Scholarly Writing
Teaching North American Environmental Literature
by Laird Christensen (Editor), Mark C. Long (Editor), Frederick O. Waage (Editor)
Modern Language Association (January 1, 2008)
Contributing essay by Cheryl J. Fish included.
From stories about Los Angeles freeways to slave narratives to science fiction, environmental literature encompasses more than nature writing. The study of environmental narrative has flourished since the MLA published Teaching Environmental Literature in 1985. Today, writers evince a self-consciousness about writing in the genre, teachers have incorporated field study into courses, technology has opened up classroom possibilities, and institutions have developed to support study of this vital body of writing. The challenge for instructors is to identify core texts while maintaining the field's dynamic, open qualities.
The essays in this volume focus on North American environmental writing, presenting teachers with background on environmental justice issues, ecocriticism, and ecofeminism. Contributors consider the various disciplines that have shaped the field, including African American, American Indian, Canadian, and Chicana/o literature. The interdisciplinary approaches recommended treat the theme of predators in literature, ecology and ethics, conservation, and film. A focus on place-based literature explores how students can physically engage with the environment as they study literature. The volume closes with an annotated resource guide organized by subject matter.
Contributors: Joni Adamson, Stacy Alaimo, Karla Armbruster, Pamela Banting, David Landis Barnhill, Alanna F. Bondar, J. Scott Bryson, SueEllen Campbell, Katherine R. Chandler, Christopher J. Cobb, Hal Crimmel, Cheryl J. Fish, Cheryll Glotfelty, John R. Harris, Ursula K. Heise, Bob Henderson, Annie Merrill Ingram, Stephen R. Johnson, Jerry Keir, Glen A. Love, Jorge Marcone, David Mazel, Catriona Mortimer-Sandilands, Patrick D. Murphy, Jeffrey Myers, Barbara Barney Nelson, Daniel J. Philippon, Bernard Quetchenbach, Anne Raine, Randall Roorda, William Slaymaker, Scott Slovic, Cheryl C. Smith, Mary Stark, John Tallmadge, Priscilla Solis Ybarra