Arrogance is not an uncommon trait. While it is relatively easy for individuals to adopt a heightened sense of self, I had never before considered how a language could exhibit such arrogance as well. In her chapter “Learning the Grammar of Animacy,” Kimmerer underscores the linguistic connection between English and humanity’s perceived superiority by asserting that “the arrogance of English… Read more »
Prior to taking this course, my first instinct in approaching an issue as immense and all-encompassing as the Anthropocene was to look anywhere but inward. I was under the impression that an issue as complex as our changing climate and degrading Earth strictly required stark scientific objectivity. Viewing the Anthropocene through a scientific lens granted the issue irrefutable credibility, and… Read more »
Having strangers take your photograph is an intimate and often uncomfortable experience. Thus, when Sasha, Kleitia and I were walking through the streets of downtown Seattle clinging to five black and white posters, I was convinced that few people would be willing to participate. Throughout the development of our project, our group continually struggled with the concern that the purpose… Read more »
Reflecting back on my past conceptions of science, I cannot help but be overcome by a strong sense of guilt. Through my various science courses, I often championed the discipline as one that I could rely on solely because of its inherent objectivity. Science gave me truth, observable phenomena, and concrete answers. Reflecting back on my past conceptions of nature,… Read more »
Sacrifice stands at the center of the Anthropocene. The process of approaching this issue will require wealthy nations, such as the United States, to sacrifice various cultural norms to vastly improve sustainability. Although this act of sacrificing luxuries and excess seems reasonable, it also appears implausible. Such doubt in the nation’s ability to make such adjustments stems from the nation’s… Read more »
I think one of the most startling aspects of a concept such as the Anthropocene is its ability to elicit a sense of both optimism and pessimism. While reflecting on our past two weeks of class and readings, I realize that I have been consistently torn as to how to approach the topic. Recognizing the strength of Michael Maniates’s argument… Read more »
