Eco criticism theory

Eco criticism theory

1. Presented By:- Aditi Vala MA Sem:- 03 Paper no. :- 204: Contemporary Western Theories and Film Studies. Topic :- Eco-criticism Theory Roll no. :- 01 Submitted By:- S.B.Gardi Department of English , MKBU

2. Eco-Criticism Theory

3. What is Eco-criticism ? The term 'ecocriticism' was coined in 1978 by William Rueckert in his essay 'Literature and Ecology: An Experiment in Ecocriticism'. Eco-Criticism is the study of the relationship between literature and the physical environment. Just as feminist criticism examines language and literature from a gender conscious perspective, and Marxist criticism brings an awareness of modes of production and economic class to its reading of texts, eco-criticism takes an earth centered approach to literary studies. (Glotfelty xviii).

4. Eco-criticism Importance in Literature : Several critics have considered the importance of the environment in the literature (e.g. Leo Marx and Raymond Williams ), it was not until the late 1980s and early 1990s that it became a recognizable sub-branch of literary and cultural studies. Ecocriticism defines itself as a practice of reading literature from an earth-centered perspective. There is also an activist dimension to ecocriticism: at least part of the reason ecocritics want to discuss the centrality of nature in literature is to raise awareness more generally about the need for concern and indeed action concerning the environment.

5. In Ecocriticism Nature is the center, not the man It is the study of literature and physical environment It is an earth-centered approach to the literary study Ecologically man is the ultimate villain Eco criticism says that we all are equal. The main purpose is to protect the earth Key Points :

6. Why it is important to study ? It gives importance to the relationship between human beings and nature, how are human beings affecting nature and vice versa. In a broader perspective, Ecocriticism guides us to examine the world around us and critiquing the mannerisms of society in the treatment of nature

7. Eco-Criticism as a Literary Theory : The traditional theories in literature put emphasis either on linguistics or on the cultural and social background, the Eco-Critics put all the weight on the ‘nature’ and believe that nature exists as a force which affects our evolution directly as a society. For the intellectuals involved in the development of ‘green studies’ the world is not (only, if not entirely) made of language and social ‘elements’. However, as it entered into the field of literary theory, a part bifurcated and established itself as solely devoted wing concerned with the (re)reading of literary texts and bringing out the role of nature, representation of nature and natural elements in the literature produced worldwide.

8. “Much ecocriticism has taken for granted that its task is to overcome anthropocentrism, just as feminism seeks to overcome androcentrism. The metaphysical argument for biocentrism is meant to sustain moral claims about the intrinsic value of the natural world, which will in turn affect our attitudes and behaviour towards nature.” ― Greg Garrard, Ecocriticism

9. Nature and Culture : “Ecocriticism takes as its subject the interconnections between nature and culture, specifically the cultural artifacts of language and literature. As a critical stance, it has one foot in literature and the other on land; as a theoretical discourse, it negotiates between the human and the nonhuman” (Glotfelty xix). Literary theory, in general, examines the relations between writers, texts, and the world. In most literary theory ‘the world’ is synonymous with society—the social sphere. Ecocriticism expands the notion of ‘the world’ to include the entire ecosphere.

10. Ecocritics ask questions like : How is nature represented in this sonnet? What role does the physical setting play in the plot of this novel? Are the values expressed in this play consistent with ecological wisdom? How do our metaphors of the land influence the way we treat it? How can we characterize nature writing as a genre?

11. A great example of an ecocritical reading of Wordsworth's “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is Scott Hess's article “ John Clare, William Wordsworth, and the (Un)Framing of Nature.” Example : "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" is a lyric poem by William Wordsworth. It is one of the most popular poems of Wordsworth. The poem was inspired by an event on 15 April 1802 in which Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy came across a "long belt" of daffodils while wandering in the forest.

12. Sherni Film : ‘ Sherni ‘is a 2021 Indian Hindi -language action thriller film directed by Amit V. Masurkar and produced by T-Series and Abundantia Entertainment. The film stars Vidya Balan in the leading role of an Indian Forest Service officer . The film deals with the subjects like human–wildlife conflict and wildlife conservation .

13. Banned Pepsi in India : Kerala banned pepsi because of over using of ground water. Kerala to restrict use of ground water by Pepsico.

14. Some books that were important in the founding and development of ecocriticism : Leo Marx, The Machine in the Garden: Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America (1964) Roderick Frazier Nash , Wilderness and the American Mind Donald Worster , Nature’s Economy: A History of Ecological Ideas (1977) John Elder , Imagining the Earth: Poetry and the Vision of Nature (1985) Robert Pogue Harrison , Forests: The Shadow of Civilization (1992). Thoreau’s , Nature Writing, and the Formation of American Culture (1995).

15. What can we do ? Save Plants and animals. Change your habits for using technology. Notice how you use water. ... Reduce the amount of paper in your life. Use a refillable water bottle and reusable lunch containers. ... what you throw in the dustbin.

16. Conclusion : Eco critics encourage others to think seriously about the relationship of humans to nature, about the ethical and aesthetic dilemmas posed by the environmental crisis and about how language and literature transmit values with profound ecological implications.

17. How can we characterize nature writing as a genre? Refrence : References : “Ecocriticism Quotes by Greg Garrard.” Goodreads , Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1734571-ecocriticism-new-critical-idiom. Glotfelty, Cheryll and Harold Fromm. eds. ‘The Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology’. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1996. Lawrence Buell. “Ecocriticism: Some Emerging Trends.” Qui Parle , vol. 19, no. 2, [Duke University Press, University of Nebraska Press], 2011, pp. 87–115, https://doi.org/10.5250/quiparle.19.2.0087. Maity, Supriya. “What Is Ecocriticism and Its Importance in Literature.” Literary Ocean , 19 Mar. 2020, https://literaryocean.com/what-is-ecocriticism-and-its-importance-in-literatu re/ .. "'Sherni' Film Review: Vidya Balan's Stoic And Subtle Act Keeps The Man-Animal Jungle Drama Afloat" . Mashable India . 18 June 2021.