{"title":"“Even I am a Part of Nature”: Unraveling the Human/Nature Binary to Enable Systems Change","authors":"T. Milstein, M. Thomas, Jeff Hoffmann, John Carr","doi":"10.1080/17524032.2023.2199946","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT While contemporary ecocidal cultures are premised on a human/nature binary that treats humans as separate from, superior to, and entitled to mastery over nature, this study explores a range of commonly existing imaginaries that unravel the binary and could enable broad systems change. We introduce a deceptively simple freewrite methodology around the foundational concept “nature” to decipher such unravelings in Western/ized settings. Applying this methodology in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, we exhibit how freewrites can improvisationally reveal and engage productive tensions (dialectics) that trouble the binary, support reflexive ecologically centered becoming, and, in some cases, provide ways to eschew the binary altogether. The present study operates from the stubbornly optimistic perspective that our species’ capacity to collectively, even quickly embrace ecocentric meaning systems that trigger massive change should be widely acknowledged and actively encouraged.","PeriodicalId":54205,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.0000,"publicationDate":"2023-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Environmental Communication-A Journal of Nature and Culture","FirstCategoryId":"90","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2199946","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"COMMUNICATION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1
Abstract
ABSTRACT While contemporary ecocidal cultures are premised on a human/nature binary that treats humans as separate from, superior to, and entitled to mastery over nature, this study explores a range of commonly existing imaginaries that unravel the binary and could enable broad systems change. We introduce a deceptively simple freewrite methodology around the foundational concept “nature” to decipher such unravelings in Western/ized settings. Applying this methodology in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, we exhibit how freewrites can improvisationally reveal and engage productive tensions (dialectics) that trouble the binary, support reflexive ecologically centered becoming, and, in some cases, provide ways to eschew the binary altogether. The present study operates from the stubbornly optimistic perspective that our species’ capacity to collectively, even quickly embrace ecocentric meaning systems that trigger massive change should be widely acknowledged and actively encouraged.
期刊介绍:
Environmental Communication is an international, peer-reviewed forum for multidisciplinary research and analysis assessing the many intersections among communication, media, society, and environmental issues. These include but are not limited to debates over climate change, natural resources, sustainability, conservation, wildlife, ecosystems, water, environmental health, food and agriculture, energy, and emerging technologies. Submissions should contribute to our understanding of scientific controversies, political developments, policy solutions, institutional change, cultural trends, media portrayals, public opinion and participation, and/or professional decisions. Articles often seek to bridge gaps between theory and practice, and are written in a style that is broadly accessible and engaging.