The Myth of Wilderness: What's Left to Save & What Never Existed
The notion of wilderness as a pristine natural environment untouched by human activity is a powerful narrative in discourses of global climate change and literature. The wilderness conjures up feeling of nostalgia, tranquility, and a desire for active conservation. But has wilderness truly ever existed? And what role do both the realities and myths of human interaction with the wild have in framing human thoughts about place, time, and history? Astrobiologist David Grinspoon and literary scholar Charlotte Rogers discuss how these ideas impact their research in both the scientific study of the history of the Earth and the history of literature about the Amazonian rainforest. For transcript, captions, and more information, visit www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=6504
