ABSTRACT
Even more than a decade ago, Benton and Short claimed that “environmental issues have become part of the global talk that now dominates” (Benton and Short, 1999: 4). Since then, “the global talk” has been intensified and diversified, and continues to be so across several media in ways that might have been difficult to anticipate or even imagine at that time. The proliferation of new forms of environmental discourses has to be linked not only to the growing concern about environmental problems and the appearance of new media. Another fundamental factor is represented by the younger and more diverse audiences that these new environmental discourses are addressed to. At the same time, these discourses have also colonized old media and traditional genres, “greening” well-known communication means and structures. For instance, from documentaries, animation and feature films to educational films and corporate videos, a great variety of filmic texts have undergone processes of greening responding to various environmental concerns and interests. When investigating environmentally committed documentaries, Vivanco underlines “the role of the environment as an increasing site of cultural production and catalyst of conflict, dialogue and alternatives around the world” (Vivanco, 2002:1196). Similarly, Benton and Short also highlight the idea of environmental narrative in general as being “subject to contestation, negotiation and conflict” (Benton and Short, 1999: 4).
