
Here is a surprising photographic survey of communal life in the American West from 1870 to the present. Many of the nearly three hundred photographs assembled here have never before been published. Some were discovered by Paul Kagan among the remains of vanished communities. Others, taken by Kagan himself, depict the present-day ruins of once thriving communes. The communities that these photographs and the accompanying text bring so vividly to life include the political, the religious, and the occult - from Fountaingrove and Icaria Speranza to Pisgah Grande and the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. All of them hold valuable lessons for the world of the future. As Paul Kagan writes: "The search for community is generally directed toward someplace 'over there.' Can the vision of the utopians be pursued here, in the context of life in the world?"
This book investigates the historical trajectory and physical remnants of intentional communities in the American West to determine if utopian visions can be sustained within the broader context of modern society. Paul Kagan, a researcher and photographer, utilizes a combination of archival discovery and original field photography to document the rise and fall of various communal experiments. By examining groups ranging from religious sects to political collectives, the author provides a framework for understanding the motivations and eventual outcomes of those who sought to establish alternative social structures.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts and readers frequently cite this work as a unique visual archive that captures the physical reality of utopian experiments that have otherwise vanished from public memory. The text is noted for its balance of historical narrative and evocative photography, making it a valuable resource for those interested in the intersection of American history and social architecture.
Page Count:
191
Publication Date:
1975-05-30
Publisher:
Penguin Books
ISBN-10:
0140039031
ISBN-13:
9780140039030
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