In her article, Megan Hunter discusses the effect humans have on our planet and climate change. While the planet had a naturally changing course before humans, Hunter explains how humans have "irreversibly altered ... its dynamics."
One of our potentially saving graces, she argues, is fiction. "As Sylvia Plath once pointed out, it is in the novel that people brush their teeth," Hunter says, furthering the concept that literature opens our eyes to the beauty around us, and it can be used to possibly change minds on climate change or inspire eco-friendly acts.
So, with these ideas in mind, let's ponder the following questions:
1. What was a work of fiction you read that greatly influenced your views on the planet/climate/environment? Why did it have such a resounding effect on you? For the purpose of this class, we may think about what factors these influencers all have in common and how we can incorporate them in our own works in order to inspire our readers.
2. What might the world look like now if humans didn't exist? How would the planet have naturally changed? (Remember: the planet was once completely frozen, the continents used to be one, etc; the sky's the limit here.) Use this as a prompt in the future: write a story that takes place in this world, or write a poem describing how this world would look.
A piece of fiction that has greatly influenced my views on the planet is "Galapagos," by Kurt Vonnegut. In the book he talks about a future world where humans have made the Earth too toxic for themselves to survive, except for the humans living on an island called Santa Rosalia.Eventually the humans living on the island turn adapt to their surrounding and become sea lion like animals with "nubbins" for fingers. This book had a resounding effect on me because of how intricate the storyline is. I mean imagine a world where the pollution of humans eradicates them and turns the only living survivors into a new species of animal. Although the concept of literature can open minds through beauty, I additionally believe it can open minds on issues of the natural world through fear. In a way I think that Vonnegut's book does this for readers. Which leads me into my idea of what the world could potentially look like without humans/would've looked like today if there were never humans. If tomorrow we woke up and suddenly all of us were gone from Earth, all human life forms, I believe that over a long period of time Earth would be able to eradicate some of our human destruction. It would take awhile but I do believe that Earth would survive and heal itself to some extent. Now, if human life never existed my thoughts of what Earth would look like today are drastically different. I think more of the Earth's surface would be frozen and that the deserts would be more mild. I do imagine that all of Earth's surface would not still be together, bu then I got to thinking. (This is completely hypothetical) What if Earth's surface separated and reconnected every so often? What if that is how all of the different ecosystems influence each other, not human influence but the influence of other nature?
ReplyDeleteFantasy Fiction is a favorite genre of mine for its ability to captivate the senses by associating nature to create made up worlds into the most beautiful landscapes. I haven't been exposed to much fiction where a significant focus is on nature and its composition wholly; however, Lord of the Rings by Tolkien is a place I wish was real and could experience for its whimsical, peaceful nature. What makes this world so captivating is the architecture of homes and castles and cities that are built within mountains, meadows, and forests providing a oneness with nature. Personally, I have been influenced by this small characteristic of Tolkien's fictitious world because it shows that it is possible to coexist and live with nature where we build our homes within caves and cliffs, or atop trees or even on a lake to allow us to be closer to nature rather than distancing ourselves from her. Likewise, we would in turn be taking care of nature through the precious care of our homes where we live.
ReplyDeleteIn an academic setting, a good piece of "nature fiction" I've enjoyed reading in past classrooms is Barbara Kingsolver's novel 'Prodigal Summer'. This piece serves as a model of love and romance inspired greatly through nature. Takeaways from her novel also suggest that nature can develop more than relationships with earth or other people, but rather shapes aspects of our personality by presenting opportunities to grow. A great article online to look at is '12 Essential Lessons Nature can teach us' (link below) and ways we can shape ourselves around nature by being more in touch and a part of nature.
http://wonderfulwild.com/12-lessons-i-learnt-from-nature/
To your second question, it seems easy to get an idea of what nature would look like without the presence of humans. Lack of pollution, abundance of trees, thriving vegetation, etc., but something to think about is whether or not animals would also be present and alive. Humans are mammals like many others we know and live with but could they be present without humans as well? Based on my previous statements, another exciting thing to think about is what would our world look like presently if we coexisted with nature and built our homes and businesses in mountains and tree tops becoming closer with nature instead of segregating ourselves? What could be different and would we have damaged Earth's dynamics to an irreversible state?
I highly recommend Jon Bois' interactive story, "1776: What football will look like in the future." https://www.sbnation.com/a/17776-football
ReplyDeleteNew York City is underwater. Pay attention to the way he uses landscapes, maps, alternate perspectives and characters, and multimedia to tell his story. Check it out!