Geographic Perspectives: The United States of America

Geographic Perspectives: The United States of America, part of a six-volume series entitled Geography for Students, suggests that geography extends far beyond basic statistical and topographical facts and figures to reveal connections between the land and its people. A friendly teen host guides viewers through key aspects of U.S. geography, dividing the country into three types of regions—formal, functional, and perceptual—but always coming back to the human element (instead of simply naming U.S. physical features, the program discusses, for example, the transformation of the “Great American Desert” into the Great Plains, examines the impact of 2005's Hurricane Katrina, and points out America's responsibilities as the largest worldwide source of greenhouse emissions). The program concludes with a cultural study of regional ethnic groups, reminding viewers that the history of the U.S. is in many ways “a history of its immigrants.” Combining excellent archival footage, fast-paced editing, and a script that challenges the stale notion that geography is simply about maps, this is an excellent overview. The other titles in the series are: Environment & Society, Human Systems, Physical Systems, Places & Regions, and The World in Spatial Terms. Highly recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)