Abstract
Pastoral and Monumental, the latest contribution to the history of dams in America by scholar Donald C. Jackson, is a compelling text that provides a dual narrative on the evolution of dams both as physical objects of technological mediation and as objects of public curiosity and socially constructed opinion. The first narrative in the text is that of Jackson, himself a longtime academic researcher on dam technology and the writer of several previous books on the subject. In this narrative, we read the voice of an expert historian, as he demonstrates a vast knowledge on the civil engineering, materials and construction, political economy, utility, and occasional disaster, relating to the role of dams in modern society. The second narrative is provided through the use of a visual methodology; specifically, Jackson uses a vast collection of postcards that he acquired over the course of 30 years as the main data source. Over 400 reproductions are included in the text, which demonstrate not only the shifting views on dams and their utility but also how the advancement of photo-technology contributed to the expression and sharing of views on matters both public and private. While today proposals for dam construction are often socially viewed as deracination projects causing the displacement of the poor and powerless, or as environmental and ecological hazards, Pastoral and Monumental focuses on the mid-19th to mid-20th century during the construction heyday of many American dams to advise a cautious view that recognizes the various factors that contribute to, and construct, opinions seen by the public as both timely and appropriate.
The book chronicles the shift of dams from small projects that seamlessly integrate into the natural surroundings forming pastoral landscapes, to monolithic structures celebrating the raw force of human ingenuity and domination over the natural world. This dichotomy, however, is only expressed in idyllic terms, so while there are views evidenced in the supporting postcards that show the ideal versions of both pastoral and monumental dams, the majority fall somewhere along a continuum, neither fully one nor the other. Jackson is aware that these photographs give both the appearance of objective scenes captured by the camera, and that they invite the reader to form subjective interpretations crafted through the subjective views of the person behind the shutter who frames a particular vantage. But it is precisely these subjective views that Jackson is after when he turns to the postcard, because “dam postcards comprise a telling thread in a complex narrative tapestry about America’s cultural and environmental landscape that people shared with—and expressed to—one another” (p. 11). The spread of postcard culture has a whole chapter devoted to it, tracing the technological progress of the camera, the political insight of the U.S. Congress in the creation of the Postal Service, and the many economic and social interests that took advantage of this novel and emergent means of long-distance communication.
The rest of the book is dedicated to the many facets of dam construction and function, which are surprisingly well documented in Jackson’s postcard collection. First, economic issues are addressed, including the utility of water power in early industrial practices; job creation in the design, construction, and maintenance of the dams; use for recreational activities; use for flood control; and ultimately the use of dams as hydroelectric power generators fueling an electrically dependent American lifestyle. The longest section of the book is dedicated to the political climate in America, with special focus on the New Deal policies instituted by Franklin D. Roosevelt and carried out through Truman’s administration. One of the strong points of the text is that it brings attention to the long, and still continuing, debate over the merits of private versus public ownership of regional utilities. When it comes to the subject at hand, Jackson highlights the major role private enterprise played in spreading dam technology, and how the view of governmental control over this technology is in part due to key public relation drives intended to bring public support to the New Deal policies. The text also draws attention to the unintended economic benefits that arose out of World War II, which provided a market demand for excess power and served as a post hoc justification for these major dam projects, giving the appearance of an ever prescient Roosevelt. Jackson concludes the text with a brief look at the roots of the environmentalist movement against the construction of new dams. While the effect on fish populations has been a worry since the beginning of these monumental projects, contemporary ecological concerns have taken on a decidedly different flavor than the historical examples indicate, shifting from idealist notions of a divinely bestowed nature to human restraint and the conservation of nature for future generations.
Pastoral and Monumental is, however, not without its limitations. Most are related to the narrow scope of the project. While it frequently hints at a much larger picture, that is, the role of dams in the contemporary world, this text is limited by both the space (America) and the time (mid-19th to mid-20th century) of its focus. Jackson skillfully anticipates this limitation and frequently reminds the reader that the information in the book is restricted to his data set, and he certainly crafts a book that holds true to the images found on the postcards. However, when the scope of the argument intends to demonstrate how cultural views shift as technology expands its presence in our lives, the reader is left to fill in the gap between the American golden age of dams and the current concerns that the developing world is facing as they embark on major dam projects. Nevertheless, these gaps to not detract from Jackson’s message, and that is, as we solve one problem with technology, we often create new and unforeseen problems. Thus, the debate should not be dogmatic on either side but rather a conversation is needed that addresses both the concerns and the benefits in the use of this technology.
This is a book that requires at least two readings. The first is to simply read through the well-crafted written narrative, the second is to read through the often beautiful visual narrative. While at times they complement each other nicely, far too often the layout prohibits a smooth transition between the two and frustrates the reader who wishes to read them simultaneously. This is evidenced by the many instances when the written text stops, at times mid-sentence, and does not pick up again until several pages later. The book does deliver an informative example of how scholars can effectively use visual methodologies, and Jackson provides us with a great example of both the strengths and weaknesses associated with using this type of data in Pastoral and Monumental. Ultimately, this wonderfully illustrated book will be more at home with the layperson interested in the history of this technology and the debates surrounding it, as it weaves a simple narrative that adequately wets our appetite for the subject matter, but in the end left this reader turning to the bibliography wanting more.