Final answer:
Neumann means that national parks and reserves show modern values like regard for the environment, paralleling the modern architectural trends signified by skyscrapers. Both are symbolic of cultural shifts emphasizing conservation and public utility over exploitation, reflecting new societal norms and sensibilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Neumann states that the wild areas of national parks and reserves are as much an expression of modernism as skyscrapers, he means that national parks and reserves represent modern values and ideas. This concept suggests that just as skyscrapers are a physical representation of modern architectural trends and urban planning, the establishment and preservation of national parks and reserves reflect modern societal values regarding the environment, such as the importance of conservationism, the intrinsic value of nature for recreational and spiritual gain, and the role of public lands in national pride and identity. This idea aligns with the formation of the conservation movement in America influenced by transcendentalist philosophy and ecological preservation efforts, indicating the deep-seated connection between modern sensibilities and the creation of such protected areas.
The historical context supporting this assertion involves the cultural shift in America from viewing the wilderness as chaotic to valuing it as a place for spiritual renewal and ecological concern. Early figures like John Muir, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau championed the idea of wilderness preservation leading to the establishment of the first national parks. This indicated a change in public policy from exploiting land for private use to conserving it for public and ecological benefit, which is a modernistic reinterpretation of how society values and interacts with the natural world.