In Belden Lane’s Landscapes of the Sacred, it is referenced that Americans are in the constant search for the perfect land by holding mobility and placelessness close to their hearts. Is being in the constant state of wandering a form of identity? I do not believe so because with this, the mobility that drives Americans affects their ability to form the basic connections that are rooted within the formation of an identity. Ortega y Gasset said, “Tell me the landscape I which you live and I will tell you who you are,” how can this be possible when Americans are not in one location long enough to mold with the landscape? Then there comes the possibility that the American identity is to be in a constant state of wandering. There is no perfect land, the only reason people keep wandering is so they can continuously find new experiences that change their perception on something and then take those experiences with them to their new landscape.
Sarah, Great questions. Does scale matter? Can we identify characteristics that are typical of regions? Does that suggest that all, most, or some people who are formed there or are attracted to those regions are likely to have those characteristics? How long does one need to stay in a place for this to happen? Perhaps we should have a discussion in class in which students not from the Midwest give their impressions of this region? LDL
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