Manufacturing National Park Nature: Photography, Ecology, and the Wildnerness Industry of Jasper

One of Canada's major travel destinations for over a century, Jasper National Park is a region of immense natural beauty. In this book, Cronin (Visual Arts, Brock University) looks at the ways in which the visual imagery used in postcards, brochures, tourist photos, and other media has not only shaped our view of Jasper, but also our understandings of the natural world and our place within it. Looking at four themes-- wilderness, recreation, wildlife, and fake nature--the author shows how they ways that railway companies, park and government officials, journalists, and environmentalists have packaged Jasper as a tourist wonderland have made it difficult to see (and deal with) the very real threats to the area's wildlife and ecosystems. The book is generously illustrated with reproductions of tourist brochures and posters, postcards, tourist snapshots, and other Jasper-related ephemera. Distributed by UTP Distribution. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)