Tristen Johns

Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Clark, Maribeth

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

This thesis examines the field of ecocriticism, tracing its conceptualization as a subgenre of literary critique and discussing its implications for the community of scholars and environmental activists. I explore commonly cited definitions of the field and examine ecocritics’ works. I also discuss the importance of the ecocritical approach and its value to the field of environmental study and activism. I advocate for the importance of the humanities to work in environmental studies, a perspective often missing in my experience from research related to the ecological crisis. Ecocritics do far more than contribute critiques of specific pieces of literature, but discuss flaws in cultural ideologies and common language. Environmentalists need this lens in order to be more effective communicators, activists, and to better represent the nonhuman world. I argue that environmental activism would be more effective if participants had access to and utilized tools from ecocriticism and that ecocriticism must become more goal oriented. I conclude with a suggestion that the field of ecocriticism embrace a contemporary approach which prioritizes action and highlights calls for change. I use Greta Thunberg’s exemplary rhetoric to illustrate the language of contemporary environmental rhetoric. This contemporary approach emphasizes interdisciplinary study, accessibility, as well as underscores the significance of behaving with purpose and urgency.

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