Picket fence
Encyclopedia
A picket fence is a variety of fence
that has been used mostly for domestic boundaries. Until the introduction of advertising
on fences in the 1980s, a Cricket field
was also usually surrounded by a picket fence, giving rise to the expression rattling the pickets for a ball hit firmly into the fence.
, where the style has been used since America's earliest colonial era
, and remains popular in current times. Often the fence is paint
ed white
(or whitewash
ed) and made of wood
, although some modern versions may use plastic
that resembles wood, or aluminum. The style is characterized as short with a tapered or pointed top on evenly spaced vertical boards, called pickets.
The term “picket” in picket fence came from General George Pickett, who in the civil war, lined his troops in a line and ordered them to march for Gettysburg, which what was later called, “Pickett’s Charge”.
Picket fences are also found in Canada
, but not in new sub-divisions. Wood fencing is often replaced due to wear from extreme weather.
The fence can be assembled from prefabricated sections, where the posts of each section are posted into the ground but the pickets or boards that make up the fence wall are not inserted into the ground.
of the ideal middle-class suburban
life, with a family and children, large house and peaceful living. This stems from the fact that houses in quiet, middle-class neighborhoods often have a garden, which then is typically surrounded by a picket fence. In recent years, some people have associated picket fences with what they regard as the more negative aspects of this lifestyle. For example, the director David Lynch
uses ironic images of the picket fence in his 1986 film Blue Velvet.
documents that often lacked spaces and punctuation.
Fence
A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary. It is generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction: a wall is usually restricted to such barriers made from solid brick or concrete, blocking vision as well as passage .Fences...
that has been used mostly for domestic boundaries. Until the introduction of advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
on fences in the 1980s, a Cricket field
Cricket field
A cricket field consists of a large circular or oval-shaped grassy ground on which the game of cricket is played. There are no fixed dimensions for the field but its diameter usually varies between 450 feet to 500 feet...
was also usually surrounded by a picket fence, giving rise to the expression rattling the pickets for a ball hit firmly into the fence.
History
It is particularly popular in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where the style has been used since America's earliest colonial era
First Period
First Period is a designation in colonial American architecture and design. It refers to the time period of approximately 1626 through 1725. Its successor is the Colonial Georgian Period.-Characteristics:...
, and remains popular in current times. Often the fence is paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
ed white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
(or whitewash
Whitewash
Whitewash, or calcimine, kalsomine, calsomine, or lime paint is a very low-cost type of paint made from slaked lime and chalk . Various other additives are also used...
ed) and made of wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
, although some modern versions may use plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
that resembles wood, or aluminum. The style is characterized as short with a tapered or pointed top on evenly spaced vertical boards, called pickets.
The term “picket” in picket fence came from General George Pickett, who in the civil war, lined his troops in a line and ordered them to march for Gettysburg, which what was later called, “Pickett’s Charge”.
Picket fences are also found in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but not in new sub-divisions. Wood fencing is often replaced due to wear from extreme weather.
Construction
In the most common construction, the pickets are mounted vertically on a pair of parallel stretchers (horizontal strips), one near the bottom and one near the top. These strips are attached to posts (upright sturdy poles made of timber or possibly metal) that are driven into the ground.The fence can be assembled from prefabricated sections, where the posts of each section are posted into the ground but the pickets or boards that make up the fence wall are not inserted into the ground.
Symbolism
A picket fence, ideally white, is seen by some as a symbolSymbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
of the ideal middle-class suburban
SubUrbia
subUrbia is a play by Eric Bogosian chronicling the nighttime activities of a group of aimless 20-somethings still living in their suburban Boston hometown and their reunion with a former high school classmate who has become a successful musician...
life, with a family and children, large house and peaceful living. This stems from the fact that houses in quiet, middle-class neighborhoods often have a garden, which then is typically surrounded by a picket fence. In recent years, some people have associated picket fences with what they regard as the more negative aspects of this lifestyle. For example, the director David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
uses ironic images of the picket fence in his 1986 film Blue Velvet.
In popular culture
The phrase "picket fence" also describes text without spaces between words. Such texts are very common in Old LatinOld Latin
Old Latin refers to the Latin language in the period before the age of Classical Latin; that is, all Latin before 75 BC...
documents that often lacked spaces and punctuation.