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Paul Sparks
- Online English Lesson Plans, Lesson Material and Ideas for "Culture of
English Speaking Countries Lessons" for Xiangtan Normal University...
WESTERN CULTURE AND SOCIETY: THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA (USA) -
Scenic America
LANDSCAPE:
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The US has many
National Parks who employ Park Rangers to look after the land and
animals.
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The Southwest: The
American Southwest is made up of desert areas such as Nevada and many
other national parks. The area also includes volcanoes, the most famous
being Mount Saint Helens. The area also includes the Hoover Dam, a
hydropower energy station.
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The Northwest: Near
the Canadian border is Yellowstone National Park, named after the river
which flows through the area. It is the oldest of the national parks,
dating from 1872. It is famous for the hot water springs and waterfalls.
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The Rocky Mountains
- Colorado: The Rockies are famous mountains, running from the Canadian
border to the South, through Colorado. They attract many visitors who
climb the snow covered mountains.
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Florida: The south
east area of the US, is the state of Florida which is warm all year,
unlike the north of America. Florida has many beaches and many tourist
attractions such as Disney World at Orlando. Florida also has the
Everglades national park, with many animals including alligators. South
of Miami towards Cuba there are a series of islands called the Florida
Keys.
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Urban Areas: Each
city in America has a unique atmosphere. Many areas are highly developed
with huge shopping malls, cinemas etc.
ARCHITECTURE & BUILDINGS: America is well
known for the skyscraper, the tall building which are all across the US.
They were made possible by new construction techniques and the invention of
the elevator, the first skyscraper went up in Chicago in 1884.
Styles in American
Architecture:
The Seventeenth Century:
17th Century Colonial
- Term applies to both New England and Virginia architecture.
The Eighteenth Century:
Georgian (1714-1776):
English-inspired colonial architecture. Marked by a greater concern for
style and higher standards of comfort.
Neoclassicism
(c.1780-1820): There are several variations:
Federalist: Especially
common in New England; a traditionalist approach, heavily influenced by
English. Idealist: An intellectual and moral approach to classicism,
at first linked to Roman models. Symbolic and associational values
stressed.
Rationalist:
Emphasized structure and classical building techniques, such as stone
vaulting and domes.
The Nineteenth Century:
Greek Revival
(1818-1850): The first truly national style in the United States.
Strong associational values.
Gothic Revival (c.
1820-1860): Strong associational values of religion and nature.
The "Corporate
Style" (c.1800-1900): Practical architecture for engineering and
commercial purposes; especially early factories.
Egyptian Revival
(1820-1850): Used primarily for memorials, cemeteries, prisons, and later,
warehouses.
Italianate, or Italian
Villa Mode (1840-1860): A residential style used by A.J. Downing and
others; a Renaissance revival.
Second Empire Baroque
(1860-1880): French origin; used for public and residential architecture.
High Victorian Gothic
(1860-1880): English origin; used for ecclesiastical, public, and
residential architecture.
Richardsonian
Romanesque (1870-1895)
Shingle Style
(1879-1900): Used for residential architecture.
Chicago School
(1885-1915): Commercial architecture; skyscrapers.
New York Style
Skyscrapers (1875-1910): Typically use a historical style; block and tower
format.
Classical Revival
(1885-1920): Also called Academic Classicism, or Beaux-Arts Classicism.
Gothic (Collegiate Gothic) (1885-1930)
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY:
Prairie School
(1893-1920)
Wrightian, or Organic
Architecture (1920-1959)
Historicist
Skyscrapers (1900-1940)
Setback Style
Skyscrapers (1920-1950)
Art Deco (1925-1940):
Also called Art Moderne, Streamlined Modern.
International Style I
(Early Modern) (1929-1940), International Style II (1945-1970)
Formalism (1957-1996):
A renewed interest in monumental qualities and an interest in form for
expressive purposes.
Brutalism (1957-1996):
Characterized by the use of rough-cast concrete and massive forms.
Late Modern
(International Style III) (1970-1996)
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