Contested Landsacpe

         Contested Landscape

The Cockpit Country

The Cockpit Country is about 500 square miles of forested land in the west central region of Jamaica rich in biodiversity. The name Cockpit Country was given to the region by the British, the name came about due to the natural features of the region, the soil is predominantly made of limestone which does not retain water allowing rainwater to seep down into ground through cracks which gets wider over thousands of years creating a series of pits and valleys, and because of this numerous rivers and streams as well as caves can be found in the region. The region has been the center of a long ongoing conflict between the maroons and the Government of Jamaica.

The Cockpit Country is the home of numerous endemic species flora and fauna such as the Jamaican Boa and the yellow Beak Parrot. The region is also the home of the maroons, the maroons are African and Indigenous west indies slaves who escaped slavery and found refuge in the region when the British conquered the island from the Spanish. After the British gained control of the island there was constant warfare them and the maroons who over many years the maroons raided many slave plantations and freed thousands of slaves who then joined them. One of the most famous maroons in Jamaican history is ‘Nanny of the maroons’ who is today recognized as Jamaica’s only female national hero, she is believed to be from the Akan community which can be found in present day Ghana and was captured and sent to Jamaica where she was sold into slavery in the 18th Century. Nanny was a fierce military leader she orchestrated numerous attacks on the British who was trying to capture them and sell them back into slavery. She was also believed to have supernatural powers (witchcraft), and she was apart of the eastern maroons.

The British was unsuccessful I trying to defeat the maroons in the cockpit country leading the to them signing a peace treaty with the maroons 1793 after the first maroon war which made them free people and the land that they occupied officially became theirs. There are still people living in the cockpit country today who are the descendants of the people who fought for the land, they enjoy a great measure of freedom from government interference, and they pay no taxes.

Today there the Cockpit country is a contested landscape as the Jamaican Government does not see the maroons as owners of the entire cockpit country and this conflict has intensified over the years due to the discovery of bauxite in the region. Bauxite is the key mineral in the production of aluminum and due to this discovery, the government have been under pressure to exploit the resources which they see as a key asset to economic development, but the maroons alongside environmental activists continue to protest that the land does not belong the government of Jamaica and must be protected as a national heritage site. They also argue that mining in the region would be detrimental to the endemic flora and fauna in the region and the watershed which is the source of water for many regions in the island.

The government have spent years trying to resolve the issue of whether they should leave the area and consider it has a national heritage site or exploit the resources which could be crucial to the development of the country. The government have since came up with a plan where they would commence mining in the region, but a shield would be placed around the biodiverse areas, and ever since the Accompong maroon and their chief Richard Currie has tried to resist this by filing lawsuits against the government. Today contested landscapes are common around the world as governments believes land belongs them and not the people, and because of this conflict over land will be an ongoing issue for years to come.

 

Sources: 

Marie Widengard (2024) Saving the forest to secure their n Jamaica’s Cockpit

Country (Rev. ed) https://edgeeffects.net/cockpit-country-mining-conservation/

About Jamaica (2017) Cockpit Country in Jamaica: An amazing adventure of

limestone!” https://www.about-jamaica.com/cockpit-country-jamaica/

Gladstone Taylor (2022) Earth Island Journal “Jamaicas Cockpit country faces

growing threats from mining interests”

https://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/jamaicas-cockpit-

country-faces-growing-threats-from-mining-interests/

Contested Landscape: Church of the Holy Sepulcher

 Contested Landscape: The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the holiest site in the Christian faith. It is the sight were Jesus was Crucified, Buried, and rose from the dead. Due to this fact the site has been hotly contested by various groups for literally thousands of years. The first Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built by Constantine the Great in the year 336 AD. In the year 614 the Persians destroyed the original church, a few years later in 626 it was rebuilt and stood for nearly 400 years before being burned down by the Fatimid ‘mad caliph’ (his nickname) al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah in 1009. This and a number of other factors would result in the calling of the Crusades. In the 12^th century the Crusaders
would restore the church and give it it’s current appearance. Unfortunately however in 1808 a fire would destroy much of the church. 2 years later in 1810 the current church was built. The modern Church is actually six different Churches in one, the Church is divided by six different Apostolic Churches: Greek Orthodox, Latin Catholics, Armenian Orthodox, Copts, Ethiopians, and Syrian-Jacobite’s. Each sect controls a different part of the Church which results in different forms of artwork adorning different areas of the inside of the Church which makes for a completely unique look. The keys for the Church are actually owned by two Muslim families and have been for hundreds of years, there is a unique ceremony like event when the Church doors are opened everyday. The Holy Sepulcher is truly one of the most unique religious sites from around the world if not the most. Everything from who controls the church to the artwork inside of it is completely unique which makes for a one of a kind church going experience. To conclude: The Holy Sepulcher is the most hotly contested Church in all of history and as such operates in a completely unique way in order to keep the peace between various different sects and the wider religious world.

Landscape Essay: Beholding Eye Landscape

            Being a Pennsylvania native, born and raised just one hour outside of the iconic city of Philadelphia, the location has always been a keystone throughout my life. It is the epicenter of the entire state and the primary place to see concerts, sports, etc. However, it is also a very controversial landscape in the United States, especially depending on who you ask in other states across the country. There’s nearly an infinite number of ways one could view the city of Philadelphia. Some may see it as the “City of Brotherly Love”, but others may claim that it is a dirty, corrupt, or just a dangerous place overall.

            Personally, when I think of Philadelphia it reminds me of great and memorable nights for the sporting events and endless new places to explore. I am aware of the dangers of the city of Philadelphia; however, it is also hard to ignore the immense culture and hospitality of the city that many do not see. Many businesses in the city are small/family owned, building a great community in several locations throughout Philadelphia that often bring people together. In my experience I have found myself to cautiously love the city of Philadelphia for all it has to offer despite its glaring safety problems throughout.

            A citizen of Philadelphia would likely view the city differently to me, however, one’s view of the city greatly depends on the part of the city they were born in. For example, a southern Philadelphian will likely take more pride in the city as that is where many attractions and more developed areas lie. There is so much to love about the city, but a lot of it is in the southern area of Philadelphia. The lack of violence and corruption in this part of town would likely lead those raised here to have more pride in the city. On the other hand, someone born in Kensington or the northern Philadelphia area in general may view the city with much more disdain. There is an unbelievable drug crisis paired with violence that makes these areas terrifying to many to even visit. Living there is a whole other story. Being surrounded with so much negativity every day would likely taint anyone’s view of the city as a whole.

            Another pair of perspectives that likely differ when it comes to their views of Philadelphia would be a foreigner that despises the city and a foreigner that admires the city. Many citizens of other big cities throughout the country may have a competitive hate towards Philadelphia due to a branded theme of hostility that has been placed among the citizens. However, many people across the countries could likely appreciate the beauty and culture of Philadelphia and admire it for those reasons.

Invisible Landscape: Joe Paterno’s Statue

 

Outside of Beaver Stadium at Penn State, there are a few trees that were planted about 10 years ago on a patch of grass. This scene may look very average to the uninformed passerby, but there is a tumultuous history behind this area that is now invisible.  

Joe Paterno was a football coach at Penn State from 1966 to 2011. Within this time, the team got 24 wins, and Paterno received the most career wins for a Division 1 coach (Bertram, 2020). Joe was loved and well known by many players and students. In 2001, the artist Angelo DiMaria was commissioned by Paterno’s wife and friends to build a statue of him that would be placed in front of the stadium. The statue featured Paterno with his finger in the air, and behind him on the wall were football players running. Around the statue were plaques and a quote by Paterno. 

On November 5, 2011, Paterno was fired along with the Penn State president Graham Spanier (Bertram, 2020) when it was uncovered that Jerry Sandusky, the assistant football coach, had been abusing young boys for years. This had occurred from 1994 to 2009, and Paterno was accused of having knowledge of and covering up these acts. There was one incident in particular—Sandusky in the shower with a boy—that a graduate assistant named Mike Mc Queary (Hobson, 2018) reported to him in some amount of detail, and Paterno never alerted the authorities. Instead, he reported it to the athletic director at the time, Tim Curley. The lack of action that Paterno had regarding this incident led to his (and Curley’s) being fired from Penn State. This caused an uproar and even somewhat violent riots in the streets– a reporter was knocked out and a camera car was flipped over (Engel et al., 2021).

The NCAA also punished the Penn State football program, removing their wins since 1997 and reducing the amount of scholarships they were able to give out (Van Natta Jr, 2012). 

Only 74 days after being fired, Paterno died from lung cancer. This saddened many people, especially given the recent circumstances. 

In July of 2012, Penn State had the statue of Joe Paterno removed from outside Beaver Stadium. They did this early in the morning because they knew there would be an uproar. People had mixed reactions to this, and many were upset. Some thought it was an “act of cowardice” to remove the statue (Van Natta Jr, 2012) and others felt angry that the university did this with no warning. Angelo Di Maria, the artist who made the statue, was understandably sad and said that “He was a good man… He made a mistake” (Van Natta Jr, 2012).

Meanwhile, the trial continued. Sandusky continued to plead guilty, and men continued to come forward claiming to be victims and receiving compensation. In total, there were 52 alleged victims. In the end, Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of child abuse and sentenced to 30-60 years in prison. (Pallotto, 2024). In 2023, he appealed for another trial claiming to have more evidence, but the court rejected his request and he is still in prison today (Pallotto, 2024).  

People still argue about how much Paterno really knew about the case. Unfortunately, Paterno died before people could ask him a lot of questions about it. Joe Paterno’s legacy remains a controversial one. No one will dispute that he was an amazing football coach, but people argue about how, at all, his life should be commemorated. There are still grumblings about his statue being taken down. There are some that say it should be replaced, and there was talk about another statue of Paterno, reading a book, being placed in a different area. Others argue that the focus on Paterno must be painful for the survivors and their families, and the less visual representation of him in the town, the better. (Doyel Apr 24, 2015)

This situation leads us to an important question about who should be commemorated in our communities and on a larger scale. It’s also an interesting example of how different people can have different views about the same event that occurred. While everyone agreed that Sandusky was guilty, many people believed Paterno was innocent.

The landscape is now invisible because to someone who doesn’t know the history behind the area, it is just a patch of grass. But to the informed person, this patch of grass carries a weight and a meaning to it that is hard for them to put into words. The site where Paterno’s statue used to be has a story that came from a tragedy in the community. 

This is a story about certain influential members of a community (the Board of Trustees at Penn State) choosing what they want our community’s cultural landscape to look like and making the rest invisible. Although not everyone agreed with the decision to take the statue down, the Board of Trustees were the ones who got to make that decision. However, Paterno’s legacy is still spread throughout State College. The Paternos donated a lot of money to Penn State, and this is visible in many parts of the town. Paterno Library is named after him, as are many other smaller places—a bar at the Nittany Lion Inn is called Dear Joe—and the local Texas Roadhouse still has his face and a quote of his on the wall. The Creamery even has an ice cream flavor named after him called Peachy Paterno. Therefore, even though the Board voted to remove his statue, they didn’t erase the mark he made on Penn State, and he will always be associated with this place. Even the invisible statue outside of Beaver Stadium is a reminder to many and holds a cultural significance in State College.

    Sources:

Doyel                                                                                                                                                                                Apr 24, G. (2015, June 2). A statue for Joe Paterno? are memories really that short?. CBSSports.com. https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/a-statue-for-joe-paterno-are-memories-really-that-short/

Hobson, W. (2018). What did Joe Paterno really know about the Sandusky scandal at Penn State? - The Washington Post. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/04/07/what-did-joe-paterno-really-know-about-the-sandusky-scandal-at-penn-state/

 

Bertram, C. (2020). The rise and fall of Joe Paterno. Biography. https://www.biography.com/crime/joe-paterno-rise-fall-reputation

 

Tikkanen, A. (2024, September 27). Joe Paterno. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joe-Paterno

CNN Editorial Research. (2024, April 24). Penn State scandal fast facts. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2013/10/28/us/penn-state-scandal-fast-facts/index.html

 

Engel, J., King, K., Frisina, C., Sizemore, T., & McGowan, L. (2021, December 3). Recounting penn state’s largest riot after the firing of Joe Paterno. The Daily Collegian. https://www.psucollegian.com/sandusky/recounting-penn-state-s-largest-riot-after-the-firing-of-joe-paterno/article_5e0690ac-5390-11ec-a8a0-9f57ebcadec7.html

Jr., D. V. N. (n.d.). Joe Paterno statue taken down. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8188530/joe-paterno-statue-removed-penn-state-university-beaver-stadium

 

Pallotto, B. (2024, September 19). Pa court upholds rejection of ex-PSU coach Jerry Sandusky’s latest bid for a new trial. Centre Daily Times. https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/crime/article292743849.html

Symbolic Landscape- The statue of Liberty

 Symbolic Landscape- Brooke Steed

    Throughout life, there are many different areas that hold symbolic meaning, some holding multiple, for many different reasons. One of the big symbolic landscapes for all people in the United States is the Statue of Liberty. It means many different things for many different people. One example is for Americans who were born here. The Statue of Liberty for us symbolizes our love and pride for the country that we live in. Many people take trips to the Statue of Liberty to see it in person and take in that symbolism of the patriotic nature of our country. For Americans who have immigrated into our country, the Statue of Liberty symbolizes a new life for them. It truly is one of the main landscapes of the United States, and it represents the new freedom and new opportunities that they will get in their new home. According to the National Park Service, “Between 1866 and 1924, almost 14 million immigrants entered the United States through New York. The Statue of Liberty was a reassuring sign that they had arrived in the land of their dreams. To these anxious newcomers, the statue’s uplifted torch did not suggest ‘enlightenment’ as her creators intended, but rather ‘welcome.’ Over time, Liberty emerged as the ‘Mother of Exiles,’ a symbol of hope to generations of immigrants.” Even the original creators had a symbolic meaning behind the Statue of Liberty. It was given to the United States as a gift from France, symbolizing the American-French friendship, a form of symbolism in itself. There was also a ton of symbolism included when designing the statue of liberty. The Ellis Island Foundation states “Bartholdi’s design encompassed much symbolism: her crown representing light with its spikes evoking sun rays extending out into the world: the tablet, inscribed with July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals, noting American independence: to symbolize the end of slavery, Bartholdi placed a broken shackle and chains at the statues foot.” With this being said, the statue of liberty is the perfect example of a symbolic landscape. The original design was made with symbolism in mind, making it a place where people would want to come visit to truly look at not only how amazing America is now, but really how far it has come. It even included some of the negative aspects, like slavery, but the positive side of when it ended. This helps to symbolize how far the nation has come and just one of the positive changes that happened over time. Even the actual location itself for the Statue of Liberty is symbolic. Putting it on Liberty Island, which is right next to Ellis Island, meant that not only every boat that entered the New York Harbor would see it and be reminded of the values and freedom of America, but every immigrant that came through Ellis Island would be able to see it and envision themselves and the freedom that they were going to have in their new home in America. Not only is it symbolic for the people coming into America however, also for Americans who were born here it is a representation of the freedom that we have. Every young student in America learns about the Statue of Liberty, and how we got it from France in grade school, showing how important it is to Americans that it is a universal staple in the school curriculum. In fact, it is such an important symbolic landscape that the United States is no longer the only country with a Statue of Liberty, although it is the only true one. According to “Wanderlust and Lipstick”, “More than 15 countries have a replica of the ‘Liberty enlightening the world’ including France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Kosovo, Ukraine, Japan, Vietnam, China, Ecuador, Peru, and Pakistan.” The Statue of Liberty truly is one of the most important symbolic landscapes, not only in the United States, but around the world as a whole. 

Works Cited 

National Park Service. “The Immigrant’s Statue - Statue of Liberty National

Monument (U.S. National Park Service).” Nps.gov, 2016,

www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/the-immigrants-statue.htm.

Shepherd, Beth. “Four Statues of Liberty That Are Not in New York.” Pampers and

Pakhlava, 15 Oct. 2015,

wanderlustandlipstick.com/blogs/pamperspakhlava/2015/10/15/four-statues-of-liberty-that-are-not-in-new-york/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

The Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. “Overview + History | Statue of

Liberty.” Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, 28 Feb. 2020,

www.statueofliberty.org/statue-of-liberty/overview-history/.

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Abbee Fries - The Beholding Eye: Five Views of the Same Scene – Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon)

 

The Beholding Eye: Five Views of the Same Scene – Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon)

Photo taken by Abbee Fries

Much of our perspective on life comes from our background and our upbringing. This is partially why many people have different opinions on certain circumstances and situations in life. I think different opinions and perspectives our extremely important when shared respectfully to help improve society as a whole.

            This is a photo of the beautiful Pine Creek Gorge also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. It is 47 miles long and 1,000 ft. deep (“Pa Grand Canyon”). It was formed during the Ice Age and is now managed by the Tioga State Forest District as a natural area protected by the government (“Pa Grand Canyon”). Today, the canyon is used as a natural place for people to site-see, hike the trails, bike the rail trail, kayak and white water raft the creek, fish, snowshoeing, ride horses, bird watching, and simply just enjoy nature.

            From this view, 5 people could interpret this in incredibly different ways. Hypothetically, this is a completely different scene for an ecologist, hiker/biker, contract developer, spiritual being, and a small child. Despite being the exact same scene, these people will have completely different views of the scenery in front of them. That is what makes life such an interesting experience for everyone.

            An ecologist is someone who studies the environment and how everything interacts with each other. As an ecologist, this view is somewhat overwhelming because of all the interactions you know are happening beneath the surface to make this ecosystem what it is. An ecologist at Pine Creek Gorge would find the diverse ecosystem and geological formations in this area fascinating. The combination of forests, wildlife, and creek flowing throughout the middle of the gorge provides an immense amount of areas for an ecologist to study and observe. The PA Grand Canyon provides many opportunities for an ecologist to observe the interconnectedness of different species and natural processes within the canyon's environment. An ecologist might also be wondering about the amount and variation of native plants, animals, and insects in this area, as the more native organisms in an area, the healthier the environment is.

A hiker/biker at Pine Creek Gorge would love to explore this area because of its countless areas to participate in their hobbies. Avid hikers and bikers are drawn to the Pine Creek Gorge partly for its natural beauty and partly for the opportunities it has. The landscapes are breathtaking, the terrain varies based on the area you are in the canyon, and the trails are well-maintained. Pine Creek Gorge’s opportunities to conquer challenging, rugged trails, take a calming bike ride on the rail trail along the creek in between the canyon, and discover hidden parts of paradise with amazing wildlife along the way, makes this perfect for all levels of outdoor recreationists. Although, hikers and bikers should be warned, rattlesnakes like to sunbathe on the middle of the trail! These are some of the things that bikers/hikers would notice and think about while looking at this scene.

A contract developer might have a slightly different view of this scene. Based on their profession, they may be used to looking at areas and thinking about their potential in a business scenario. They might be wondering how they could attract more people to this beautiful area. The neighboring town, Wellsboro, could be considered by the realtor as they think about hotels, Airbnb’s, and restaurants in the area to increase the popularity of this place.

Someone who is spiritual by nature is likely observing and taking in the view around them, just happy to be there. No matter what exactly they believe, a spiritual being would be in awe of a place like Pine Creek Gorge.

A small child might not know the significance of a natural area as big as Pine Creek Gorge. Likely their parents brought them to explore and have some family time. If the child is old enough to walk, they’ll likely use all of their energy in the first few minutes and then be tired the rest of the walk or time there. They may not fully comprehend its beauty like their parents will.

Works Cited

“Pa Grand Canyon.” Wellsboro Chamber Of Commerce, 25 Aug. 2023,
wellsboropa.com/index.php/vacation-wellsboro/pa-grand-canyon#:~:text=Pine%20Creek%20Gorge%20is%20a,(West%20Rim)%20State%20Parks.

 

Neolocal Landscape - Covered Bridge Coffee Roasters

 Neolocal Landscape – Covered Bridge Coffee Roasters 

Small businesses often have a great deal of competition from corporate giants selling the same product that they are. Massive scale production and convenience give corporations a leg up in sales and building an audience. However, this doesn’t mean that smaller businesses can’t hold their own. Often utilizing the local charm and tradition of the area that they are located, “neolocal” businesses aim to captivate an audience of people from right in their backyard. 

The neolocal business I will be discussing is the Covered Bridge Coffee Roasters. While you might not have heard of them, this little shop is located just five minutes away from my house, so I’ve paid them quite a few visits! The location is kind of small and in a somewhat odd building, but I see a certain charm in the place and their little coffee cart. Though some neolocal companies may try to stay extremely local, Covered Bridge does ship their products throughout the country. However, a majority of their customers and businesses that they supply are locals of Bucks county, with their delivery service operating within 15 miles of their Feasterville location. 

There are a couple of things that make this landscape a particularly local one besides their singular public location. The name of this place is a direct reference to a Bucks County specific attraction: the covered bridges. The roaster’s logo also features one of these bridges in its iconic red and white color scheme. There are twelve of these structures throughout the county, with Bucks County being “one of the birthplaces of covered bridge building in America” (https://www.visitbuckscounty.com/things-to-do/covered-bridges/). Though it is, in my opinion, a somewhat dull attraction to be known for, this is one of the factors that makes the area distinct from others around the country. The Covered Bridge Coffee Roasters utilizing this attraction in their name and logo draws attention to its local roots, as well as attracts other locals who may recognize this symbol.  

As well as the name and logo being representative of local imagery and history, the company has curated their own roast blends that are named after some of the bridges individually. These include the Mood’s Covered Bridge Blend, the Loux Covered Bridge Blend, Frankenfield Covered Bridge Blend, Frankenfield Covered Bridge Blend, Schofield Ford Covered Bridge Blend, and Pine Valley Covered Bridge Blend (https://www.coveredbridgecoffeeroasters.com/store/c12/Signature__Blends.html#/). The blends also include a bit of the bridges’ histories on their website descriptions. This is also evidence of the company’s neolocalism; the emphasis on local history and landmarks not only appeals to locals in the area, but also helps educate others on what makes this area/company unique to others with similar products.  

One limiting factor for this company’s local production is location. While many local companies are able to source their products locally, coffee beans specifically are not something typically grown in Pennsylvania or even a majority of the U.S. However, this doesn’t stop the company from playing a big part in the local production. Though the beans are imported from other countries, they are roasted, ground, and blended locally. The Covered Bridge Coffee Roasters’ effort to include local history, imagery, and production in the company all contribute to its neolocal nature as a landscape.