OPTICS In pictures: How we see America, and vice-versa A photographer visits American-themed places in Europe and European-themed places in America.

Europe and America are still obsessed with one another. For “EUSA,” photographer Naomi Harris traveled across both continents, documenting American-themed places in Europe and European-themed places in America. Whimsical and quaint, “Europe”-themed events and locations in the US can be lands of make-believe, like something out of a fairy tale, or homages to their residents’ anticedents. On the old Continent, the popularity of American-themed amusement parks and festivals reveals a persistent enthusiasm for the myth of “America” as a land of freedom and opportunity. The intent of these places was to honor the “other,” but over the years, that’s turned into a caricature.

IN HER WORDS

The first place I photographed for EUSA was High Chaparral, a Wild West theme park in Sweden. The campground was full of people in costume. There were Native Americans (though these were blond and blue-eyed), fur trappers, pioneers and American Civil War soldiers — both Confederates and Unionists. Not a single mobile phone, digital camera nor any other sort of technological gadget was in sight. The campsites were primitive, with everyone cooking over an open fire. There was authenticity: from the attire right down to the bedrolls, every detail of the period was meticulously captured. If you didn’t know any better, you’d have thought you were in 1860s Virginia, not Sweden in 2008.

— Naomi Harris

IN HER WORDS

The American destinations I visited tended to celebrate the heritage of those who settled in the area, such as the Danish in Solvang, California; or the Norwegians in Petersburg, Alaska; or the Dutch in Orange City, Iowa; whereas the European sites were more often about a fascination with American culture — albeit a culture of the past.

The question now is: How much longer can events like these continue, in an age of sensitivity about cultural appropriation? If we still feel the need to connect with our past — both real and imagined — rituals like these will go on. These photos are about taking a journey, but one where the destination is unclear. Are you in America, or are you in Europe? And who exactly are these people?

— Naomi Harris

About the photographer: Award-winning Canadian-born photographer Naomi Harris primarily focuses on portraiture, seeking out interesting cultural trends to document through her subjects. Her latest book, “EUSA,” from which these images are taken, was published in November by Kehrer-Verlag. You can see more of her work at naomiharris.com and order the book at kehrerverlag.com.