Nature and America

What does it mean to be human in a world that is also home to animals, plants, and fungi? How are we connected to these forms of life, and to the geographical formations, climates, and complex environments that we all emerge from? What happens to the notion of human diversity, of cultural difference, of nation, when we think of the global and narrowly local dimensions of what is commonly termed -the environment”? How do established notions of -justice,” -freedom,” public health, and politics change when we fully recognize the interconnectivity of species and their shared habitats? How have writers, artists, filmmakers responded to these questions and debates? This seminar exemplifies how the humanities can be vital to the discussion of contemporary environmental problems. By addressing issues such as toxic waste, climate change, fracking, or the role of genetically modified plants and animals in agriculture in a way that is historically, philosophically and culturally informed, it contributes to a deeper understanding of environmental history and the ways in which it is narrated in the United States context. Focusing on the 19th century, we will approximate the role of environmental thinking in American cultural history and discuss how the notion of -nature” became linked to concrete environmental protection and sustainable development. Our primary sources come from environmental art, writing, and film and include Agnes Denes 1982 -Manhattan Wheatfield, ” Cormac McCarthy’s 2006 novel The Road, and James Cameron’s 2009 3D-movie Avatar. The seminar ends in June; there will be a final workshop with a guest speaker on a Saturday. Date and contents will be made available via StudIP before the semester starts. Prerequisites: regular attendance, reading quizzes, moderations or short presentations. For preparation please read https://www.nas.org/articles/environmental_humanities. Advanced Anglophone Studies, Master of Arts AmerA, AAS2, AAS3 Registration – StudIP 01.03.2016-31.03.2016 / Size restriction – 30 / Prerequisites – / Further Information –kirsten.twelbeck@engsem.uni-hannover.de Universität Hannover SoSe 2016 Englisch, Master LA Gymnasium PD Dr. phil. Twelbeck Kirsten phil