Elements of Nature Writing From Dr. Barnhill’s “A New Approach to Nature Writing”

2 Nature Writing How is nature writing related to our world? How does it help us understand our social and political systems? How does spirituality impact the weave of nature, society, and politics? How is nature writing related to our world? How does it help us understand our social and political systems? How does spirituality impact the weave of nature, society, and politics?

1. Accounts of nature Natural history information. This refers not just to historical accounts of nature over time, but information about nature now as well. Natural history information. This refers not just to historical accounts of nature over time, but information about nature now as well. Descriptions of scenes in nature: the swoop of the hawk, the color of rocks in sunset. Descriptions of scenes in nature: the swoop of the hawk, the color of rocks in sunset. These accounts are objective - scientific findings and historical facts. These accounts are objective - scientific findings and historical facts. Natural history information. This refers not just to historical accounts of nature over time, but information about nature now as well. Natural history information. This refers not just to historical accounts of nature over time, but information about nature now as well. Descriptions of scenes in nature: the swoop of the hawk, the color of rocks in sunset. Descriptions of scenes in nature: the swoop of the hawk, the color of rocks in sunset. These accounts are objective - scientific findings and historical facts. These accounts are objective - scientific findings and historical facts.

2. Personal experience in nature. Types of experience, such as observation of nature, encounters with animals or plants, working with nature (e.g., as a farmer), and living with others (friends, family, community) in relation to nature. Types of experience, such as observation of nature, encounters with animals or plants, working with nature (e.g., as a farmer), and living with others (friends, family, community) in relation to nature. This is a subjective focus of the writer’s encounter with nature. This is a subjective focus of the writer’s encounter with nature. Types of experience, such as observation of nature, encounters with animals or plants, working with nature (e.g., as a farmer), and living with others (friends, family, community) in relation to nature. Types of experience, such as observation of nature, encounters with animals or plants, working with nature (e.g., as a farmer), and living with others (friends, family, community) in relation to nature. This is a subjective focus of the writer’s encounter with nature. This is a subjective focus of the writer’s encounter with nature.

3. Social experience of nature. Modes of living. The concern here is the context and basic activity. Major types include living in place (either temporarily, as in Walden, or indefinitely, as with Edward Abbey), rambles in familiar territory, and travel to unfamiliar lands (whether hiking in the Moab Desert). Modes of living. The concern here is the context and basic activity. Major types include living in place (either temporarily, as in Walden, or indefinitely, as with Edward Abbey), rambles in familiar territory, and travel to unfamiliar lands (whether hiking in the Moab Desert). Social situation: solitude, with companions, with family, or in a community. Social situation: solitude, with companions, with family, or in a community. Modes of living. The concern here is the context and basic activity. Major types include living in place (either temporarily, as in Walden, or indefinitely, as with Edward Abbey), rambles in familiar territory, and travel to unfamiliar lands (whether hiking in the Moab Desert). Modes of living. The concern here is the context and basic activity. Major types include living in place (either temporarily, as in Walden, or indefinitely, as with Edward Abbey), rambles in familiar territory, and travel to unfamiliar lands (whether hiking in the Moab Desert). Social situation: solitude, with companions, with family, or in a community. Social situation: solitude, with companions, with family, or in a community.

Social experience of nature. Nature writing is not limited to the author’s personal experience of the natural world. Nature writing is not limited to the author’s personal experience of the natural world. Examples: Examples: Present communities: (e.g. Wendell Berry’s rural Kentucky) Present communities: (e.g. Wendell Berry’s rural Kentucky) Historical: the reflections of past generations concerning a particular relationship to an area. Historical: the reflections of past generations concerning a particular relationship to an area. Nature writing is not limited to the author’s personal experience of the natural world. Nature writing is not limited to the author’s personal experience of the natural world. Examples: Examples: Present communities: (e.g. Wendell Berry’s rural Kentucky) Present communities: (e.g. Wendell Berry’s rural Kentucky) Historical: the reflections of past generations concerning a particular relationship to an area. Historical: the reflections of past generations concerning a particular relationship to an area.

4. A philosophy of nature, including views of: the fundamental way nature works the fundamental way nature works the essential relationship between humans and nature the essential relationship between humans and nature the value of nature the value of nature our ethical responsibility in regards to nature our ethical responsibility in regards to nature the fundamental way nature works the fundamental way nature works the essential relationship between humans and nature the essential relationship between humans and nature the value of nature the value of nature our ethical responsibility in regards to nature our ethical responsibility in regards to nature

5. Ecological consciousness This aspect consists of reflections on a writer’s consciousness of nature, as in Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker’s Creek and Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire. This aspect consists of reflections on a writer’s consciousness of nature, as in Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker’s Creek and Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire. What about in Berry’s essay? What about in Berry’s essay? This aspect consists of reflections on a writer’s consciousness of nature, as in Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker’s Creek and Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire. This aspect consists of reflections on a writer’s consciousness of nature, as in Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker’s Creek and Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire. What about in Berry’s essay? What about in Berry’s essay?

9 6. Philosophy of language This element of nature writing concerns language’s limits and possibilities of misrepresenting nature. This element of nature writing concerns language’s limits and possibilities of misrepresenting nature. In other words, does language have the power to convey nature to a reader? In other words, does language have the power to convey nature to a reader? This element of nature writing concerns language’s limits and possibilities of misrepresenting nature. This element of nature writing concerns language’s limits and possibilities of misrepresenting nature. In other words, does language have the power to convey nature to a reader? In other words, does language have the power to convey nature to a reader? 9

8. Ecosocial politics. Ecosocial: the interconnectedness of environmental and social issues Ecosocial: the interconnectedness of environmental and social issues This element includes critique – reflections on the nature, extent, and causes of negative human impact on the natural world – as well as speculations on the ecosocial ideal. This element includes critique – reflections on the nature, extent, and causes of negative human impact on the natural world – as well as speculations on the ecosocial ideal. Ecosocial: the interconnectedness of environmental and social issues Ecosocial: the interconnectedness of environmental and social issues This element includes critique – reflections on the nature, extent, and causes of negative human impact on the natural world – as well as speculations on the ecosocial ideal. This element includes critique – reflections on the nature, extent, and causes of negative human impact on the natural world – as well as speculations on the ecosocial ideal.

Ecosocial critique. Bearing witness to the loss and suffering. Bearing witness to the loss and suffering. Analysis of nature, causes, and effects of the loss and suffering. Analysis of nature, causes, and effects of the loss and suffering. Active resistance to the forces and structures that lead to the loss of suffering. Active resistance to the forces and structures that lead to the loss of suffering. Bearing witness to the loss and suffering. Bearing witness to the loss and suffering. Analysis of nature, causes, and effects of the loss and suffering. Analysis of nature, causes, and effects of the loss and suffering. Active resistance to the forces and structures that lead to the loss of suffering. Active resistance to the forces and structures that lead to the loss of suffering.

8. Ecosocial ideal. Bearing witness to the beauty and value of nature and to examples of what Edward Abbey calls “living wisely on the land.” Bearing witness to the beauty and value of nature and to examples of what Edward Abbey calls “living wisely on the land.” Analysis of the nature of the ideal and the path of achieving it. Analysis of the nature of the ideal and the path of achieving it. The active work of building a positive alternative The active work of building a positive alternative Bearing witness to the beauty and value of nature and to examples of what Edward Abbey calls “living wisely on the land.” Bearing witness to the beauty and value of nature and to examples of what Edward Abbey calls “living wisely on the land.” Analysis of the nature of the ideal and the path of achieving it. Analysis of the nature of the ideal and the path of achieving it. The active work of building a positive alternative The active work of building a positive alternative

13 9. Praxis and policies What should we do to change the current condition/relationship with nature? What should we do to change the current condition/relationship with nature? These include suggested actions and measures toward change. These include suggested actions and measures toward change. What should we do to change the current condition/relationship with nature? What should we do to change the current condition/relationship with nature? These include suggested actions and measures toward change. These include suggested actions and measures toward change. 13

10. Spirituality. This element includes both traditional religious beliefs (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism) and more general difficult-to-define “nature spirituality.” This element includes both traditional religious beliefs (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism) and more general difficult-to-define “nature spirituality.” It is related to other elements, since it involves a certain state of mind and emotions (eco-psychology) and religious view of nature (philosophy). It is related to other elements, since it involves a certain state of mind and emotions (eco-psychology) and religious view of nature (philosophy). Usually strongly impacts the social and political dimensions. Depictions of personal experience often manifest the spiritual perspective of the author. Usually strongly impacts the social and political dimensions. Depictions of personal experience often manifest the spiritual perspective of the author. This element includes both traditional religious beliefs (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism) and more general difficult-to-define “nature spirituality.” This element includes both traditional religious beliefs (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism) and more general difficult-to-define “nature spirituality.” It is related to other elements, since it involves a certain state of mind and emotions (eco-psychology) and religious view of nature (philosophy). It is related to other elements, since it involves a certain state of mind and emotions (eco-psychology) and religious view of nature (philosophy). Usually strongly impacts the social and political dimensions. Depictions of personal experience often manifest the spiritual perspective of the author. Usually strongly impacts the social and political dimensions. Depictions of personal experience often manifest the spiritual perspective of the author.