Place and Persuasion

Place and persuasion have a unique relationship. When asked about my favorite place I respond with a place very special to me, Gale Meadow Pond. Now this pond is open to the public and is used by many people but if each person was asked to describe the pond their descriptions would differ greatly. This is what is so special about place. Its meaning is very different to each person. No one is right, no one is wrong, but each person can have their own account of what is important to them.

Persuasion can be very important in gratifying your place. The Hudson River School painters persuaded their audience that their place was beautiful by painting their ideas of place. Gwendolyn Bounds persuaded people to see her idea Guinan’s in her novel Little Chapel on the River. Scenic Hudson persuaded the Town of Hudson that Saint Lawrence Cement should not build a new cement plant in the town trials.

Although developing a sense of place is personal, using the power of persuasion a person can convince people to see your place through their eyes. This is a very powerful tool. It allows people to spread their ideas and gain power. I have learned through this course that persuading others about your sense of place is extremely important and the ability to do so is coveted.