The Cambridge Introduction to Literature and the Environment (Cambridge Introductions to Literature)

The degrading environment of the planet is something that touches everyone. This book offers an introductory overview of literary and cultural criticism that concerns environmental crisis in some form. Both as a way of reading texts and as a theoretical approach to culture more generally, `ecocriticism' is a varied and fast-changing set of practices which challenges inherited thinking and practice in the reading of literature and culture.This introduction defines what ecocriticism is, its methods, arguments and concepts, and will enable students to look at texts in a wholly new way. Boxed sections explain key critical terms and contemporary debates in the field with `hands-on' examples and comparisons. Timothy Clark's thoughtful approach makes this an ideal first encounter with environmental readings of literature.This series is designed to introduce students to key topics and authors. Accessible and lively, these introductions will also appeal to readers who want to broaden their understanding of the books and authors they enjoy. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Illustrations 14 Preface 15 Acknowledgements 16 Introduction: The challenge 17 The literary and cultural criticism 19 A crisis of the ‘natural’ 21 A reading 24 Romantic and anti-romantic 29 Romantic and ‘romantic’ 29 Chapter 1 Old world romanticism 31 Romantic ecology 31 The self-evidence of the natural? 34 The inherent greenness of the literary? 35 A reading: the case of John Clare 37 Chapter 2 New world romanticism 41 A reading: retrieving Walden 46 Chapter 3 Genre and the question of non-fiction 51 ‘You don’t make it up’ 52 Fiction or non-fiction? 54 An aesthetic consumerism 55 A reading: genres and the projection of animal subjectivity 58 Chapter 4 Language beyond the human? 62 A realist poetics 63 The Spell of the Sensuous (1996) 64 Chapter 5 The inherent violence of western thought? 71 The archetypal eco-fascist? 75 The forest 76 Chapter 6 Post-humanism and the ‘end of nature’? 79 A reading: Frankenstein 82 Ecology without nature? 85 The boundaries of the political 89 Chapter 7 Thinking like a mountain? 93 Chapter 8 Environmental justice and the move ‘beyond nature writing’ 103 A reading: A River Runs Through It (1976) 106 Environmental criticism as cultural history? 109 Chapter 9 Two readings: European ecojustice 112 Chapter 10 Liberalism and green moralism 118 The limits of liberal criticism 121 A reading: William and Dorothy Wordsworth 124 Chapter 11 Ecofeminism 127 An ecriture ecofemine? 130 ‘Nature provides us with few givens’ (Lealle Ruhl) 133 Chapter 12 ‘Post-colonial’ ecojustice 136 Environmentalism as neocolonialism? 136 Is there yet a specifically environmental post-colonial criticism? 138 A reading: Amitav Ghosh, The Hungry Tide (2004) 142 Chapter 13 Questions of scale: The local, the national and the global 146 Literary ‘reinhabitation’? 148 Questions of scale 152 Science and the struggle for intellectual authority 157 Chapter 14 Science and the crisis of authority 159 The disenchantment thesis 159 Facts versus values? a reading, Annie Dillard’s ‘Galapagos’ 161 Against the facts–values split 164 Ecology, ‘ecology’ and literature 167 Chapter 15 Science studies 172 Studying science as a kind of behaviour 172 Donna Haraway 174 Chapter 16 Evolutionary theories of literature 181 The Standard Social Science Model 181 Literature and human nature 183 Chapter 17 Interdisciplinarity and science: Two essays on human evolution 187 The animal mirror 195 Chapter 18 Ethics and the non-human animal 199 Human–animal 202 Chapter 19 Anthropomorphism 208 An art of animal interpretation 211 A reading: The Wind in the Pylons 214 Chapter 20 The future of ecocriticism 218 Notes 220 Introduction 220 Romantic and anti-romantic 221 1 Old world romanticism 221 2 New world romanticism 222 3 Genre and the question of non-fiction 224 4 Language beyond the human? 225 5 The inherent violence of western thought? 227 6 Post-humanism and the ‘end of nature’? 228 The boundaries of the political 229 7 Thinking like a mountain? 229 8 Environmental justice and the move ‘beyond nature writing’ 230 9 Two readings: European ecojustice 231 10 Liberalism and green moralism 232 11 Ecofeminism 233 12 ‘Post-colonial’ ecojustice 235 13 Questions of scale: the local, the national and the global 237 Science and the struggle for intellectual authority 239 14 Science and the crisis of authority 239 15 Science studies 241 16 Evolutionary theories of literature 242 17 Interdisciplinarity and science: two essays 243 The animal mirror 244 18 Ethics and the non-human animal 244 19 Anthropomorphism 245 20 The future of ecocriticism 246 Further reading 247 Introduction 247 General sources 247 Journals 247 General critical anthologies 247 Other useful overviews 248 Definitions of ‘nature’ 248 Climate change 248 Romantic and anti-romantic 249 1 Old world romanticism 249 ‘Deep ecology’ 249 2 New world romanticism 250 3 Genre and the question of non-fiction 251 4 Language beyond the human? 251 5 The inherent violence of western thought? 252 6 Post-humanism and the ‘end of nature’? 252 The boundaries of the political 253 7 Thinking like a mountain? 253 8 Environmental justice and the move ‘beyond nature writing’ 253 ‘Social ecology’ 254 9 Two readings: European ecojustice 254 10 Liberalism and green moralism 255 11 Ecofeminism 255 12 ‘Post-colonial’ ecojustice 256 Overpopulation 256 13 Questions of scale: the local, the national and the global 256 Science and the struggle for intellectual authority 257 14 Science and the crisis of authority 257 15 Science studies 257 16 Evolutionary theories of literature 258 17 Interdisciplinarity and science: two essays on human evolution 258 The animal mirror 258 18 Ethics and the non-human animal 258 19 ‘Anthropomorphism’ 259 Index 260 Environmental Criticism Is A Relatively New Discipline That Brings The Global Problem Of Environmental Crisis To The Forefront Of Literary And Cultural Studies. This Introduction Defines What Ecocriticism Is And Provides A Set Of Conceptual Tools To Encourage Students To Look At The Texts They're Reading In A New Way-- The Degrading Environment Of The Planet Is Something That Touches Everyone. This Book Offers An Introductory Overview Of Literary And Cultural Criticism That Concerns Environmental Crisis In Some Form. Both As A Way Of Reading Texts And As A Theoretical Approach To Culture More Generally, 'ecocriticism' Is A Varied And Fast-changing Set Of Practices Which Challenges Inherited Thinking And Practice In The Reading Of Literature And Culture. This Introduction Defines What Ecocriticism Is, Its Methods, Arguments And Concepts, And Will Enable Students To Look At Texts In A Wholly New Way. Boxed Sections Explain Key Critical Terms And Contemporary Debates In The Field With 'hands-on' Examples And Comparisons. Timothy Clark's Thoughtful Approach Makes This An Ideal First Encounter With Environmental Readings Of Literature-- Preface; Introduction: The Challenge; Part I. Romantic And Anti-romantic: 1. Old World Romanticism; 2. New World Romanticism; 3. Genre And The Ethics Of Nonfiction; 4. Language Beyond The Human?; 5. The Inherent Violence Of Western Thought?; 6. Posthumanism And The 'end Of Nature'; Part Ii. The Boundaries Of The Political: 7. Thinking Like A Mountain?; 8. Environmental Justice And The Move 'beyond Nature Writing'; 9. European Eco-justice; 10. Liberalism And Green Moralism; 11. Ecofeminism; 12. 'postcolonial' Eco-justice; 13. Questions Of Scale: The Local, The National And The Global; Part Iii. Science And The Struggle For Intellectual Authority: 14. Science And The Crisis Of Authority; 15. Science Studies; 16. Evolutionary Theories Of Literature; 17. Interdisciplinarity And Science: Two Essays On Human Evolution; Part Iv. The Animal Mirror: 18. Ethics And The Nonhuman Animal; 19. Anthropomorphism; 20. The Future Of Ecocriticism. Timothy Clark. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 231-243) And Index. The degrading environment of the planet is something that touches everyone. This 2011 book offers an introductory overview of literary and cultural criticism that concerns environmental crisis in some form. Both as a way of reading texts and as a theoretical approach to culture more generally, 'ecocriticism' is a varied and fast-changing set of practices which challenges inherited thinking and practice in the reading of literature and culture. This introduction defines what ecocriticism is, its methods, arguments and concepts, and will enable students to look at texts in a wholly new way. Boxed sections explain key critical terms and contemporary debates in the field with 'hands-on' examples and comparisons. Timothy Clark's thoughtful approach makes this an ideal first encounter with environmental readings of literature. Environmental criticism is a relatively new discipline that brings the global problem of environmental crisis to the forefront of literary and cultural studies. This 2011 introduction defines what ecocriticism is and provides a set of conceptual tools to encourage students to look at the texts they're reading in a new way.