Title: Communication and the aesthetic appreciation of wetlands

Authors: Gordon Steinhoff

Addresses: Utah State University, USA

Abstract: In this paper I discuss several wetlands in the United States that are well known and are considered beautiful. In my examples, each wetland has been placed into a special cultural context. The ||story|| of each wetland is communicated to the public through Internet Web sites, brochures, a visitor center, information exhibits, guided tours, etc. This is the feature that allows and encourages aesthetic appreciation: effective communication of the story of the wetland. Aesthetic appreciation of wetlands is achieved only by placing them into this kind of cultural context. Unfortunately, as wetlands are placed into the proper cultural context, their ||wildness|| is lost.

Keywords: wetlands; United States; USA; aesthetic appreciation; effective communication; cultural context; aesthetics; wildness.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2007.053980

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2007 Vol.9 No.1, pp.55 - 70

Published online: 13 May 2013 *

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