The Rocky Mountain Region: The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures

(Hardback)

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Description

The Rocky Mountain region is where east meets west in America, where the western plains meet the Continental Divide. In this region, including Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, a multitude of cultural phenomena have grown. Rockies architecture includes Depression-era Government Rustic designs and also the parkitecture movement evident in Yellowstone National Park. Coyote folk tales and cowboy poetry contribute to regional lore, while the region's religions have ranged from the shamanistic practices of the Utes, Nez Perce, and Coeur d'Alene to the flourishing of the Church of Latter Day Saints. Art of the American Sublime school as well as the fiction of Thomas McGuane immediately locate the Rockies, while fourteeners, ski town culture, and film festivalsfrom Sundance to Slamdancemake the region a favorite tourist destination. Rick Newby and contributors present a thorough and nuanced examination of the many cultural elements from throughout the wide reach of the Rocky Mountain region. 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

RICK NEWBY, Poet and Editor, is a member of the National Coalition of Independent Scholars and has edited a number of anthologies and studies of Rocky Mountain culture.