Recorded Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Join Thomas Zeller as he presents a talk based on his book, “Consuming Landscapes: What We See When We Drive and Why It Matters.” Zeller explains how what we see while driving reflects our view of societies and ourselves. When the automobile was still young, an early twentieth-century group of designers sought to build scenic roads that would immerse drivers in the landscapes that they were traversing. Indeed, these professionals envisioned cars and roads, if properly managed, as saviors of the environment. As cars became more popular, however, drivers became less interested in enchanted views; safety became more important than beauty. These clashes between designers and drivers resulted in different visions of landscapes made for automobiles and the kinds of roads we drive today.