Writing Romantic Climate Change: Gendered Poetics and Critical Legacies in the Anthropocene

The concept of "Romanthropocene" in the book serves as a bridge between Romantic literature and contemporary climate discourse. It highlights the enduring influence of Romantic ideas on how we perceive and interact with the natural world, particularly in the context of climate change. By examining the connections between Romanticism and the Anthropocene, the book reveals how Romantic narratives of human mastery over nature have shaped contemporary environmental thought and policies. This analysis underscores the need for a critical reevaluation of these narratives, emphasizing situated positionalities and diverse perspectives in understanding and addressing climate crisis. The book argues that by examining the ways in which Romantic literature engages with climate change and its implications, we can gain valuable insights into the complexities of the human-nature relationship and develop more nuanced approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The book employs case studies of Romantic literature to illustrate the complexities of gendered positionality and its impact on environmental representation by examining how canonical and marginalized writers engage with nature. It highlights the exclusion of women writers from the Romantic canon and the ways in which their perspectives on nature were marginalized. The book also analyzes the role of gender in shaping the representation of nature in Romantic literature, such as the sublime and the beautiful, and how these concepts were often gendered. By focusing on the works of women writers like Mary Shelley and Jane Austen, as well as lesser-known figures, the book reveals the diverse and nuanced ways in which gender influenced environmental representation in the Romantic period. This analysis underscores the importance of considering gendered positionality in understanding environmental narratives and the impact of these narratives on contemporary environmental discourse.

The book's analysis of Romantic literature and its implications for contemporary environmental humanities and climate change studies are multifaceted. It highlights the historical roots of anthropocentric thinking and the gendered narratives surrounding nature and climate change. This analysis challenges the dominant anthropocentric framing of the Anthropocene, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of human-nature relationships. The book's emphasis on situated knowledges and diverse perspectives encourages a broader engagement with climate change, moving beyond simplistic solutions and hero narratives. It underscores the importance of recognizing the legacies of Romanticism in shaping contemporary environmental discourse, suggesting that rethinking these legacies can inform more effective climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Overall, the book's analysis encourages a critical and inclusive approach to environmental humanities and climate change studies, emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives and situated knowledges in addressing the complex challenges of the Anthropocene.

The book engages with popular culture and contemporary narratives about mushrooms by examining their representation in various media, including news, TED talks, popular science books, and social media. It highlights the romanticization of mushrooms as savior figures in climate change discourse, particularly in narratives that position them as magical, heroic, and capable of solving ecological problems. The book contrasts this romanticization with critical perspectives, such as those of Anna Tsing, which emphasize the disruptive and entangled nature of fungi and their potential for reframing anthropocentric narratives. It also critiques the instrumentalization of mushrooms in popular science texts and their alignment with progress narratives, suggesting that such narratives may hinder genuine engagement with environmental issues.