The influence of humanities from the ecocriticism perspective is evident from the growth of literature embracing nature. It has seen the promotion of ecocentric ways of framing the world. Ecocriticism examines and redefines the relationship between the environment and literature (Jha, 2015). It pinpoints the sources of the problems of ecological crisis concerning the societal relationship with nature and the structure of society. As such, ecocriticism relates to economic and social justice since the loss of ecology leads to intergenerational and irreversible implications. Ecocriticism has shaped today’s culture as people seek to protect the health of water, air, and soil. Humanities influence ecocriticism as indicated by the cultural centers of the Americas, the 19th century return to nature, and the contemporary contour.
Cultural Centers of the Americas
The cultural centers of the Americas teach communities about culture using workshops, festivals, and events. The result is a better community and the understanding of different aspects around people’s lives. Environmental humanities have influenced the cultural centers to focus on literal works that represent nature and the relationship between literature and the environment. There has been considerable effort to promote the exchange of information and ideas about literature about the relationship between human beings and nature. The cultural centers now embrace nature writing and scholarly approaches to environmental literature. As such, environmental humanities have impacted the way people care for the physical world through conservation, appreciation of historical and natural heritage, and environmentalism (Jha, 2015).
The 19th Century Return to Nature
The 19th century return to nature explores how thinkers and writers of the time participated in and responded to ecocriticism. These included environmental activism, environmental ethics, and ecological science. Environmental humanities influence ecocriticism through scientific discourses on nature, return to nature aesthetics, and preservationist practices. The influence is evident in the value placed on the non-human world celebrating nature as the generous antidote to destruction of the environment by capitalist consumerism and technological industrialism (Jha, 2015). The influence can be seen in Romantic politics and poetics investigating and remedying environmental problems emanating from industrialization, deforestation, climate change, species extinction, and wars.
Contemporary Contour: Toward a Global Culture
The global culture is changing, thanks to virtual, digital, and augmented reality discourses. As such, humanities have influenced environmental literature to establish a strong bond between people and their immediate environment. The extinction of fauna and flora has led to a rise in literal critics of recent human activity (Jha, 2015). There has been an increase in awareness on nature’s ecological delicateness and the need to reconsider people’s environmental practices. Global warming has brought together people from different walks of life to talk about and criticize man’s activity on degrading the environment. As such, a culture is growing that focuses more on healthy relationship between humans and nonhumans. It is also changing the way people approach conservation and transforming the rural and urban areas concerning what people eat, drive, and dress.
Conclusion
Ecocriticism studies the relationship between ecology and literature with the aim of synthesizing environmental matters and literary criticism. Environmental humanities have, thus, influenced culture and literature from the perspective of the ecocriticism. It has become a critical step for bringing awareness to the environmental problems that people face today by educating them in the cultural centers of the Americas, through film and literature. It is apparent that culture always masters nature, which is evident in global culture. The culture of nature, therefore, is the way man thinks, talks about, and constructs the natural world.
References
Jha, S. (2015). Ecocritical readings rethinking nature and environment. Partridge Publishing.
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