Object lesson: Placenta/placentae

Abstract

This article delves into the multifaceted nature of the placenta, both as a physiological organ and a cultural symbol, through personal narrative, Indigenous-feminist scholarship, and scientific inquiry. Beginning with the author’s pregnancy experience and reflections on birth practices, it navigates the placenta’s role in childbirth, its cultural significance, and the lack of discourse surrounding its importance. The inquiry expands to incorporate contemporary issues such as microplastic pollution and its presence in human placenta, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental pollution and colonialism. Through the lens of anticolonial science and art as ritual, the article proposes artful avenues for engaging with placenta/placentae as an object lesson and environmental activism, advocating for a deeper understanding of our relationship with the land.