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Showmanship vs. Reality on reality TV wild animal shows.
by Bill Lamar
The
abundance of nature oriented television shows is a blessing and a curse.
After an auspicious beginning with properly researched and well-filmed
documentaries, ratings—largely a function of the preferences of the
sofa-set—began to change their direction. One can see the transition
from inspired work such as the films by
Sir David Attenborough to features that showcase sweating pseudo-Tarzans
spewing words like “jungle,” “aggressive,” “survival,” etc. They have
devolved into tired depictions of Man vs. Nature that inevitably cast
the natural world as something dangerous and in need of conquering….
and, of course, they showcase anything with blood. What was a lofty and
necessary pursuit has degenerated into cheap thrills.
Read the entire article at
http://www.GreenTracks.com/pub/Show-Reality.html
THE AMAZON, PART I: Origin of the Amazon Basin
By William W. Lamar
Eons
prior to the Panama Canal the Atlantic Ocean brushed lips with the
Pacific across a tranquil strait dividing the great landmass that is
modern South America. What we call Venezuela and the Guianas formed an
ancient Tertiary fortress that blocked the open Atlantic to the north,
while what is now Brazil and the rest of the continent,
by dint of sheer size, kept the oceans apart to the south. After two
of the earth’s plates, in a Miocene crash of epic proportions, dueled to
a tectonic tie, the Andes emerged, magnificent and gleaming, from a sea
of roiling foam.
Read the entire article at
http://www.greentracks.com/pub/Amazon-part-1.html
THE AMAZON, PART II: Discovery of the Amazon
By William W. Lamar
There
is an ancient cemetery at Triana, on the Guadalquivir River in Spain.
Its gravestones and plaques are mute reminders of a colorful Sevillian
culture and tradition from Moors and Sephardis to gypsies, flamenco
dancers, matadors, and ceramicists to Torquemada and The Inquisition.
Read the entire article at
http://www.greentracks.com/pub/Amazon-part-2.html
