"From what we know, the American ideal of the West—that wide open, vast, and unexplored place—is deeply intertwined with the concept of travel... ...Thus, the country’s development as a nation has coincided with its expansion westwards. In this way, “West” has come to mean a sort of youthful optimism and a beginning for many Americans..." But “West” is not without its problems. |
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"Under blue sky, above red mesa, steeped in traditional American alien lore, the four make their way to a campsite just outside of Roswell, New Mexico... ...For all its stunning beauty, the sky appears ravenous to my eyes..." They used to detonate atomic bombs in the Nevada desert. They used to bill patrons for atomic cocktails, for “sky rooms” providing world-class seats to the image of a mushroom cloud. They used to advertise the end of the world. |