Postcolonial Ecocriticism Research Cluster Meeting

Description

The Postcolonial Ecocriticism Interdisciplinary Research Cluster's third meeting includes a discussion of Octavia Butler's speculative novel Parable of the Sower (1993).

All welcome. Light refreshments served.

The Postcolonial Ecocriticism Research Cluster considers how indigenous and postcolonial peoples navigate legacies of colonialism in the face of global climate change. Although a response to climate crisis requires a united human effort, the impact of climate change is unevenly experienced by local populations. This cluster invites scholars to explore diverse relationships between people and environments, including representations of shrinking and irradiated islands, militarized ocean currents, and mass migration and displacement. Additionally, this interdisciplinary cluster seeks to bridge the traditionally human-centered field of postcolonial studies with ecocriticism's focus on conservation and animal rights by turning to indigenous and local responses to environmental degradation. Through interdisciplinary discussion, the cluster will explore intersections between diverse and even conflicting areas of study to open pathways for new areas of research and exploration. There will be monthly discussion groups where scholars can exchange work for feedback from peers outside of their respective fields.