"Ecocriticism is the study of literature and ecology from an interdisciplinary point of view, where literature scholars analyze texts that illustrate environmental concerns and examine the various ways literature treats the subject of nature."
The study of literature that focuses on environmental issues.
Ecocriticism: This is a field of literary study that focuses on the relationship between humans and the natural world, and how this relationship is represented in literature.
Green Theory: This is a framework for understanding the complex interactions between humans and the natural world, and the environmental issues that arise from these interactions.
Environmentalism: This is a social and political movement that seeks to protect the natural environment from harm caused by human activity.
Deep Ecology: This is a philosophy that emphasizes the intrinsic value of non-human life, and the need to protect the natural world from human exploitation.
Anthropocentrism: This is a worldview that places humans at the center of the universe and values human interests above those of other species and ecosystems.
Biocentrism: This is a worldview that places equal value on all living things, and recognizes the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.
Sustainability: This is the concept of using resources in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Environmental Ethics: This is the study of moral principles that govern the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Nature Writing: This is a genre of literature that seeks to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and explore humanity's relationship to it.
Environmental Literature: This is a broad category of literature that deals with environmental themes and issues, and may include works from genres such as science fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.
Environmentalism and Postcolonialism: This is an area of study that explores the ways in which colonialism and postcolonialism have impacted the natural world, and the role of environmentalism in shaping these relationships.
Ecofeminism: This is a movement that explores the connections between environmentalism and feminism, recognizing the ways in which gender and the environment are intertwined.
Environmental Justice: This is a movement that seeks to address environmental issues as matters of social justice, recognizing the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on marginalized communities.
Ecopoetics: This is a genre of poetry that explores the relationship between language and the natural world, often pushing the boundaries of traditional poetic form to reflect environmental themes.
Climate Change Fiction: This is a growing genre of literature that explores the impact of climate change on the natural world and human societies.
Wilderness Literature: This type of ecocriticism examines the representation of uninhabited landscapes and wilderness areas in novels.
Ecofeminism: This type of ecocriticism draws a connection between the domination and oppression of women and the exploitation of the environment.
Environmental Justice: This type of ecocriticism analyzes how environmental problems disproportionately impact marginalized communities and how literature can raise awareness and promote action.
Postcolonial Ecocriticism: This type of ecocriticism studies how colonialism and imperialism have caused environmental degradation and how literature can help promote environmental justice in postcolonial societies.
Animal Studies: This type of ecocriticism examines the representation of animals and their relationship with humans and the environment in novels.
Science Fiction and Ecocriticism: This type of ecocriticism focuses on how science fiction literature engages with environmental problems and imagines sustainable futures.
Deep Ecology: This type of ecocriticism emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living beings and promotes a spiritual or philosophical approach to environmental ethics.
Topophilia: This type of ecocriticism studies how authors describe the emotional and cultural connections that people have with specific physical environments, particularly in nature.
"It was first originated by Joseph Meeker as an idea called 'literary ecology' in his The Comedy of Survival: Studies in Literary Ecology (1972)."
"The term 'ecocriticism' was coined in 1978 by William Rueckert in his essay 'Literature and Ecology: An Experiment in Ecocriticism'."
"It takes an interdisciplinary point of view by analyzing the works of authors, researchers, and poets in the context of environmental issues and nature."
"Some ecocritics brainstorm possible solutions for the correction of the contemporary environmental situation, though not all ecocritics agree on the purpose, methodology, or scope of ecocriticism."
"In the United States, ecocriticism is often associated with the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE)."
"ASLE hosts a biennial conference for scholars who deal with environmental matters in literature and the environmental humanities in general."
"ASLE publishes a journal—Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment (ISLE)—in which current international scholarship can be found."
"Ecocriticism is an intentionally broad approach that is known by a number of other designations, including 'green (cultural) studies', 'ecopoetics', and 'environmental literary criticism'."
"Ecocriticism is often informed by other fields such as ecology, sustainable design, biopolitics, environmental history, environmentalism, and social ecology, among others."