Micro-Landscapes of the Anthropocene

Critical Reflection on E-concept and Reading Nature

The main e-concept I have developed through the course is the Art of Plantscendence and the interweaving of the idea of plant movement have been interlinked through connections to past students work. Inspired by the current pandemic hindering our movement in multiple spatial areas and the study of the anthropocene, fuses together the birth of plantscendence. It abolishes notions of plants existing in order to provide food, shelter, resource for others and through Monica Gagliano's work we perceive their capability to govern and move for themselves. Plant awareness is also crucial in our study of the post-humanism, materialism and extinction through the course. Looking at the different concepts and how they inter-relate to plantscendence was a challenge and also an interesting experience. My e-concept looks at the bravery of plants in ascending or descending towards the unknown in order to engage in the same liberty as humans. Furthermore in a broader perspective, Timothy Morton evokes the interconnection of all things and the presence of an ecological mesh. This mesh involves a relationship between all things that may or may not be visible to the human eye. This idea is deeply related to the trajectory of plants as they are often moving, but is unrecognised to the anthropocentric human eye. 

The eco-concept assists in understanding the cultural imaginaries through opening up a conversation of nature and cultures within the course. In exploring the different realms starting from plants, abolishes the interpretations of human-dependent nature and "technological nature" (Diogo). In the anthropocene, viewing plants as submissive and portraying an aesthetic function; plant blindness is a concept-nemesis to plantscendence. The role of plants reduced to the background picture and stuck with the function of beauty is the antithesis of nature being independent from humans. By encountering these concepts and opening up a middle ground for conversation between the dynamics and duality depicted, allows us to enrich our understanding of the mesh we live in. Using the navigation of Plantscendence as a tool, we begin to discover the deep representations that can only be read through discarding the exploitive lenses of humans. Instead of reading for domination and a hunger in the capitalistic gain of information, we navigate through the course with a purpose to absorb information and weave our interpretations in areas where needed. The intention and goal of reaching a compromisation between human and nature is sought after within the course. 

Additionally, the absorption of different readings from Henry Thoreau's Walking to Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and epilogue of an aerial view from Wallace Steven's 'Of Mere Being', the Reading Natures course have changed my personal perspective and view of nature as a whole. Learning to apply literary representations to my surrounding allowed me to challenge pre-existing notions of ideas that were present in my daily life. I find myself now looking forward to the short passing interactions with the natural environment and yearn for the discovery of another realm yet to be uncovered. 


Reference: 

This page has paths: