Tag Archives: Environmental Humanites

Environmental Humanities: Filling the Gaps Between Art and Science

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There is a common habit people tend to practice in society and said habit is the need to divide the arts and humanitarian studies, from science and arithmetic studies. Now that is not to say I have not fallen guilty of this division and classification pertaining to scholarly work since of course structure and order is crucial in the world of academia. However, literature and art pertaining to the environment and of the sort are not as separated from the science field as I previously thought it was which I began to discover after reading The Emergence of the Environmental Humanities by Robert Emmett and David Nye.

The further I delved into the reading, the more I realized that at a certain point in time, there were civilizations and groups of people that did not know fact from fiction meaning that only the people that were well-read and dedicated to their studies could critically analyze written work and separate the scientific aspect of the work from the fantasy side. But with this being said, it also adds more layers to legends and folktales considering most of them had to be created with an understanding of science regarding the environment, “The environmental humanities provide historical perspectives on the natural and social sciences, pointing to how their agendas, initial goals, and occasional failures have been affected by political ideologies and economic interests” (5). I legitimately did not realize the amount of knowledge one had to have in order to speak or write about environmental issues when it pertains to humanities but in retrospect, it is almost a given that one needs to have a substantial amount of scientific research on the topic in order to form an interpretation through literary theory.

These correlations between science and humanities is something that should be addressed and thoroughly explained to any person that is involved or is thinking about pursuing a career in STEM since it is no secret that people that enter a more science-based field of study tend to view the arts as less important which both Emmett and Nye argue against, “The open-minded, constructive approach of the environmental humanities can motivate creative cooperation between the humanities and the sciences and can assist in the interpretation of scientific results” (7). While many will continue to argue that the gaps between science and arts and humanities are still apparent, there is still no doubt that critical thinking is extremely beneficial in scientific studies and has been utilized throughout history in literature and art in general.

The Emergence of the Environmental Humanities

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In The Emergence of the Environmental Humanities Robert Emmett and David Nye introduce environmental humanities as well as advocate for the importance of why we should pay attention to what is happening. Instead of just explaining what environmental humanities is and what kind of research they can present, they address a big problem right in the beginning—which is getting people to listen to what they have to say and figuring out a way to entice people to care about it.

For starters, Emmett and Nye explain that “…scholars and writers are breaking down academic barriers between the humanities and the sciences, even as these separations are being breached in the larger society.”(6) Pointing out the division between science and humanities that is beyond academic, put to the public. This separation has been an ongoing issue and bridge between the two is needed to further push the importance of environmental humanities. Especially if this study is to be taken seriously, not only those representing this should be involved but those who are still learning about it as well.

They continue to explain that the kind of approach is a delicacy in its own way stating, “Major global financial and development agencies now recognize that addressing the public requires value systems and registries of information that are more nuanced than conventional date”(8) While they understand that their data is major, looking at numbers and facts is not the only way that will increase the awareness for environmental humanities. As they mention, “They demand broad thinking, teamwork across the disciplines, and knowledge that is affective, or emotionally potent, in order to be effective or capable of mobilizing social adaptation.”(8) In this last sentence they communicate that being affective goes hand in hand with effectiveness in this situation. In order to achieve the attention they want, touching the emotions of people plays a big role in the adaptation of environmental humanities. Emotions is ultimately what is going to get people interested, especially if they feel connected to the situation because it could be affecting their own life. Which can be a selfish way of thinking, but humans can be quite self centered and not care about what is going on around them unless it is directly affecting them.

Humans Shape the Environment

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In The Emergence of Environmental Humanities, Emmett and Nye cite a line from an Australian coastal manager. They said “We do not manage the environment, only the behaviors that affect its structure and processes”. This shows one of the key ideas of the environmental humanities which is that we must see that environmental problems are at their core, human problems. This quote gets rid of the idea that people can control nature as if it is something that’s separate and it reframes the idea that if we want to see change it must be in OUR values, habits and institutions. 

The word “manage” usually means control or authority. By denying that we can “manage the environment” it means that we must shift our responsibilities from controlling ecosystems to understanding ourselves. We as humans are able to control our behaviors, consumption and culture that can shape our environmental outcomes. Emmet and Nye talked about the failed eco city near Shanghai and the Huangbaiyu village project. Both of these were technological solutions that collapsed because the planners ignored the local community. This shows us that environmental sustainability cannot be planned from “the top down” instead it requires cultural participation. 

The phrasing “structure and processes” is also super important. It brings out the scientific language but also links it to human behavior. It explains that the environmental humanities mission is to bridge scientific understanding with cultural interpretation. The problem is not lack of data or information about something such as biodiversity but it’s a failure to act on that knowledge. By emphasizing behavior, the quote brings more of an emotional and ethical response not just a technical one.    

This also shows that there can be limits when it comes to technological “fixes”. For example, Emmett and Nye say that we can design and build solar houses and energy efficient cities but convincing the public to build it or live in it is not a scientific issue, but a cultural issue. This is when the humanities comes in, it helps us understand desires and meaning. To “manage” behavior means we must engage in values and identities that make sustainable choses feel possible and worth something.  

This quote made me think about what environmental responsibility really means. It forced me to stop looking at nature as an object and start recognizing the connection between human actions and environmental change.​​ The environmental humanities emerge as a practical approach that’s grounded in empathy, communication and a collective self awareness.