ECOCRITICISM (Literary) POWERPOINT SLIDES

ECOCRITICISM PPT

1. ECOCRITICISM

2. DEFINITION Ecocriticism is the newest revisionist movements. As a literary and cultural theory, it significantly expanded in the 1990s paralleling other forms of literary and cultural theory, such as postcolonialism and critical race studies . Ecocriticism is the interdisciplinary study of the connections between literature and the environment. It draws on contributions from natural scientists, writers, literary critics, anthropologists and historians in examining the differences between nature and its cultural construction. It also takes up the goal of studying how individuals in society behave and react in relation to nature and ecological aspects.

3. DEFINITION Ecocriticism originates in a bio-social context of unrestrained capitalism, excessive exploitation of nature, worrying definitions and shapes of ‘development’ and environmental hazard. While it does not seek to alter the course of any of these very real factors, its task is to see how theoretically informed readings of cultural texts can contribute not only to consciousness raising but also look into the politics of development and the construction of ‘nature’. It also deals with how environmental issues, cultural issues concerning the environment and attitudes towards nature are presented and analyzed.  Ecocriticism thus focuses on the link between literature and nature. Its emphasis on a practice of reading that pays attention to social inequalities as linked to gender oppression and environmental exploitation turns theory into praxis, locating ‘reading’ within an activist framework.

4. KEY CONCEPTS DEEP ECOLOGY Arne Naess, a Norwegian philosopher, developed the notion of “Deep Ecology” which emphasizes the basic interconnectedness of all life forms and natural features, and presents a symbiotic and holistic world-view rather than an anthropocentric one.

5. KEY CONCEPTS Ecocriticism rejects the idea of "anthropocentrism" which is the belief that human beings are the central or most important entity in the universe. The term can be used interchangeably with humanocentrism, and some refer to the concept as human supremacy or human exceptionalism. From an anthropocentric perspective, humankind is seen as separate from nature and superior to it, and other entities (animals, plants, minerals, etc.) are viewed as resources for humans to use.

6. OTHER DETAILS Weakness A novel can be expressed through a naturalistic viewing which can grasp a greater appreciation for the book and the author can express his or her values through symbols such as rivers, fog, flowers etc. A disadvantage of using this literary criticism theory is analysts might focus on how nature plays a role in a particular novel and forget how the physical world shaped helped shaped the elements in nature. Strength

7. OTHER DETAILS Different types of Ecocriticism: Pastoral , found primarily in British and American literature, focuses on the dichotomy between urban and rural life, often idealizing nature and rural life and demonizing urban life. Wilderness examines the ways in which the wilderness is constructed, valued and engaged with. Ecofeminism analyzes the connection between the domination of women and the domination of nature, usually by men. It draws parallels between women and nature, which is often seen as feminine, fertile and the property of men. Ecofeminism also includes other aspects of environmental justice, such as racial environmental justice.

8. OTHER DETAILS Postcolonial eco-criticism recognises and analyses the geographical disparities that the climate crisis has exposed. Texts in the genre of postcolonial eco-criticism may criticise these hypocrisies while also trying to incite positive action on the environment within the international community. Postcolonial eco-criticism also recognises the different ways that various countries and cultures interact with the natural world around them. Often people in postcolonial countries are shown to have better relationships with their natural environment, acknowledging the importance of every part of the ecosystem. In contrast, many in the Western world only see the natural world as useful if it can serve a particular purpose for humans. Different types of Ecocriticism:

9. OTHER DETAILS The essential assumptions, ideas and methods of ecocritics may be summed up as follows : (1) Ecocritics believe that human culture is related to the physical world. (2) Ecocriticism assumes that all life forms are interlinked. Ecocriticism expands the notion of “the world” to include the entire ecosphere. (3) Moreover, there is a definite link between nature and culture, where the literary treatment, representation and “thematisation” of land and nature influence actions on the land.

10. OTHER DETAIL Principle Ecocriticism asserts that “nature” is both a cultural and a political construct, and it tries to examine location, along with race, class, and gender, as a critical category for analysing a literary text – to see the “place” of nature and the “nature” of place in a book.

11. OTHER DETAILS Theme The ecocritical analysis portrays both nature and the natural world act as powerful, dominant forces. Thus, the scenery in this part of the story acts like a dominant character, an active role over the character of a man.

12. MAJOR PROPONENTS

13. Lawrence Buell An american professor and scholar widely recognized as a major pioneer of ecocriticism. In the Future of Environmental Criticism, he traces the emergence of the discipline, tracks its progress, and predicts its future.

14. Joseph Meeker  Joseph Meeker in an early work, The Comedy of Survival: Studies in Literary Ecology (1972) used and originated the term “literary ecology” to refer to “the study of biological themes and relationships which appear in literary works. It is simultaneously an attempt to discover what roles have been played by literature in the ecology of the human species.”

15. William Rueckert I s believed to have coined the term “ecocriticism” in 1978 in his essay “Literature and Ecology: An Experiment in Ecocriticism” which he defines as “the application of ecology and ecological concepts to the study of literature.”

16. Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm Famously states in their work The Ecocriticism Reader, “ecocriticism takes an earth-centred approach to literary studies”, rather than an anthropomorphic or human-centered approach.

17. HOW TO APPLY Ecocritics ask questions such as: (1) How is nature represented in the novel/poem/play ? (2) What role does the physical-geographical setting play in the structure of the novel? (3) How do our metaphors of the land influence the way we treat it? That is, what is the link between pedagogic or creative practice and actual political, sociocultural and ethical behaviour towards the land and other non-human life forms?

18. LITERARY PIECE EXAMPLE Silent Spring ( 1962 ) by Rachel Carson I s an environmental science book that explained how indiscriminate application of agricultural chemicals, pesticides, and other modern chemicals polluted our streams, damaged bird and animal populations, and caused severe medical problems for humans.

19. LITERARY PIECE EXAMPLE Heart of Darkness ( 1899 ) by Joseph Conrad Various European powers are exploiting Africa for its riches and resources while leaving little or nothing to the Africans who are laboring under them. Conrad also uses the Congo River as a symbol to show the barrier between the Europeans and the Africans. Also ecocriticism analyzes civilization and reveals the darkness, complexity and of human nature by Marlow’s search of Kurtz from Europe to Africa. By using the Ecocriticism Theory, analysts can examine human behaviors such as greed and control (Kurtz) in their quest for fame, power and wealth.

20. RE FERENCE S Pramod K. Nayar. (2009). Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory: from Structuralism to Ecocriticism. Nasrullah Mambrol. (2018). Ecocriticism: An Essay. <https://literariness.org/2016/11/27/ecocriticism/> StudySmarter. Eco-Criticism: Definition, Example, Types, &History. <https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/english-literature/literary-criticism-and-theory/eco-criticism/> Taylor Morehead. (2013, October 1). Ecocriticism . <https://prezi.com/zql0n2llb84l/ecocriticism/> Wikipedia. (2023, December 23). Ecocriticism <https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecocriticism> <https://www.science.smith.edu/climatelit/ecocriticism/#:~:text=Ecocriticism%20is%20the%20interdisciplinary%20study,nature%20and%20its%20cultural%20construction.>

21. THANK YOU!