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building the american landscape - Univerza v Novi Gorici

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countryside” 196 . Moreover, <strong>the</strong> conscience of individuals was removed from civil<br />

commitment, which appeared to exhaust itself with its experience of firearms and<br />

to encourage <strong>the</strong> anonymity of <strong>the</strong> crowds.<br />

Whitman’s cry of “O Captain! My Captain” not only recalled Lincoln’s death, but<br />

also highlighted <strong>the</strong> changes in a framework of universal bereavement for <strong>the</strong><br />

United States.<br />

New values gradually replaced old ideologies in a complex mutual relationship.<br />

Colonisation of <strong>the</strong> West via <strong>the</strong> industrial revolution highlighted what had been<br />

previously ignored. Up until <strong>the</strong>n, <strong>the</strong> natural <strong>landscape</strong> had been no more than an<br />

opportunity to build a town, to dig mines, a tool to let lease <strong>the</strong> power of <strong>the</strong><br />

machine and a testing bench for technological experiments. These very contrasts<br />

brought <strong>the</strong> <strong>landscape</strong> to <strong>the</strong> attention of <strong>the</strong> Americans and used urban parks to<br />

introduce <strong>the</strong> wilderness into <strong>the</strong> town.<br />

Industrial America broke <strong>the</strong> spirit of <strong>the</strong> pioneer and his practical relationship with<br />

nature. At <strong>the</strong> same time it allowed a summary and critical revision to be made. The<br />

<strong>landscape</strong> took on a public significance and toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> value of <strong>the</strong><br />

relationship between man and nature, led to a line of collective thought, to which<br />

men, such as Emerson and Thoreau, were <strong>the</strong> first to contribute, showing a<br />

sophisticated, very modern sensitivity, free from any residual romanticism.<br />

196 Ibid., p. 28 (it. tr. p. 65)<br />

117

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