For spring break, I am driving around New England looking at colleges (I even bumped into Fish in western Massachusetts). I am also reading and thinking about my junior theme. When asked what I am interested in studying I have responded environmental studies, but I also love anthropology--- which I interpret as the study of people across time and from differing cultures.
While they are wondering about my college major, I know that is really where my head is at this present time. To deal with all the college options, I prefer to stay literally, grounded in the present. It is in that context that I am trying to frame my research for the junior theme. I have been reading about the American, suburban lawn—that is about as grounded in my present home of Winnetka as I can get. How did that convention get started? Why are some homeowners obsessed with manicuring their lawns? Why do people throw on so many harmful chemicals where their pets and kids play in a weird trade off for “beauty”? Why do we sprinkle water over our lawn “crops” when we can’t eat the lawns? Why do people use precious water supplies in areas like Arizona, California and Colorado? What do they gain and what does their community lose and why are they willing to make the trade-off? What feeds “lawn peoples” addition to green grass and how do lawn care companies take advantage of that obsession? Why do I love an open field and how is that different from my yard? Why does my dad love golf and what does the green grass do for his experience? And the questions go on.
Then, at one of the schools we visited we stopped at the university art gallery. One student’s senior show was called “Photosynthesis”. This is the link: www.tjadengroundsdepartment.org/
This college art student said her purpose was “Rethinking the Lawn, introducing visible food production, emphasizing sustainability, and evaluating what art can do for a community” She took one of the lawns in front of one of the main academic buildings and converted it to a garden. Her inspiration came from Michael Pollan, Alice Waters, Hans Haacke, Michele Obama, Vadana Shiva, Mierle Laderman Ukels and Fritz Haeg. Some of these people I know and some I’ll have to look up. Anyway her idea was to take a small piece of the lawn that surrounds a university campus and imagine in a different way and get other people to think about it too. Check out the website to see what she did.
Wisconsin’s own Gaylord Nelson introduced the first Earth Day in 1970 to
Inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. It is amazing to see how long it takes (40 years) to shift peoples’ habits and have knowledge and real understanding seep in. The lawns in suburban Winnetka are still deeply rooted in 2011. How has our care for those spaces changed as we have learned why more concern is necessary? It is about the care of our families and the community we call home.
Remy,
ReplyDeleteYou're junior theme topic is so interesting! My parents would love it considering how invested they are in their own lawns. But to answer at least one of your questions, I feel like people are so invested in their lawns because they feel in some way that it reflects who they are as people. At least once a day on my street, I see a neighbor out working on their yard, and I think it is because they feel if their yard looks good, organized, and put together, then they think that is how their neighbors must think of them. It's just a thought, but I really think that lots of people feel that their yard reflects who they are.
RemDog-that's awesome that you ran into such a relevant exhibit (and Fish) on your trip! I agree with Kristen- many believe that their lawn is a status symbol of sorts. I always think of "A Cinderella Story" with Hilary Duff, where their home in California is in the middle of a major drought and Fiona (the evil stepmom) is watering the grass because only poor people have droughts or dying grass or something like that, I'm unsure of the exact quote but I think it really illustrates your ideas/exploration!
ReplyDelete