jewarren – American Disasters

April 16, 2014December 16, 2020

Contemporary Renderings of Typhoid Mary

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After reading the prologue and introduction of Typhoid Mary, I chose to read to Chapter 7,” Misbegotten Mary.” My rationale for choosing this chapter stems from my interest in the contemporary interpretations and cultural persistence of the Titanic in Down with the Old Canoe. This section was my favorite in Down with the Old Canoe and I was interested in how “Typhoid Mary” evolved in meaning and how it had appeared in popular culture since the early 1900’s. Like the Titanic, “Typhoid Mary” still maintains a metaphorical and epithetical role in our modern vernacular. This is what makes this section a useful read for me.

Leavitt begins this chapter by outlining two, distinct periods of “Typhoid Mary” usage: the first is before the advent of HIV/AIDS and the second is after HIV/AIDS. The depictions of Mary Mallon immediately after death revolve around whether or not she was cognizant of her actions. There is a prevailing notion at the time that Mary Mallon is an “innocent killer” or did not understand the carrier state. Portraying Mary as an unknowing killer helped further the belief in the strength of modern science. These scientists used Mary’s ignorance and their successful diagnosis and isolation of Mary to boost their belief in the power of the emerging field of modern science.

The period from the 1980’s to the present sought to infuse Mary’s story with sadness, connect with new diseases, and comprehend Mary’s actions and position (214). This increase in sensitivity painted Mary as an “unknowing mass murderer ” (218) and begged the question of whether or not Mary should be forgiven. Additionally, the emergence and spread of HIV/AIDS made “Typhoid Mary” a relevant figure again. A central theme from artistic renderings of Mary from this period is the exploration of how the past shapes the present and how the present shapes the past. Our understanding of the past and present shapes our interpretations of events, and the AIDS/Typhoid Mary subject provides an interesting forum for discussing how these two interpretations intersect.

I think the issue of public health vs. civil liberties that AJ brings up is particularly compelling. I think the question that he raises about how much of an importance we place on public health will be a stimulating discussion topic in class tomorrow. Overall, this subject provides a fascinating debate topic. I would like to add my belief that this issue (civil liberties vs. public health) fits into a much larger debate taking place in America right about how much privacy/liberty we are willing to give up in the name of security/public health. I think the discussion of Mary Mallon applies itself to this larger debate.

April 7, 2014December 16, 2020

Contemporary Significance of the Titanic

In the second half of Down with the Old Canoe, Steven Biel concerns himself with the way the Titanic disaster has been incorporated into contemporary culture. Biel points out that after 1912 the Titanic disaster reappears in American culture in the 1950’s. Writers and artists from this time period triggered a renewed interest in the Titanic by producing works that incorporated the Titanic into the popular culture of the time period. Biel contends that the most significant of these works is A Night to Remember by Walter Lord. After the success of A Night to Remember, Lord’s book was adopted into a feature film. Biel argues that Lord intended for his novel to be a slight “political critique” and to challenge “the Cold War gospel of progress”(159). Again it seems evident that the Titanic disaster represents a form of disenchantment with technology. In 1912 the disaster represented people’s anxiety about modernity, and it is interesting to see how these same feelings are placed on technological advancements made in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The sinking of the Titanic represented an end of an era to some people and created nostalgia to a time where the future was not as frightening.

Additionally, I think the discovery of the Titanic and all that it represented in the 1980’s is intriguing. Biel argues that the 1980’s represented a return to the “frontier spirit” (what would Turner say?). He believes that Reagan and his economic and foreign policy initiates embodied an era of “individualism, adventure, expansiveness” (208). Therefore, the discovery of the Titanic in the oceanic frontier epitomized this era. Like dajames, I find it interesting that these sorts of beliefs existed only thirty years ago. This odd adoption of the Titanic by people that believed it constituted the general feeling of time continues the tradition set by everyone else since the disaster of assigning their own meaning and significance to the sinking of the Titanic. It does not surprise me, but furthers the argument that the culture meaning of the Titanic resonated inward.

April 2, 2014December 16, 2020

Differing Interpretations of the Titanic

Part One of Steven Biel’s Down With the Old Canoe: A Cultural History of the Titanic offers several different interpretations of the events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic. These interpretations come from all segments of society; the rich, the poor, and every other segment of society developed their own unique interpretation of the Titanic disaster. These differing opinions is what Biel draws on to construct his argument Biel argues that the way disaster is interpreted is subject to our own beliefs. This argument is strengthened throughout the first part of the book.

I found it very interesting how everyone at the time of the Titanic was able to use this disaster to further strengthen his or her own beliefs. Every segment of the population read into the sinking of the Titanic an explanation for the disaster that reaffirmed their own values. The rich were painted as heroes, while the poorer, more ethnic passengers were described as villains. Additionally, arguments were made for and against women’s suffrage and religious doctrine was employed as an explanation for the catastrophe. To me, this seems like a form of exploitation. Spectators are using the deaths of the Titanic passengers to further their own agenda. I think this shows something about human character that is slightly morbid.

I like the argument that Dan and Wells brought up that the Titanic does not have an intrinsic meaning. I agree; while the Titanic had meanings to a lot of different people at the time, it seems difficult to assign an intrinsic meaning to this disaster. Also, I disagree with Molly’s assertion that we have become indifferent to loss of life because of this class. The loss of human life and capitol was horrible, but as historians, we examine the way events like the sinking of the Titanic affected the course of history. Through this historical lens, we have to realize that not everything has to have meaning, but we must analyze its historical significance.

March 26, 2014December 16, 2020

The Big One

After reading Davis’ piece, I was amazed at how dangerous it is to live in California. Davis argues that not only is California susceptible to devastating hurricanes, but that droughts, fires, and flooding can also wreak havoc. According to Davis, California is a land condemned by Mother Nature. At the heart of his argument is the belief that California is on the verge of “The Big One.” If California were to experience a devastating earthquake or prolonged drought, it would become an uninhabitable wasteland. The effects of this possible disaster—which Davis would believes is likely—would cause unimaginably devastation to California and the entire United States. Massive loss of life coupled with trillions of dollars in damage might spell the end of California. Additionally, the economic effects could be catastrophic considering California’s important role in technology and other industries. The question now seems to be why do people live there and what should be done.

I like Morte’s description of the situation: people are playing a “game of chance.” Residents of California know that the area is dangerous, but assume that they will not be affected. This naiveté seems similar to other disasters that we have studied. We found this embracement of invincibility in the Johnstown Flood, where residents knew that there was a possibility of the dam breaking, but did not believe it would ever. I think this situation is most similar to the Galveston Hurricane. Galveston is situated on an unprotected barrier island that stands in the path of hurricanes, while much of California is situated on a fault line. In both cases, the citizens of these areas willfully ignore the consequences of their actions.

I think this false sense of security reveals something about human nature. We believe strongly in our invincibility, despite a history of losing to Mother Nature. It seems as though we have not learned from the lessons that history has taught us. Despite how foolish our choices can be, I struggle with condemning people that choose to live in disaster-prone areas. I recognize that some people do not have the choice about where they live. Also, I have never been to California, but I am sure that it is a wonderful place to live. In an ideal situation everyone would be aware of the risk and have the ability to choose to live where they wanted, however, I know this is impossible.

March 17, 2014December 16, 2020

Lack of Preparedness and the Hubris of Men

After reading A.J.’s post, I think he correctly identifies preparedness as being one of the most important issues regarding this disaster. Like the Johnstown Flood, the Galveston Hurricane seemed to have caught its victims by surprise. Due to the shoddy forecasting ability of meteorologists in this period, the citizens of Galveston were shocked by the storm’s devastation. Similar to the citizens of Johnstown, the Galveston residents mistakenly diagnosed the flooding as a normal occurrence. The stories of children playing in the floodwaters and the general feeling of a business as usual atmosphere are similar in both disasters.

The notion of preparedness will probably be a topic that we discuss extensively in class tomorrow. Clearly, Galveston was not prepared for the hurricane in 1900. One of the most obvious reasons is the lack of viable information about the impending storm. According to the experts, this storm was supposed to move north rather than northeast towards Texas. Only later would they acknowledge that the storm was headed towards Texas, but still insisted that the storm would not be much to worry about. The lack of information coupled with what Larson calls, “the hubris of men” made this massive storm even more deadly.

Larson’s notion of “the hubris of men” is an important idea to analyze. Similar to other disasters that we have studied in class, the Galveston Hurricane featured men that believed they had conquered nature and were summarily reminded that they had not. Disregard for the power of nature seems to be a reoccurring theme during this period. The Galveston Hurricane served as a wake up call of sorts for these men. After the hurricane a seawall was built and engineers raised the height of the city with jacks. The Galveston Hurricane made it clear that man had not conquered nature.

Finally, I want to comment on why Isaac Cline is given possession of this storm by Larson. It seems ambiguous while reading Isaac’s Storm as to whether Isaac is being blamed for the storm or is being defended. Larson points out that Cline may have saved thousands of lives by warning residents of houses near the gulf that a storm was coming. Conversely, Larson details how Cline ignored the signs the storm presented and chose to minimize its severity. Rather than condemning or praising Isaac Cline, Larson seems to want,” to explore the lives of history’s little men.” The phrase “history’s little men” would obviously hurt the feelings of the far-from modest Isaac Cline, but helps readers to understand why Larson chose to frame the Galveston Hurricane around Isaac Cline.

February 19, 2014December 16, 2020

Who is to Blame?

After a disaster of such magnitude like the Johnstown Flood, the natural inclination is to attempt to blame somebody(s) or something for the tragic event. The cause of the flood could be attributed to the deforestation, cyclical flooding, and industrialization like Schmidt points out. The people of Johnstown were accustomed to frequent floods and viewed them as a part of life. On the other hand, the owners of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club and the expert they hired to assess the strength of the dam could also be at fault. Ruff, the man hired to oversee the maintenance of the dam could also be a culprit since he ignored the advice of John Fulton who believed the dam would break.

I believe the improper maintenance of the dam is to blame for the disaster, while environmental factors exacerbated the damage. If the dam had been properly managed the incredible magnitude of the flood could have been averted. The question now becomes: whose job was it to maintain the dam? Were the owners of South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club responsible? Or was Ruff guilty of ignoring the danger the dam presented? Both parties share a portion of the blame. As a proprietor of a piece of land, it becomes the responsibility of an owner to ensure all structures on the land are sturdy—especially when not doing so places human lives in danger. Ruff was guilty of ignoring voices that said the dam was structurally unsound. Both Ruff and the owners were negligent but in different ways.

Lastly, I want to comment on how the Johnstown Flood fits into the narrative of the Gilded Age made by Edwards. Edwards presents the notion of The Wedge to explain the distance between the working class and the rich industrialists. Seemingly, the relationship between the wealthy residents of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club and the working class inhabitants of Johnstown fits into this narrative. I think this, however, would oversimplify the relationship. McCullough mentions the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club employing local residents of Johnstown to do construction work. Additionally, Johnstownians were proud that they had such wealthy neighbors. While there is clearly an economic and geographical wedge, this situation does not fit into the category of extreme disconnect that Edwards believes in. There seems to be a comfortable homeostasis between the two groups.

February 17, 2014December 16, 2020

The Wedge

In Chapters 3 and 4 of New Spirits, Rebecca Edwards presents two distinct accounts of the Gilded Age economy. One depicts a period of unbridled economic growth. In this period, titans of industry accumulated vast fortunes and middle class professionals carved out positions in the growing economy. The plight of the working class offers a sharp contrast to the opulence of the higher classes. It seems difficult to reconcile these two competing narratives. However, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

This is where Henry George’s wedge construct becomes useful. Edwards adopts the idea of a wedge separating Americans to reinforce the notion that Gilded Age was a period of sharp divisions between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. Factory workers worked in unsafe conditions for longer hours, while socialites in New York held extravagant parties at their million dollar homes. The wedge is evident here.

Income inequality appears to be a central element of Chapter 4. Edwards discusses the political battles fought over currency that further strengthened the socio-economic divide. The discussion of class division in this section is very similar to current political discussions. Both time periods feature a widely held belief that industrialists and bankers are responsible for an economic downturn. Similarly, both periods have unequal wealth accumulation at the top. The belief that this inequality is wrong is a facet of both time periods. The time period in the chapter was obviously worse than the current situation, but it is useful to note how long this argument has prevailed.

Whether discussing money or occupation during the Gilded Age, the notion of a wedge separating the upper and lower classes is an invaluable explanation for the time period.

February 10, 2014December 16, 2020

Response to Disasters and Placing Blame

In the wake of disasters such as the Peshtigo Fire, we are left to consider whether or not these horrific events were an act of God. Peter Pernin believed that the Peshtigo Fire constituted an act of God. Pernin argued, “No reasoning succeeds so quickly in making men comprehend the greatness of God and their own insignificance (262).” Pernin’s worldview is clearly biased; his teachings and core beliefs cause him to attribute the Peshtigo Fire to God. I do not seek to refute his viewpoint, but I want to point out that Pernin offers evidence that seems to contradict his belief that the fire was an act of God.

Pernin’s anecdote about his hunting trip with the young boy illustrates how easy it was to start a forest fire and how quickly a disaster could happen. Additionally, Pernin explains how Indians and Hunters carelessly forgot to extinguish their fires. I believe that we attribute our own meaning to events of this magnitude, but it seems like Pernin’s work is slightly contradictory when it comes to placing blame.

On a slightly unrelated note, I wanted to comment on the significance of the tabernacle and how survivors attribute meaning to miracles or seemingly unnatural signs or symbols. Immediately after reading about how the tabernacle was still intact after the ravaging fire, I thought of the cross that was formed out of steel beams from the Twin Towers. Pernin viewed the survival of the tabernacle and the other sacred objects, “as trophies of God’s exceeding mercy snatched so marvelously from destruction (266).” Additionally, survivors of the 9/11 terror attacks attributed meaning to the Ground Zero Cross. Like Pernin and the other survivors of the Peshtigo fire, 9/11 survivors see religious symbolism in the cross. Both of these events offered solace and comfort to the traumatized survivors. These miracles or symbols and the cultural responses they create are an important part of understanding disasters. The responses to disasters are just as important to the disasters themselves.

January 29, 2014December 16, 2020

Cronon: A Careful Defense

After reading Cronon’s explanation of Turner’s “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” I am willing to cut Turner some slack. Rather than piggyback on the numerous critics of Turner, I think the most useful tactic is to consider what Turner got right. Cronon frames the issue succinctly, “the key question, then, is whether we can escape the analytical weaknesses of Turner’s ‘vanishing frontier’ and still retain his narrative strength (170). Cronon argues that instead of harping on Turner’s obvious shortcoming, we should analysis the weight of his work.

Cronon’s piece contextualizes the work of Turner. Ironically, Turner was the pioneer of a field of history that celebrates the lives of individuals that found a new place for themselves in an unfamiliar domain. As the creator of an important subgenre of American History, Turner was bound to get some things wrong. As Caldwell point out in his post, Turner created the notion of the frontier. Because of Turner’s creation of the frontier and the study of the history of the west, Turner deserves to be commended for his innovation. As is the case with all new creations, those that follow constantly point out the flaws. I believe Turner’s flaws are excusable—granted we understand both the time period of his work and his addition to the study of United State’s history.

Also, I especially enjoyed Cronon’s depiction of Turner’s legacy. Cronon contends that Turner’s narrative of the west has never been changed, “we continue to follow the Turnerian plot (167).” Besides continuing to employ Turner’s narrative of the West, historians credit Turner with creating environmental history. Environmental history came from Western History and Western History came from Turner (171).

To conclude, I find it unnecessary to continue to attack Turner’s work. I believe it is more important to document his strengths more than his weaknesses. The flaws in his argument are apparent; it seems counterintuitive to keep pointing them out. Turner’s place in history and his work must be recognized going forward.

January 24, 2014December 16, 2020

Cancer Valley: An American Wasteland

While visiting the State of Emergency exhibit, I found myself drawn to Richard Misrach’s “Swamp and Pipeline, Geismar, Louisiana.” This large photograph captures the ruinous effects of petrochemical factories along the Mississippi River. While the foul, green water and decaying wildlife are intended to show the detrimental ecological effects of the petrochemical companies, the photograph also draws attention to the economic and quality of life issues present in the region. This region, nicknamed “Cancer Alley” suffers from extreme poverty and increased rates of cancer among its inhabitants. Cancer Valley is composed of a mainly African- American population whose voices have been drowned out by the pro-industry legislation of the region. “Swamp and Pipeline, Geisha, Louisiana” serves as an important social and environmental commentary on a forgotten region of the United States. It is important to note, Cancer Valley is not only an environmental disaster, but a socio-economic disaster as well[1].

I found Misrach’s choice to utilize large photograph to create his artistic thesis to be well engineered. As a viewer, I was immediately drawn to the environmental desolation the photograph documents. While viewing the green water and decaying plant life in the photograph, the audience seeks to understand what is causing these uncommon effects. The answer lies squarely in the middle of the photograph; the pipeline is the culprit. The position of the pipeline in the photograph leaves no doubt as to whom Misrach views as the offending party.

It is useful to note Misrach’s decision to photograph a swamp to portray the deleterious effects of the petrochemical companies. Swamps are often referred to as wastelands. The contaminants present in the water only enforce the wasteland motif. The swamp allows Misrach to characterize Cancer Alley as an abandoned region of the country. Misrach seeks to remind those that view his photograph that despite our best efforts to protect our natural ecosystems, there are still regions in the United States ruined by industry. Misrach’s attention seems to be specifically drawn to the South. “Swamp and Pipeline, Geismar, Louisiana” appeared in various other exhibits, with one entitled “Revisiting the South: Richard Misrach’s Cancer Alley[2].” This intense focus on the southern region of the United States struck me as important to understanding Misrach’s message. Misrach photographs images from a region that is notoriously poorer, unhealthier, and more pro-business than its northern counterpart. Misrach’ photograph attempts to comment on all of these issues present in the region.

As Americans, we are familiar with our own ruinous effects on the environment, however, the effects from the pollution by the petrochemical companies in Cancer Alley transcend their mere ecological impact. Cancer Alley is not only polluted physically, but socially and economically as well. This photograph serves as useful tool to prove that some disasters are not as straightforward as they seem—some effects may be below the surface.

Overall, “Swamp and Pipeline, Geismar, Lousiana” provides onlookers with an untold narrative of disaster. The Cancer Valley region along the Mississippi River is an environmental, social, and economic wasteland. Misrach’s photograph reveals a hidden disaster in modern America

[1] http://science.kqed.org/quest/2013/04/03/misrachs-cancer-alley-documenting-the-poisoning-of-americas-wetland/

[2] http://science.kqed.org/quest/2013/04/03/misrachs-cancer-alley-documenting-the-poisoning-of-americas-wetland/