Response to Other Eco-Concepts (Extracted from Week 8 Collaboration Forum)
Responding to Jason Song’s “Eco-concept: Ecotelepathy (tentative)":
Hi Jason
Apologies for my late reply and thank you again for your own input regarding my e-concept.
I really like your idea of ecotelepathy as a communicatory phenomenon. An aspect of my eco-concept regards the transcorporeal permeability between the hydrosphere and other biological spheres, so your idea really stuck out to me. My first mental association with the word ‘telepathy’ was the archetypal brain-to-brain “I can hear you in my mind” science-fiction trope. I’m pleased to see the way you’ve spun its standard (I think) meaning and interpretation.
I’ve also had the privilege of spending some time in Japan and have observed a Zen garden myself. I think this example is extremely accurate. I remember it striking me that something so modest and minimalistic in nature, with so few plants and no water, symbolises a relationship of balance and harmony, a harmony the gardener no doubt benefits from.
I think the way you have tethered your concept to the sublime is particularly appropriate. You make mention yourself of the relationship between human consciousness and the wider environment.
To be frank, you seem to have your concept in order. I’m unsure what I could possibly suggest to make it any richer than it already is. In line with Sigi’s comment below, your concept does seem to be philosophy dominant, so I would probably just ensure that a practical example is used to illustrate your ideas (which you already seem to be doing). Other than that, I have nothing to add.
Wishing you the best as we wrap up our projects.
Responding to “Abigal Winder Eco-concept”:
Hi Abigail. My eco-concept also has something to say with respect to climate change so your concept pulled me in. Your idea that natural landscapes possess the ability to foreshadow ecological events I think is particularly relevant. Our environment is currently trying to tell us that it is suffering after all.
I also believe the flower motif you have decided to utilise is appropriate. Your discussion of ‘less than par’ literature also struck me. I had a conversation with someone quite recently regarding how we decide whether a text is ‘high-brow’, ‘mid-brow’, or ‘low-brow’, and frankly, we did not come to a conclusion. Using your motif to comment on this should be super interesting and it seems there might be a more definitive way of answering this question through an ecological perspective.
I think we all appreciate setting in a text to a certain extent, but often overlook its significance. Despite the huge emphasis on pathetic fallacy in reading the Gothic, for example, I feel as if I fall into the habit of overlooking the intricacies of the environment within which a text is set.
I also adore the neologism ‘Fore-petaling’ – a very beautiful way of commenting on what is no doubt an ecological crisis.
I am unfamiliar with ‘The Iron Tithe’ but can see that other students have made useful suggestions regarding your chosen literary text.
Wishing you the best.
Response to “Judy Petera eco-concept”:
Hi Judy
Your working eco-concept sounds fantastic! I love the idea that the natural world around us could deliberately be igniting recollection. Weeks 1-8 really emphasised the beauty and mystery of the natural world for me, so the idea that its interacting realms could be ‘summoning’ us is fascinating.
I’m also hoping to formulate a neologism for my concept (but haven’t been able to come up with something that doesn’t sound ridiculous yet!).