Book The Ecological Imagination 1929-1941 By Brad Lookingbill Essay Example
During the 1930s, the American Midwest experienced one of its severest agricultural droughts in history, often overlooked in history textbooks due to its occurrence during the Great Depression. The Great Depression, which began with the stock market crash of 1929, dominated attention and overshadowed the equally devastating drought that affected multiple Midwest states. Brad Lookingbill aims to address this lack of coverage in scholarly research on this event.
Lookingbill adequately addresses the root causes and significant effects of the event. Concerning the causes, Lookingbill highlights extensive and exploitative agricultural practices as a primary factor. Specifically, the advancements in mass-production technology, irrigation innovations, and unprecedented conservation initiatives gradually contributed to the emergence of the drought. The consequences of the drought were so severe that large areas in the Midwest turned into deserts, making them permanently unsuitable for farming an
...d human settlement.
The author argues that the early pioneers and frontiers people who settled in the challenging prairies of the American Midwest were motivated by desperation and avarice. According to the author, if these settlers had conducted studies on the feasibility of agricultural production, soil quality, crop suitability, historical rainfall patterns, and other factors, the tragic outcome could have been avoided. The federal government's policies, particularly those related to agriculture in this region, demonstrated a lack of experience and foresight.
During the Dust Bowl phenomenon, superstition was prevalent. Lookingbill extensively investigates and disproves different superstitions linked to this event. At that time, it was commonly believed that the drought occurred due to a curse from a higher authority. Conservative politicians, supported by religious leaders, propagated the notion that the drought represented societal decline. The citizens were unjustly blamed for engagin
in immoral actions that angered God. Lookingbill appropriately critiques those who spread baseless rumors and falsehoods.
Lookingbill's analysis offers a comprehensive understanding of how the great drought and desertification served as inspiration for various forms of art. This includes novels, paintings, and country songs that aimed to capture themes such as drought, economic despair, and mass migrations. One notable example is John Steinbeck's renowned novel, The Grapes of Wrath, which extensively depicted the effects of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Country music from that era was also effective in conveying the sorrow experienced in rural Midwest during the 1930s.
Lookingbill deserves credit for thoroughly examining and referencing a wide range of sources including novels, plays, periodicals, newspapers, government releases, and personal and official correspondences from that time period. This thorough analysis contributes to a cohesive understanding of the subject matter.
While acknowledging the failure of public policy and civil planning, Lookingbill also recognizes the heroic aspect of the subject matter. Despite the devastation caused by the Dust Bowl, some individuals not only endured but thrived thanks to their ingenuity and hard work. The book honors these courageous individuals who emerged from the crisis with even greater resilience. This demonstrates a sense of patriotism and nationalism in the book without explicitly endorsing any specific political ideology.
Overall, the book has both positive and negative aspects. It is written in a clear and understandable style, making it accessible to readers with moderate language skills. In addition, it goes beyond mere facts and provides a well-informed discussion on environmental issues using scientific knowledge to explore concepts like natural equilibrium and the causes of environmental disasters. The research conducted for the
book is generally strong and comprehensive, with minimal instances of presenting personal opinions as factual information.
However, there may be some bias in the selection of topics and their corresponding arguments resulting in certain contrived content. The book's main thesis connecting the economic crisis with ecological distress lacks sufficient argumentative support. Despite this limitation, the book holds value as a compilation of historical facts. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of Lookingbill's work by showing how scholarly attention was disproportionately focused on the Great Depression rather than the Dust Bowl crisis.
In conclusion, this book is an important addition to public libraries and universities throughout the country.
Here is a reference:
The book "Dust Bowl USA: Depression America & Ecological Imagination, 1929-1941" was authored by Brad Lookingbill and released in 2001 through Ohio University Press. Its ISBN is 978-0-8214-1375-3.
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