哈德逊河:如画风景与美国民族身份建构

The Hudson River:Picturesque Landscapes and the Construction of American National Identity

风景是建立民族认同感的最佳方式之一。哈德逊河被誉为“美国之河”,其独特的自然风景和文化风景成为早期美国的象征,是美国民族身份构建、寻找理想的“精神家园”之旅的参与者。从独立战争到美国内战前的19世纪中叶是美国自我意识觉醒和民族主义思想形成的关键时期,这一时期众多文学家、画家、历史学家和景观园艺家审时度势,借助哈德逊河的独特风景,从两个方面助力民族身份构建:一是通过描绘哈德逊河流域的如画风景美,激发美国人热爱家乡的情怀,培养民族意识,增强国家凝聚力;二是揭示河流风景背后的深层意义,从政治、文化、经济等层面为构建民族国家做出贡献。

Utilizing the role of landscape is a suitable method to create national identity.The Hudson River is regarded as the“River of America”,and its unique natural and cultural landscape make it a symbol of the United States.It is a participant in the construction of national identity within the journey to search for an idealistic spiritual home.From the War of Independence to the breaking out of the American Civil War,this mid-19 th century period was a crucial time for the awakening of American self-consciousness and the formation of nationalism.During this period,by presenting the regional landscape of the Hudson River,a large number of American writers,painters,historians and landscape gardeners helped to build national identity from two aspects to reflect the spirit of the time.First,they depicted the picturesque riverscape to inspire the American people’s love of their country,cultivated a sense of national belonging and strengthened national cohesion.Second,they attempted to reveal the deep political,cultural and economic implications of the river and made contributions to the construction of their nation-state.