Environment and literature Flashcards
Definition of ecocriticism
Ecocriticism is an interdisciplinary approach that studies literature and the environment. Scholars analyze literature’s treatment of nature and brainstorm solutions for contemporary environmental issues. This broad approach is sometimes referred to as “green (cultural) studies”, “ecopoetics”, or “environmental literary criticism”. This definition comes from the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment in the United States of America.
Coined by
William Rueckert
The first wave of ecocriticism
focused on nature writing as a subject for study and a meaningful practice. It aimed to “speak for” nature and emphasized the cultural distinction between humans and nature, while promoting the value of nature. This wave was characterized by its attention to the relationship between literature and the environment.
the second wave
challenged the traditional distinction between humans and non-humans, and questioned the concept itself. This modern wave brought a new definition of the term “environment,”
Ecocriticism has several aspects:
a) Interdisciplinary: It draws knowledge from various scholarly fields to analyze a single subject.
b) Nature-focused: humans’ self-centered views of the natural world and debates what qualifies as nature. Ecocritics propose two definitions of nature: one as a place where humans are not, both physically and metaphorically, and the other as everything everywhere, all nature all the time. Some ecocritics, like Taylor-Lautner, define nature as everything in the world that isn’t man-made, including grass,
c) Environmentalist: Ecocriticism strives to promote equality and care for all creatures in a particular environment.
d) Anthropocentric: People tend to see themselves in everything, and ecocritics challenge this self-centered view.
e) Scientific: Ecocriticism is empirical and hypothesis-driven.
f) Wilderness-focused: Ecocritics view wilderness as a magical land away from modern technology.
g) Conservative: Ecocriticism is a tool for preserving the environment for future generations.
What is nature: it is god
some scholars write nature with a capital N to equate it with godliness and emphasize its importance. The American Transcendentalists and Romantic Literature treated nature as a means of escaping corrupt human society and growing closer to God. In this view, nature is elevated to the level of God, and human beings are viewed as small and insignificant, often causing harm to the natural world.
What is nature: it is a victim
nature is often viewed as a victim of human actions that negatively impact it. Ecocritics see humans as enemies of nature, causing harm to it and disrupting its beauty. Rachel Carson and Aldo Leopold were pioneers in identifying the ways in which humans are disconnected from nature and how this lack of intimacy leads to the abuse of the natural world. Ecocritics advocate for a closer relationship between humans and nature to prevent further harm to the environment.
