Colossus of Roads: Myth and Symbol Along the American Highway

by Karal Ann Marling

Book Overview

A rich and lively examination of this curious and pervasive tradition.

The world's largest prairie chicken, a restaurant shaped like a fish, a massive Paul Bunyan, an enormous ear of corn-roadside sculpture is a uniquely American phenomenon, and these strange and wonderful figures are scattered along highways and standing in small-town squares, particularly in the Midwest.

These odd, oversized attractions have...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0816636729
• ISBN13: 9780816636723
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Folk Art Meets Capitalism

Titanic fish, overgrown birds, and a victory statue involving an impaled insect aren't likely to be found in the Louver, but they're a part of the American landscape, particularly in the north-central region. Despite introductory passages which reveal a solidly academic background and viewpoint, this book is a useful and entertaining guide to the out-sized outdoor sculptures designed to draw and hold travelers' attention. "Colossus" is not encyclopedic: so far as I can tell, the 2000 edition fails to note the Belgrade Crow. However, I can recommend this for anyone interested in, or trying to find, examples of American folk art such as the Rothsay Prairie Chicken or the Jolly Green Giant.