{"product_id":"american-mediterraneans-a-study-in-geography-history-and-race-9780226819648","title":"American Mediterraneans: A Study in Geography, History, and Race","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eThe \"American Mediterranean\" was a term used by geographers, historians, novelists, and travel writers from the early nineteenth century to the 1970s to describe the Gulf-Caribbean region. This book explores the cultural work done by this type of unsystematic, open-ended comparative thinking, revealing a little-known racialized history that appealed to race-neutral ideas and ideals. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 208 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 20 May 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: The University of Chicago Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe concept of the \"American Mediterranean\" has been explored by geographers, historians, novelists, and travel writers since the early 19th century, gaining popularity as a term of art and folk idiom. Initially coined by naturalist Alexander von Humboldt during his visit to the Gulf-Caribbean region in the early 19th century, the term was later applied to Southern California, earning it the moniker \"Our Mediterranean, Our Italy!\" While the term \"American Mediterranean\" may not be as widely used today in the United States, it was once prevalent in French, Spanish, and English as a way to describe a region with shared cultural characteristics. In her book, Susan Gillman delves into the cultural significance of this comparative thinking, examining how it has shaped the understanding of the American Mediterranean over the past two centuries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmerican Mediterraneans: Tracing Two Centuries of a Geohistorical Concept explores the evolution of this concept from Humboldt's early 1800s observations to writers of the 1890s who reflected on the Pacific world of the California coast. It also examines the writings of writers from the 1930s and 40s who speculated on the political past and future of the Caribbean. By tracing the term's journey across disciplines and borders, American Mediterraneans uncovers a lesser-known racialized history that paradoxically appealed to a range of race-neutral ideas and ideals.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book begins by examining Humboldt's concept of the \"American Mediterranean,\" which he saw as a region characterized by a shared climate, flora, and fauna. Humboldt's observations were influenced by his belief in the unity of nature and the interconnectedness of all living things, and he saw the American Mediterranean as a testament to the potential for harmony between different cultures and environments.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs the concept of the \"American Mediterranean\" spread, it was embraced by writers and thinkers who saw it as a way to explore the cultural and political complexities of the region. In the 1890s, for example, writers such as Jack London and John Muir used the term to describe the natural beauty and cultural diversity of the California coast, highlighting its similarities to the Mediterranean region.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, the term also had racialized implications, particularly during the era of segregation and discrimination in the United States. Some writers and thinkers used the \"American Mediterranean\" to argue that the region was a haven for people of color, who could escape the oppressive conditions of the South and find a more welcoming environment in the West. This idea was particularly prevalent in the writings of African American authors such as W.E.B. Du Bois, who saw the California coast as a symbol of freedom and opportunity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite these racialized implications, the concept of the \"American Mediterranean\" continued to evolve and adapt over the years. In the 1930s and 40s, writers such as John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway used the term to describe the political and social unrest of the Caribbean region, highlighting its similarities to the Mediterranean region in terms of its history of colonization and resistance.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eToday, the term \"American Mediterranean\" may not be as widely used as it once was, but its legacy continues to shape our understanding of the region. The book explores the ways in which the concept has been used to promote race-neutral ideas and ideals, as well as the ways in which it has been used to perpetuate racial stereotypes and discrimination. It also examines the ways in which the concept has been adapted and reimagined by contemporary writers and thinkers, who are using it to explore the complex and interconnected relationships between different cultures and environments.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, American Mediterraneans: Tracing Two Centuries of a Geohistorical Concept is a valuable contribution to the study of the American Mediterranean and its cultural significance. By exploring the evolution of this concept over the past two centuries, the book reveals a little-known racialized history that has shaped our understanding of the region. It also highlights the ways in which the concept has been used to promote race-neutral ideas and ideals, as well as the ways in which it has been used to perpetuate racial stereotypes and discrimination. Through its examination of the term's journey across disciplines and borders, the book offers a fresh perspective on the cultural and political complexities of the American Mediterranean and its enduring legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 229 x 152 x 20 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780226819648\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Professor Susan Gillman","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44095384486138,"sku":"9780226819648","price":22.61,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/noImage_1_cebee050-d2f0-4037-8a55-22e964f01bdc.jpg?v=1653114506","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/american-mediterraneans-a-study-in-geography-history-and-race-9780226819648","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}