ridding along side the sunset; a look at a true california road.

When considering the massive amount of culture attributed to the car in California, one might manage to see how the very engineering of road paths was inspired. California is fraught with roads, highways, and interstates that journey from the exotic places to the crammed labyrinth of metropolis areas. John Ott describes the car cultures influence in his essay “landscapes of consumption” with the beginning development of California roads, capitalization on its places of natural beauty was the main concern of many automobile agencies to inspire a demand for driving (54). One of the most scenic roads developed is the now segmented highway “Old Highway 395”. Originally stretching from downtown San Diego all the way to the Canadian boarder the road once acted as a promising path through a diverse stretch of land, providing a picturesque expedition to any over burdened civilian looking for a relaxing escape. Passing through the Mojave Desert, slipping into the high desert of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains the road then slices in and out of Nevada to pass by Lake Tahoe and finally continuing through the North American high forest tropic. The Road becomes almost iconic in its way of becoming the escape that so many people who face the drollness of everyday life yearn for. There are also limited consumerism aspects with its path to the outer reaches of civilization. The limited towns it passes through makes for a journey to very simple and natural wonderment. This is what many dream of when they come to California, and on this road they find it.

Work cited.

John Ott

“Landscapes of consumption: Auto Tourism and cisual Culturin California,1920-1940”

Reading California art, image, and identity, 1900-2000

Highway 395

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_395

Comments

[Tyler Hay]

I like your explanation for why the Californa roads were built, and how they have become a "getaway." Your blog has reminded me of one other topic mentioned in John Ott's article, "Landscapes of Consumption," which is that the highway not only attracted automobile consumers, but also artists and advertisers. Much of the article elaborates upon this topic, stating that at one point in time billboards on roads were banned (58). These advertisements and artists who created them share just as big a role in the history of highway 395. This topic would require an entirely new post, so I'm not saying it should be added to yours... Great Job!