Overview: There are many photos I could have selected that represent the same type of Americana as the one above. This particular photograph shows 11 men seated on a steel girder and enjoying their lunch. We know almost nothing about the identity of these men or what their lives were like. We know the name of the man who's building they were constructing, however. The photograph is commonly misattributed to the construction of the Empire State Building but was actually taken during the construction of the Rockefeller Center. To many, this photograph represents the indomitable spirit of American daring and progress. Viewers rarely stop to think about the men that lost limbs or lives for poor wages, building a skyscraper for a billionaire.
Screencast: Screencast 16
Big Question: How do we introduce students to the idea that "progress" is unsustainable?
Interactive Site: This interactive site features a world population counter. While increases in population used to be attributed to American progress, we realize today growth at this rate is unsustainable. This site is ecologically minded and is an excellent way to demonstrate to students that our current conceptualization of growth and progress is unsustainable.
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