Educational Media Reviews Online

Subdivide and Conquer: A Modern Western focuses on the ultimate costs of urban sprawl, particularly as they are reflected in the changing "mountain West" (Montana to Arizona). This area of the United States has been thought of as the last frontier of free range and wide open spaces. However, at the present time highways, housing developments, and various forms of related construction are gradually, and at times dramatically, erasing these rural landscapes.

The program discusses the consequences of sprawl, particularly as they relate to the dependency upon automobiles. Air pollution, the social cost of the loss of downtown and deterioration of the inner city, and the negative impact upon wild animals and the ecosystem of rural lands are some of the main effects of unchecked housing development, which in turn supports the ever-increasing use of the automobile to commute between suburban home and work, school, shopping, etc.

While illustrating the negative aspects and effects of urban sprawl on our country's remaining undeveloped spaces, the program provides discussion on possible solutions. Accepting that growth in general is inevitable, the emphasis of discussion is on growth without sprawl. Possible solutions to the current trend include returning to existing neighborhoods, rebuilding downtowns, re-developing abandoned properties, improving public transportation, initiating critical changes in outdated zoning codes, providing incentives for rural landowners not to sell, and developing cooperation between neighboring municipalities.

The use of a wide variety of present day locations and circumstances, creatively intermingled with historic film and video clips, provides a readily watchable program. Actor Dennis Weaver's narration is appropriate in tone and understandable in content. Subdivide and Conquer: A Modern Western is a well-planned, carefully developed discussion of a problem which plagues many areas of our country far beyond the mountain West. However, the focus on the disappearing rural West which has long captured the imagination of Americans creates a compelling discussion. The program is relatively short for the complexity and breadth of the subject. This single video could probably be expanded into an entire series. Nevertheless, it is recommended for academic libraries supporting environmental and urban studies, and could also be useful for public and high school audiences.