Colossus of Roads - 9780816636723

Colossus of RoadsMyth and Symbol Along the American Highway\nAuthor(s): Karal Ann Marling\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: University of Minnesota Press, United States\nImprint: University of Minnesota Press\nISBN-13: 9780816636723, 978-0816636723\nSynopsis\nA rich and lively examination of this curious and pervasive tradition.\n\nThe worlds largest prairie chicken, a restaurant shaped like a fish, a massive Paul Bunyan, an enormous ear of corn-roadside sculpture is a uniquely American phenomenon, and these strange and wonderful figures are scattered along highways and standing in small-town squares, particularly in the Midwest.\n\nThese odd, oversized attractions have become destinations for travelers. Whether it serves art, commerce, or local pride, the colossus is a stopping place where the everyday rules of reality are suspended and the observer can gain insight into the way these communities imagine themselves.\n\nKaral Ann Marling visits dozens of these roadside attractions, view.