The Midwest: The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures (Volume 3)

(Hardback)

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Description

Notions of Middle America abound within the American mindset, yet often forgotten are the manifold cultural elements found in the American Midwest. One encounters Native American ceremonial mounds as well as landmark creations from the Chicago School of Architecture. Old World European influences and northern border culture have helped shaped language and lore in Minnesota and Michigan's U.P., while the ragtime, jazz, and blues scenes in Missouri testify to the effects of the Great Migration and the Mississippi River. The Midwesthost to the 1893 World's Columbia Exposition and the 1904 World's Fairencompasses Corn Belt communities, the Dairy State, and the Nation's Food Captial; the haunts of Al Capone and the fantastical Field of Dreams; and the birthplaces of Motown soul, House music, and alt.country, as well as Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway. This reference provides a textured examination of the many ways in which the Midwest has served as an undeniable cross-section of American culture. The volume includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures is the first rigorous reference collection on the many ways in which American identity has been defined by its regions and its people. Each of its eight regional volumes presents thoroughly researched narrative chapters on Architecture; Art; Ecology & Environment; Ethnicity; Fashion; Film & Theater; Folklore; Food; Language; Literature; Music; Religion; and Sports & Recreation. Each book also includes a volume-specific introduction, as well as a series foreword by noted regional scholar and former National Endowment for the Humanities chairman William Ferris, who served as Consulting Editor for this encyclopedia.

Reviews

"This set provides a comprehensive view of America's regional history and culture.... This encyclopedia set provides a resource that is compatible with regional studies curricula. Highly recommended. All levels." - Choice, June 2005 "Exploring both history and culture, this resource offers a comprehensive view of our nation's diverse regions.... The narratives focus on distinctive U.S. regions, with subjects ranging from architecture, art, and ecology to fashion, folklore, food, language, literature, music, religion, and sports.... With interest in regionalism on the rise owing to increased literary and American studies programs, students conducting research on regional identities and cultural distinctiveness will be well served by the depth of coverage this set provides. Classroom teachers and library media specialists could also utilize it in their own research. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries." - Library Journal, March 15, 2005 "This reference set will be a great source for students in grade seven and up, especially for schools and public libraries where states and cultural heritage assignments are frequent and curriculum support is needed." - VOYA, June 2005"

Author Bio

JOSEPH W. SLADE is Co-Director of the Central Region Humanities Center and is also author of the award-winning reference set Pornography and Sexual Representation. JUDITH YAROSS LEE is Co-Director of the Central Region Humanities Center.