Friday March 18th 2011

The theme identified for critical consideration in Conversation 2 is:

‘Environmental Writing and Communication’.

The event will explore the characteristic qualities and values of creative environmental writing (CEW) that prompt action and intervention, or, alienate readers from ecological mindfulness, such as the communication of anger, resistance, caution, resilience, respect, passion, pragmatism, nostalgia, spiritualism, doubt, hope, grief, guilt, panic, and sadness. Questions to be considered include:

- How do genres of CEW differently work on the imagination to drive creative environmental endeavour and action, and for whom?

- What kinds of environmental writer are upheld as authority, as witness and as inspiration, and why?

- Does the textual format of CEW (book or blog) attract different kinds of public attention and reception?

- What are the implications of a critical consideration of CEW for academic writing?

 

 

Reading for Conversation 2:

 

John Burnside (2006) 'A Science of Belonging: Poetry as Ecology', in Crawford, R. (ed) Contemporary Poetry and Contemporary Science (Oxford University Press).

>> Download a copy

 

Tim Dee (2011) 'Nature Writing', Archipelago (Clutag Press).

>> Download a copy

 

Kathleen Jamie (2010) 'North Rona', in Evans, G. and Robson, D. (eds) Towards Re-Enchantment: Place and its Meanings (Artevents).

>> Download a copy