusement compared to the more therapeutic beach culture. Rightly, Ritchie describes how both cultures came to coexist by the late 19th century, if only through different market appeals. In addition Ritchie demonstrates contributions to identity, gender, and class to the investigation of leisure culture.
"Democratizing the Beach: From Therapy to Recreation" in California and the West @iTunesU:
Dr. Robert Ritchie describes how "beach culture shifted from an emphasis on the therapeutic properties of sea water to the growing interests of recreational pleasures of a trip to the shore."
Dr. Ritchie offers an entertaining and useful investigation into the evolution of beach culture from the 19th century into the 20th. While the talk was founded on his wider work of beach culture from 18th century England to America and the present, it offers valuable evidence of both the evolution and the malleability of cultural hierarchies. As the title implies, the spreading of beach culture into the working classes created a very different culture of recreation and amusement compared to the more therapeutic beach culture. Rightly, Ritchie describes how both cultures came to coexist by the late 19th century, if only through different market appeals. In addition Ritchie demonstrates contributions to identity, gender, and class to the investigation of leisure culture.
Friday, July 15, 2011
William Issel's San Francisco Bibliography
As I am always in search of anything related to California history, especially San Francisco, therefore I could not help but post this link. --> San Francisco Bibliography
Thanks to William Issel, Professor of History Emeritus San Francisco State University for publishing his bibliography of San Francisco to the cloud. Besides giving myself a nice academic ego boost by seeing many works that I have been consulting recently, this list is quite comprehensive and additionally subdivided (General-Politics-Culture) and updated
@CalTrout, 7/15/11 11:37 AM
Mining still a thorn in the side of California's future.
 CalTrout (@CalTrout)7/15/11 11:37 AM Protect California's Rivers From Poorly Regulated Suction Dredge Mining - http://eepurl.com/eLEas |
Sent from my iPhone
@saveSFbay, 7/15/11 11:35 AM
 Save The Bay (SF) (@saveSFbay)7/15/11 11:35 AM CA court gives 'green light' to plastic bag bans. Livermore Styro ban in effect, drivers go green. DD:http://t.co/o2xLDkT |
Sent from my iPhone
Regional History Project | University Library
Great site and project by UCSC. http://library.ucsc.edu/regional-history-project
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
California Magazine Wins a Silver Medal in 2011 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards | CAA
California Magazine Wins a Silver Medal in 2011 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards | CAA
Its nice to see our University of California still maintaining some kind of quality with the 50 percent Tuition hike since I left UCSC in 2009. (That was a little bit of sarcasm) Honestly, those who receive full financial aid will be far less impacted than reports make it seem, as I had been. However, despite the still great education that can be got at UC, it still speaks volumes to the problems we still have balancing the California budget, and federal commitment to education.
51st state?
51st state? California politician pushes secession plan - CNN.com.
Here we go again. One significant point is how "South California" will maintain its thirst for water in such ecological isolation. The Southern Sierras and the Colorado River would provide little relief. The new state line would run between Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties taking a dramatic turn to the southwest to the pacific offering little relief for either the San Joaquin Valley or the San Fernando Valley.
Is this proposal is simple a waste of money and a ploy for mass distraction?
Is this proposal is simple a waste of money and a ploy for mass distraction?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)