How can stories and art support human-nature connectedness?
Method Stream: Literature Review
ECs: Both 14 and 23 EC thesis possible
Description:
In this literature review study, you will investigate what is known about how, why and when stories and art can foster eco-centric beliefs, attitudes and behaviours towards the natural world The idea is that the dominant cognitive-rational approaches to climate communication fails to address the narrative gap that is experienced because of the complexity of climate concerns at the societal and planetary level and how this relates to the practicalities of everyday life. Art and stories offer a more embodied, sensory-emotional way of engaging people with climate concerns. Moreover, an assumption behind the project is that current technocratic approaches to sustainability are insufficient to make the more fundamental shift needed, and risk to end up in ‘green-washing’ and co-optation of green initiatives. Regenerative approaches to sustainability and approaches that target human-nature connectedness focus on a shift in underlying worldview required for socioecological perspectives and action. This fundamental shift in worldview encompasses for example interconnectedness of all life, love and care for nature, and empathy with non-human life.
Depending on your interest, several research questions and ways of scoping the literature review are possible. You can also build on prior thesis projects on related topics. Your research will contribute to a larger project on ‘Narrative learning for regenerative futures’ in which researchers, designers, sustainability educators, and artists collaborate.