ABSTRACT

In an era of climate change, deforestation, melting ice caps, poisoned environments, and species loss, many people are turning to the power of the arts and humanities for sustainable solutions to global ecological problems. Introduction to the Environmental Humanities offers a practical and accessible guide to this dynamic and interdisciplinary field.

This book provides an overview of the Environmental Humanities’ evolution from the activist movements of the early and mid-twentieth century to more recent debates over climate change, sustainability, energy policy, and habitat degradation in the Anthropocene era. The text introduces readers to seminal writings, artworks, campaigns, and movements while demystifying important terms such as the Anthropocene, environmental justice, nature, ecosystem, ecology, posthuman, and non-human. Emerging theoretical areas such as critical animal and plant studies, gender and queer studies, Indigenous studies, and energy studies are also presented. Organized by discipline, the book explores the role that the arts and humanities play in the future of the planet.

Including case studies, discussion questions, annotated bibliographies, and links to online resources, this book offers a comprehensive and engaging overview of the Environmental Humanities for introductory readers. For more advanced readers, it serves as a foundation for future study, projects, or professional development.

chapter 1|18 pages

Introduction to the Environmental Humanities

History and theory

chapter 2|20 pages

Climate change

The great disrupter

chapter 3|18 pages

The Anthropocene

A superhero species comes of age

chapter 4|16 pages

Indigenous cultures and nature

Past, present, and future

chapter 6|20 pages

Environmental history

The story of coevolution

chapter 7|20 pages

Environmental philosophy

Thinking about nature

chapter 8|18 pages

Ecological religious studies

Faith in nature

chapter 9|22 pages

Environmental art

Creativity, activism, and sustainability

chapter 10|19 pages

Ecological literary studies

Imagining nature

chapter 11|20 pages

Environmental theater

Performing nature

chapter 12|20 pages

Environmental film

Projecting nature

chapter 13|22 pages

Environmental journalism

Mediating ecological issues

chapter 14|21 pages

Conclusion

Back to the future Environmental Humanities