Wilderness and the American Mind

FAIN: TC-50006-06

Catticus Corporation (Berkeley, CA 94710-2597)
Bill Jersey (Project Director: March 2006 to September 2007)

Consultation for a three-hour television series on the evolution of American thinking about the idea of wilderness from early European settlement to the present.

Wilderness and the American Mind (working title) is a three-hour television series for PBS inspired by Roderick Nash' influential book. The program will trace the fascinating evolution of American thinking that brought us from wilderness aversion to wilderness preservation and beyond. From before the arrival of American colonists to a terrifying New World, through the emergence of a "cult of wilderness" in the 19th century, and extending to today's debate over the meaning of wilderness, Quest Productions will tell the stories of the people, places and events that played critical roles in the development of the wilderness idea. Wilderness is a central theme of the American experience, impacting all aspects of our culture, including literature, philosophy, art, music and politics. The lens of wilderness will provide the producers with an opportunity to explore American history across all these disciplines and give voice to the leading wilderness thinkers of today.