A big question arising out of our “desert and canyon” unit has been what people ought to do with the beautiful natural landscapes of the American West. Should these landscapes be used for our enjoyment, as in movies and theme parks? Should they be protected and set aside for environmental reasons? Or perhaps there should be some compromise between these two extremes, as with the National Parks? Another, related question is who gets to lay claim to these landscapes—the indigenous peoples who were there first, the settlers who came later, the tourists who came still later, etc.
In this essay, give your take on these topics, using the assigned listening and reading from this unit to support your position. You do not need to answer all of the questions I have posed here, but your essay should advance a single, clearly defined argument. Be sure to discuss at least one musical example in some detail, citing specific compositional techniques, lyrics, etc. whenever possible. Incorporate references to the assigned readings and/or class lectures as you see fit; if you do, be sure to include full citations in the format of your choosing (MLA, Chicago, etc). Your essay should be roughly 800–1000 words in length, but it is ok if it is a little shorter or a little longer.