Imaginary Florida: Multimedia Companion Project Sample

This is a quick and dirty sample of Multimedia Companion that students in RP 300 Florida History have the option to create as a supplement to their essay analysis.
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Florida, perhaps more than other states, has been and continues to be marked by the interplay between imagined expectation and real experience. While the recent academic works Land of Sunshine, State of Dream: A Social History of Modern Florida (2005) and Paradise Lost? The Environmental History of Florida (2005) address Florida’s social and environmental histories, and as substantial analyses such as The New History of Florida (1996) and Florida’s Working-Class Past: Current Perspectives on Labor, Race, and Gender from Spanish Florida to the New Immigration (2008) explore the intersections of the state’s political and economic concerns, an examination of popular depiction of the state highlight the assumptions that have defined the state for decades. In this multimedia presentation, I will in address some of these issues.

The citrus industry has defined Florida for decades. This postcard serves as perfect example of the way people in and outside the state see this iconic industry. The postcard fails to address the complex process associated with cultivating citrus, instead we see marks of commerce and consumption.

Exporting agricultural staples provide one view of Florida, but the state also is defined by the fantastic wildlife unique to it. Here, a classic postcard present alligators with little in the way of clarification about them. Symbolic of the state, but not fully understood, these wild creatures provide a symbol of Florida wildness close at hand.

The idea of dangerous wildlife in Florida represents vision of the state, yet any consideration of the imagery suggests a conflict vision of paradise. Wild flowers and tropical landscape dominate popular depictions. The tension between a wild and dangerous Florida versus a paradisaical Florida is clear.

Modernization brings the idea of Florida as wild wonderland and Florida as paradise together in powerful ways. The evolution of postcard images mirror the growth of population consuming the state's resources.

At some level, the Florida city represent the reconciliation of the competing narratives of the state's existence. On the one hand, the city represents a civilizing space where the dangers pose by nature have been brought under control. On the other hand, natural splendor is never far from the Florida urban experience. You can always hope into your car and experience the natural wonders after a short drive.

Primary Source doc. for ID Paper #3

I have found a lot of NY Times articles that deal directly with my topic: accessibility and growth of Florida. One such article is titled "New Roads South," was published in 1950 and discusses the $142,000,000 Florida planned to spend improving its roads and bridges. This was the largest state highway construction program in history up to that date. The improvement of the highway system, when coupled with other such improvements as pest control (DDT) and air conditioning made the state a much more appealing, accessible, and economically successful in the 50's.

What is the real Florida for visitors?

Visitors coming to Florida see us as a sunny, warm, beach life with Disney World on the side. We are a land of leisure and fun. We are a place to relax and have no worries. Florida has always been a place where everyone can come and have a good time and take a break from the real world. We are also seen as a land for retirement with lots of homes and land available. Compared to up north we have a lot more space and everything is much more spread out so the hustle and bustle of city life is lessened. People also see Florida as nature. There are endless lands of green and beauty along with wildlife everywhere.

What is the real Florida for visitors?

As Mormino states in the introduction of Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams, “Florida remains a state of enchanted reality” (2). The real Florida for visitors is whatever they believe it to be. That statement may seem subjective, but Florida, viewed as this “land of sunshine, state of dreams,” offers people any number of things they come looking for. For many, Florida is a place to bask in the sun, sip cocktails, and avoid the chill of their northern homes—the real Florida for them is Siesta Key in Sarasota. For others, the real Florida is a place where large homes won’t be repossessed in the occurrence of bankruptcy—they find this in any of the clusters of mcmansions and gated communities around the state. For still others, the real Florida is the natural Florida—they wonder at the deepness of Wakulla Springs, the expanse of the Everglades, the majesty of an osprey circling the Gulf. What separates the Florida reality from other such states as California, is that here, reality is affordable and available for massive amounts of people.

How the environment shaped perception of Florida?

Florida's environment has been one of the highest driving forces for colonization. I mean the land maybe treacherous which is obvious from the saw grass and the wildlife, but with it's climate and rich soil the land proved to have endless possibilities. Mostly though there just seemed to be an endless supply. Florida is always seen as a land that can be used and molded to fit the interests of the settlers. It could be farm land, hold cattle, homes, business, and just in general people. We just had to mold it correctly was the thought process. But outsiders will always think of Florida has a land with wildlife in a warm climate with beaches and warm waters. We are almost considered a part of the Caribbean with how deeply our tip plunges into the gulf. We are an oasis that's still part of home to everyone in other states of the U.S. Then there is our everglades which no one else can rival in splendor and beauty it has been dramatized many times in many ways through media, culture, art, song, and writing. We still even find it on TV. We are presented as a civilized wilderness. Without our Everglades I truly believe Florida would not be such an attraction until this day. Our environment makes up the entirety of our perception of Florida.

How has the environment shaped perceptions of Florida?

The first Europeans who came to Florida talked about its vast and untamed wilderness. Later, in the First Spanish Period, the British Period, and the Second Spanish period, that same environment was viewed as land to be controlled and used for plantation crops. Still in the first part of the twentieth century, this mentality pervaded—that the Florida environment was something to be beaten down and controlled in order to make the land usable and profitable for that generation and those to come. The Florida environment has historically induced people to view the state as a place of opportunity, a place to find land, and ultimately a destination. For the past few decades, perceptions of Florida in terms of the environment have changed. Now, we understand the mistakes we made in the past, which destroyed so much of the natural ecosystem and landscape. Although Florida is still viewed as a destination (largely because of its natural attractions), ideas of conservation and environmental rebirth now dominate when the Florida environment is invoked.

Extra Credit Post

It is funny how things have changed so drastically. Back in the late 19th and early 20th century, the main goal was to drain the everglades, and create a more livable habitat so farmers could have the perfect land and growing conditions for their crops. Although there was a few environmentally conscience people out there who tried to stop the draining and developing, it was not nearly as intense as it is now. about half of the everglades is gone today, and we are now trying to reclaim what we have lost. Florida has been inhabited, it is no longer the mystical land that it was believed to be by many early settlers. Who would have thought that one day the government would be buying houses back, to make way for the everglades.

David McCullough

David McCullough's lecture was one of the finest talks I have ever been luck enough to attend. The thing that resonates with me the most is something he said in the very beginning of his lecture-- "You can't love something you don't know." Simple, but profound in its pure truth. Throughout my life I have found that I am enthralled with the history of things I love: archery, ecology, the South, my family, Florida, etc.. As I go deeper into the history of these things I find that they are even more amazing than I ever realized before. The centuries of history of the thing I love have all led me to be the person I am today.

Another one of McCullough's points was "go where things happened." I'm sure that he would fully support our study of Florida's vast history. We are in the heart of where the action took place. Edenville is just a short car ride away. One of Florida's key Civil War Battles was fought a few miles from my home. We are in the heart of what we are learning.

Another great quote that must have been specifically directed to Tyler: "History is NOT just about politics and the military--its everything." See Tyler...

Extra Credit Post

Extra Credit Post

My favorite part of class so far has been the in class discussions. This allows me to enhance what I have learned from reading the textbooks. I was pretty shocked when I was not terribly knowledgeable trusts that were set up with Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie.

I have also found out that Florida’s role in the civil war was very interesting. For one I didn’t know the South was able to maintain control over Florida throughout the whole conflict. I also didn’t realize that Florida had a few significant battles occur such as the Battle of Olustee. I didn’t realize how well set up Florida’s railway was for the Civil War.

Discuss Florida's Evolution During the 19th century

Many things happened in Florida during the nineteenth century. One of the most significant was the fact that Florida was admitted into the United States of America. Another significant event in the 19^th century for Florida was the Civil War. Florida was the third state to secede from the Union. Florida did better than many Confederate States. For example the Union was never was able to capture Florida. Also none of Florida’s cities got destroyed nearly as bad as other Southern cities such as Atlanta. Florida provided many goods to The Confederate States utilizing Florida’s rail system. Examples of good supplied by Florida would include but not limited to corn, cattle, beef and salt. Many Floridians also fought in the Civil War. During reconstruction Florida played an instrumental role in helping other states by using its rail system.