Ecocritical Approach Research Articles

Eco-Translation of The Dove’s Necklace

Objectives: This essay aims to examine how environments and places are portrayed in a literary work and their translation, drawing attention to how spaces and landscapes are reflected and recreated in this work. The emphasis is on the premise that language, environment, and landscape, which are at the heart of literature, should be translated into certain other linguistic and environmental mediums throughout the translation. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to reveal, through an ecocritical approach, Alem's translators' translational preferences to recreate the ecological and spatial setting she expresses in her novel, The Dove’s Necklace. Additionally, to investigate if these translational preferences aid in enhancing environmental awareness and space image amongst target readers. Methods: This is a descriptive study that employs qualitative approaches. A comprehensive reading of the work is necessary to verify the novel's translations of landscape and bioregion references following Toury's (2012) proposed translational norms. Results: The results show that the translators of the target text have generally benefited from the tendency towards literal translation. In other words, the translators' literal translation method aided in conveying the same environmental image. Consequently, the intended reader becomes aware of an ecological reality that exists outside of their own settings. Conclusions: Scholars do not widely accept literal translations, although they may effectively convey the text and its impact.

Enhancing sustainability education through critical reading: a qualitative study in a Spanish primary school

This research explores how picturebooks can enhance ecocritical awareness and sustainable attitudes among 97 primary school children aged 8–9 in a Spanish school. The study includes 24 reading sessions in three formats: individual, small group, and adult-mediated. The selection of the corpus for children’s readings aligns with theoretical studies focusing on an ecocritical approach to children’s literature, a scholarly perspective that has gained prominence in recent decades. Results indicate that adult-mediated sessions are more effective than individual or small-group readings, fostering greater emotional and cognitive engagement. While students generally showed an ecocentric perspective, an anthropocentric view of sustainability persisted. The study highlights that, although guided reading is beneficial, a more integrated and multidimensional educational approach is needed to cultivate a regenerative consciousness. The educator’s role is crucial for guiding students toward deeper, more meaningful ecocritical understanding.

Ethno-Graphics: Folklore and Baltic Printmaking in the Period of Late Socialism

Visual representations of folklore and mythology played an ambivalent role in Baltic art and society during late socialism. On the one hand, it was often a safe choice promoted by Soviet national cultural policy; on the other, artwork tapping into national and ethnic identities carried a subversive, anti-Soviet potential. Exploring folkloric themes, Baltic artists of the 1970s developed different strategies to navigate the cultural field between Soviet censorship, folklore revival, modern forms of expression, and resistance to sovietisation in their home countries. The renowned Estonian printmaker Kaljo Põllu (1934–2010) created a powerful fusion of ethnographic research and creative practice to re-imagine Finno-Ugric mythology and build an alternative foundation for Estonian identity. Latvian printmaker Dzidra Ezergaile (1926–2013) laid the groundwork for an ethno- and eco-critical approach towards Soviet modernisation through a novel visual exploration of Latvian folklore motifs. Finally, Lithuanian illustrator and monumental painter Birute Žilytė (b. 1930) revolutionised Lithuanian childhood imagery, providing Lithuanian folklore and myths with bright and brave contemporary forms. A postcolonial reading of Baltic printmaking during late socialism generates an interpretive grid for understanding the role of folklore and folklorism within broader cultural trends and political dispositions. A combination of folklore studies and art history might efficiently contribute also to gender studies and environmental humanities.

Big Cruise Ships Going Feral: An Ecocritical Reading of Overtourism in Venice

The problem of big cruise ships overtourism in Venice is examined with an ecocritical approach, through two novel concepts: Feral entity and Plantationocene. The first one is adopted to describe big cruise ships as other‑than‑human subjects benefitting from human‑built infrastructures to spread beyond human control, becoming undomesticated. Such ferality is evident in some of their attributes, such as being uncontainable, creating a toxic environment or producing legacy effects. Plantationocene, instead, is used to depict the cruise ships‑induced touristic monoculture affecting the city, highlighting its major characteristics, namely that of global circulation of humans and capital and the homogenisation, simplification and exploitation of eco‑social landscapes.

Indigenous Knowledge for Environmental Conservation: An Ecocritical Approach to Silko’s Ceremony and Gardens in the Dunes

This paper examines the belief systems and ceremonies of the Native American people also known as American Indians or Indigenous tribal groups, exploring how their primitive ritual practices contribute to preserving the environment and maintaining the abundance of nature. The study argues that these people’s traditional wisdom which is based on close observations, one-to-one contact with the environment, and the first-hand experience sharpened over millennia, empowers them to understand the self-regulatory and self-renewal patterns of the natural world and take necessary precautions for environmental sustainability. To prove this argument, the study has undertaken Leslie Mormon Silko’s two major texts Ceremony and Gardens in the Dunes for textual analysis. Using ecocriticism as its theoretical framework, the study has borrowed insights from John Hannigan’s typologies of environmentalism, and Winona LaDuke or Gerald Vizenor’s concept of tribal wisdom. The finding of the study contends that indigenous knowledge plays a vital role in promoting natural balance and social equity. The study concludes that the conservation of natural environment ensures harmony, sustainable agriculture, development, and food security.

Campagnes et poésie contemporaine : lecture, écriture et terrain dans les pratiques pédagogiques

In this article, based on an ecocritical approach of literature, poems are considered as knots in the tissue of our relations with the living environment, our relations and attachments with territories and (mostly rural) inhabitants. The poems written by Estelle Ceccarini, Aurélie Olivier, Sonia Moretti, Laetitia Gaudefroy Colombot, about and from rural territories, enrich our cartographies of countryside – emptied by our urban ways of thought. These contemporary poems, situated in singular places, could be extended by meetings – with places, territories, animals, inhabitants, cultural actors – in order to tie social relations around the poetry book. They connect the striding of space and language and show that learning to observe, to care, and to be curious, can be developed through poetic practice.

Ecocriticism of Slovene Literary Authors from Italy

Abstract The aim of this paper is to apply an ecocritical approach to the analysis of selected literary passages by Slovene minority authors from Italy. Drawing from ecocritical discourse, the author presents a diverse conception of living space before delving into the analysis of selected passages, through which she aims to demonstrate that, in the case of minority literary authors, environmental issues intertwine with questions of identity, as threats to the environment as a living space are closely associated with threats to the ethnic community. This is particularly evident in the case of literary authors from Beneška Slovenia. The author concludes her views with an analysis of literary works by the youngest Slovene authors from Italy, who notably engage with ecological themes extending beyond the confines of the living space of the Slovene minority in Italy to address the global ecological crisis.

Ecophobia and Social Class Identity: An Ecocritical Approach to the Nature/Culture Divide in Oscar Wilde’s Fairy Tales “The Young King” and “The Star Child”

This article applies an ecocritical approach to the analysis of the nature/culture divide in Oscar Wilde’s “The Young King” and “The Star-Child”. These two tales contrast the realm of nature, embodied in the forest, and the realm of civilisation, represented by the city. Both stories focus on the protagonists’ journey from wilderness to the city, where not only do they need to become civilised subjects, but they are expected to govern as kings. This physical journey is matched by an internal one since both characters simultaneously undergo a transition from an animal-like state to a human one. I argue that these tales’ use of the nature/culture and animal/human dichotomies is closely connected to Wilde’s reflections about the Victorian social class system included in The Soul of Man under Socialism. Class struggle is indeed a major preoccupation in traditional folktales, where protagonists tend to magically escape from an initial disadvantaged position. Applying an ecocritical perspective to “The Young King” and “The Star-Child” helps to illustrate how these two tales manage to question the legitimacy of the hierarchical social structure by blurring the lines that separate the civilised subject from the animal one.

Exploring the Forbidden Forest Haze: An Ecocritical Analysis of Environmental Themes in the Short Story “Tragedi Asap”

Purpose: This study aims to explore the phenomenon of the forbidden forest haze in the short story Tragedi Asap by Gigih Suroso. Method: This study uses a qualitative method. Data are presented descriptively by using Greg Garrard's ecocritical approach. The research data is in the form of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences in short stories. The data source is from the short story Tragedi Asap which was published by Analisa Newspaper. Data analysis using software Nvivo 12 and reseacher was carried out using interactive and interpretive model analysis techniques consisting of data condensation, data presentation, and concluding/verification. Result and Conclusion: The findings research, there are six aspects presented in the short story, namely pollution, wilderness, apocalypse, dwelling, animals, and earth. Environmental education found is protecting nature, disaster mitigation, and preserving nature as a mandate from God. This short story also features an arcadia construction in the form of a prohibition on the transfer of forest land because it is considered holy and sacred. Implication of the research: The study contributes to public policy by providing an ecocritical analysis of the environmental themes within the short story 'Tragedi Asap'. It sheds light on the portrayal of the natural environment and its ecological implications, offering a nuanced understanding of how literature intersects with environmental issues. This research adds to the broader discourse on environmental literature and its socio-political implications. Originality/value: The research novelty lies in the application of ecocritical analysis to the specific cultural and environmental context depicted in the short story 'Tragedi Asap', offering a unique perspective on the intersection of literature, society, and ecological concerns in a particular cultural setting.

Nature's Power and Human Vulnerability in Saki’s The Interlopers: An Ecocritical Approach

Nature's Power and Human Vulnerability in Saki’s The Interlopers: An Ecocritical Approach

Cerita Dari Hutan Teso Nelo: Ekokritik dalam Novel Rahasia Pelangi

The novel is a medium that inspires and motivates readers to change and act more responsibly towards nature. This research aims to explore environmental phenomena and the author's ethical criticism. This research applies a qualitative approach with descriptive data presentation to explore and understand the representation of forest environmental issues in the novel Rahasia Pelangi by Riawani Elyta and Shabrina WS. The main data in this research is the text of the novel Rahasia Pelangi. Garrard's ecocritical approach Data analysis was carried out using the help of NVivo software which displays processed data in the form of percentage coverage and graphs through the Explore feature. To ensure validity and reliability, this research adopts a triangulation procedure, namely by comparing the findings with relevant previous studies and other ecocritical theories. The research findings are that the author narrates ecological themes. The narrative on the theme of "Disaster" is followed by the phenomenon of destruction of the "Wilderness." The contribution of the research is to provide awareness of environmental conservation for readers. The results of this study are a means for teachers and lecturers to provide literacy teaching materials to students and college students. Future research is to examine novels from other authors that voice environmental issues.

Environmental Awareness in the Selected Poems of Mary Oliver: An Eco-critical Approach

Ecocriticism is a growing discipline within literary studies that has become prominent as a critical framework for studying the connection between literature and the environment. Ecocriticism is a method of analysing texts that helps us understand how literature reflects and influences cultural views of the natural world. It has gained popularity due to growing environmental concerns. This research examines the reoccurring nature imagery present in Mary Oliver's selected poems, namely "Wild Geese" and her poetry collection, American Primitive, through textual and analytical. It shows how her poetry acts as a medium for actively exploring and articulating environmental awareness. By conducting a detailed examination of these poems, the researcher’s aim is to decipher the complex and detailed depiction of nature created by Oliver, and to understand the thematic importance of repeating themes. The investigation produces significant discoveries that enhance comprehension of the poet's distinctive approach to ecocritical ideas. Ultimately, Mary Oliver is a poet who has a profound sensitivity for the natural world, establishing a profound bond, promoting introspection, and highlighting the ethical aspects of humanity's interaction with nature.

Exploring the Nexus of Colonialism, Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Action in Amitav Ghosh’s The Living Mountain: A Fable of Our Times

This paper in Amitav Ghosh's The Living Mountain: A Fable of Our Times (2022) depicts the complex nexus between climate action, colonialism, and indigenous knowledge. Set in a remote Himalayan valley, the story follows the warring tribes who live around a sacred mountain, later forced to become the servants of the 'Anthropoi', the foreigners who have come there to climb and mine the mountain. The outsiders’ interests in exploring the mountain and its natural resources have threatened the lives of the natives. A postcolonial eco-critical approach is adopted to investigate how Ghosh portrays the relationship between climate change and colonialism through illustrations of invaders’ dismissal of the indigenous knowledge on environmental issues, de-sacralisation of the Sacred Mountain, etc. Similarly, the study explores the mind of the writer who seems to argue that climate change is a direct consequence of colonialism, which has led to a worldview that promotes nature as something to be conquered and exploited. Similarly, this study emphasizes the importance of indigenous knowledge for climate action, suggesting that it is essential for developing sustainable solutions to the climate crisis.

Green Romanticism?: Exhibiting the Ecocritical Approach in Binoy Majumdar’s Poems

Green romanticism is a term that focuses on the symmetry and interconnectedness of both human and non-human entities. It is interested in re-reading and re-evaluating the writings of romantic writers using an ecocritical approach with an enlightened perception of the features of the ecosphere. The concept and ideas of green romanticism can be found in both western and eastern romantic poets. Binoy Majumdar (1934-2006) is considered the fallen star who has changed the “chaka” (wheel) of contemporary Bengali poetry with the use of scientific and ecological avant-garde symbols and metaphors. He considers nature as equal to a human being and incorporates both real “Nature” and physical “nature” into his works to create a “Body-ecology-text” nexus. This research paper examines the intrinsic green romanticism theme in Binoy Majumdar's poems and how it manifests itself.

Representation of Ecological Wisdom in Banyumas Folklore: An Ecocritical Study

Folklore actually represents a society's civilization, including how to manage and preserve the environment. Folklore, for example, can be a valuable resource for humans involved in efforts to save the environment. This study investigates the Banyumas indigenous people's local wisdom in terms of environmental preservation as found in Banyumas folklores. The ecological wisdom of the Banyumas community is a term used in this study to refer to folklore from Banyumas, Central Java, Indonesia, that contains the value of local wisdom in terms of environmental conservation. This study took an ecocritical approach to folklore texts as a type of literary work. The data for this study came from Banyumas folklore, and the research method was qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed that Banyumas folklore describes the Banyumas community's ecological wisdom in environmental conservation activities. These wisdoms include: respect for nature, living in harmony with nature, wisely using natural resources, using ecological knowledge for toponymy, and using nature as a spiritual tool. Readers can use these wisdom values as a guide to optimize environmental conservation.

Ecocritical Agency in I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

In this article, I offer an ecocritical approach to video games that can help analyze how game designers can use choice-based game mechanics to offer audiences a way to confront humanity's role in the climate crisis. I Was a Teenage Exocolonist seamlessly integrates gameplay and narrative to help players cultivate new understandings about the anthropocene: “It takes little effort to render a planet inhospitable, but significant dedication to restore it” (Exocolonist, Age 13).

Contemporary Graphic Narratives of the End: Sketching an Ecopolitics of Disorientation and Solidarity through Sf Bande Dessinée

This article focuses on visions of the end in contemporary science fiction bande dessinée to explore the combined potentialities of the sf genre and the comics medium for imaginaries of world-rebuilding in the Anthropocene, and to develop an ecopolitics of disorientation and solidarity for a collapsing world. Bringing an ecocritical approach to queer and feminist theorizations of the politics of disorientation, it first discusses texts that draw (counter-)narratives of Anthropocenic futures, in which other-than-human agencies, spatialities and temporalities take centre stage in unsettling ways and collapse Western master narratives of the environment. In Jérémy Perrodeau’s Crépuscule, the non-linear storylines of an artificially created and now contaminated planet collide and assemble to disrupt the myth of a ‘virgin land’, rendering the erasure and slow re-inscription of genocidal and ecocidal violence. In Enki Bilal’s trilogy Coup de sang, it is the illusory hyper-separation of humans from nature that is dismantled through post-apocalyptic elemental graphics. The article then explores ways in which disorientation becomes fully productive as part of an ecopolitics when it is entwined with solidarity, a term that here extends beyond the human and is understood as a praxis of both care and resistance, drawing on ecofeminism and environmental philosophy. This is explored through Ludovic Debeurme’s trilogy Epiphania, which critiques and dissolves the human-animal boundary into enmeshed relationalities in sf visions toward multispecies communities and bodily and ethical mutations; and Jeanne Burgart Goutal and Aurore Chapon’s ReSisters, a choral narrative that makes use of comics’ potential for diffractive and participatory readings to draw the outlines of an ecofeminist uprising.

Natural Indices in Rupi Kaur’s Poetry: An Ecocritical Reading

Rupi Kaur is a Canadian young poet that employed natural elements in her poems to reflect the genuine human experiences. She has recently made great fame on social media and her poetry collections have made a great impact on Canadian literature. Her poetry can be analyzed through the ecocritical lens. Kaur’s poetry is not abstruse, or metaphysically oriented rather it is easy, and simple and reflects the plight of women and her journey from stumbling, falling, breaking, rising, and finally blooming. This journey sounds more like a non-human experience that is natural for instance the cycle of life of flowers. Through mobilizing several vivid images she channels the metaphors to human life in the form of natural images regarding feeling, shaping, flourishing, and prospering. The ecocritical approach is applied in this paper to pinpoint this common tendency among humans and their counterparts from non-human entities. Moreover, it casts the light on Kaur’s descriptive force and skillfulness in forming settings fit to her perpetual slippage from certain natural asset to the other. The paper also musters certain images, metaphors and other poetic devices to show the ecocritical awareness among people with reference to this modern approach that studies the interconnectedness between nature and culture. Applying of the ecocritical approach to Rupi Kaur’s poetry may afford a feasible solution to the physical/transcendental dualism, whereas we observe the formulation of hybrid identity that results from the merging of nature and human attitudes. This study traces the five sections of the Volume “The Sun and Her Flowers” and attributes them to the development of Rupi Kaur the woman.

Dolphin Conservation in Pengelana Laut Short Story: Greg Garrard's Ecocriticism Study

The short story "Pengelana Laut" by Linda Christanty focuses on the theme of preserving dolphins. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the environmental phenomena and the importance of environmental education in the story. This qualitative design presents descriptive data using the Grag Garrard ecocritical approach. The primary data source is the short story "Pengelana Laut," published in Kompas newspaper and ruangsastra.com, containing words, phrases, and sentences related to marine ecological phenomena, collected using the literature study techniques. The data obtained were analyzed using interactive interpretive models involving data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing/verifying. The NVivo software program was used to code the data. The result showed that the short story contains various environmental phenomena, such as pollution, wilderness, apocalypse, dwelling, animals, and earth, with a focus on the exploitation of dolphins by humans. In conclusion, environmental education is crucial for dolphin conservation, hence it is imperative to incorporate such material in literacy skills for students to cultivate a sense of concern for and environmental preservation of marine life.

The sertaneja landscape in Rogaciano Leite's poetics: an ecocritical approach

The article has, as a general objective, to analyze poems by Rogaciano Leite from the perspective of Ecocritical theory (GARRARD, 2006). Its specific objectives are: To discuss the theoretical assumptions of Ecocriticism; as well as analyzing elements of Rogaciano Leite's poetry that bring connection points between nature and literature, as mentioned above; expand popular poetry readings in the academy through Rogaciano's poems; contribute to a better critical perception of literary texts by authors from Pernambuco; expand the critical and theoretical appreciation of popular literature texts in the training of Literature teachers. As for the methodology, the research has a qualitative approach, of a basic nature, exploratory objective and bibliographic procedure that was developed from the reading of the book Carne e Alma, by Rogaciano Leite (2009). The poems selected for the development of the research present revealing elements and positive and/or negative impacts of man in relation to nature, according to the vision of the lyrical self. Therefore, the research with the poetics of Rogaciano Leite allowed us to expand the reading and discussion of the sertanejo space and Pernambuco literature from an ecocritical perspective.