Communicating Nature Summaries/Reflection

Krissy Nowakowski

Ch. 6

In chapter six of “Communicating Nature,” Corbett introduces the effects of advertisements and pop culture messages featuring the Environment on humans and their actions.  She scripts many different commercial scenes that fall into one of her four categories of ads that use the natural world in distinctive ways.  However, all of this advertising, according to Corbett, presents an oxymoron: these “green” ads are not promoting re-use and sustainability – they are promoting consumption of new goods and more natural resources.  Furthermore, while the ads appeal to families and seemingly promote a “common planet,” the capitalistic, private companies are essentially just trying to sell their product.

Ch. 7

In chapter seven, Corbett introduces the idea that animals play a critical role in human lives, though many humans do not realize this. Our interpretations of animals, however, are most often influenced by pop culture.  Corbett gives a good example: most children see the movie “Bambie” before ever seeing a deer in real-life. To most humans, only a small number of animals are fit to live amongst humans, while most are considered “wild,” belonging only in their natural habitats.  However, we do in fact share a common environment, and we are all subject to the effects of environmental degradation inflicted almost entirely by humans.

Ch. 8

In chapter eight, Corbett discusses the role that the media plays in influencing the public regarding environmental issues.  She unveils a major mistaken truth about media in general: that its institutions are not liberal pioneers of social revolution, but are rather conservative, conforming institutions that follow powerful persons or groups calling for change.  While the media does not initiate these social changes, it does have significant influence over our ideals and values.  Though in the end, it is empowered people who create the news; the media only sells this news.

Reflection

Chapter six interested me the most in this section of reading.  It’s crazy to think that even at age four, children’s buying habits can be set for life.  Are we really exposed to around three thousand ads per day? I guess I didn’t realize the huge role that advertising plays in everyday life, and I like to think that I’m not overly affected by it, but I must be.  I love to mountain bike, climb, hike,  snowboard etc., which I thought was part of my environmentalist nature, but I never realized how much of a consumer you have to be in order to partake in these outdoor sports.  I have bought a bike, bike helmet, climbing shoes, chalk, hiking boots, a snowboard, snowboard hoots, snowboard helmet, goggles, gloves, a ski pass, and a ton of clothes just so I can enjoy these activities.  It’s a little contradictory, and I never really thought of it that way.  In regards to chapter seven: I will make certain that my child sees a deer in real life before watching Bambie, and in regards to chapter eight: it’s enlightening to know that we have the power to influence the media, rather than media simply influencing us.

Chap 2 Matt Cubberly

Matt Cubberly

Summary

In chapter 2 of Communicating Nature, Julia Corbett focuses on the discussion of ideologies.  More specifically, she talks about the views of anthropocentrism and ecocentrism.   Anthropocentrism is the belief that humans are the center and most important while ecocentrism is opposite in that it places values on the environment.  She explains that most western nations like the USA have a very anthropocentric view while eastern nations like China are more ecocentric.  They see humans and the environment as connected and one.  By seeing the differences in these ideals, China and other eastern nations would most likely be less opposed to funding environmental programs because they don’t see a separation between humans and nature.

Reflection

We’ve seen and learned about the ideals of anthropocentrism and ecocentrism many times in the environmental studies major.  Yet I still don’t agree that it can be so clear cut.  While the eastern nations are built on the issues of togetherness with the world, a fraction of them must be learning from the west and turning towards a human centered state of mind.  In the same fashion, parts of the western nations are adopting pro-environment mindsets and part of this could be from an eastern ideal.  All together however, I assume that most of world is becoming more ecocentric than it ever was.

Chapter 2 Summary/Reflection

The chapter discussed different types of environmental ideologies found in different parts of the world. The spectrum of ideologies ranges from anthropocentric views on one side, and ecocentric views on the other. Anthropocentric views are based around the idea that humans are superior to all other beings on earth, and that we are entitled to use natural resources any way we see fit. Ecocentric views generally state that no single species contains more inherent value than another.  As depicted by the chapter, most anthropocentric values are held by developed western civilizations that have been heavily influenced by human centered religions. Furthermore, most of these human centered religions were created by white men, and have little regard for the value of natural resources. Unfortunately, many of the ecocentric communities that exist today are overshadowed by mainstream western influence, and considered primitive. For instance, the Native Americans believe that everything from a rock to a human being should be considered alive, and are therefore all connected in the circle of life. However, they live in an area dominated by a different cultural perspective regarding the ecosystem (United States), so it is difficult to act in a manner consistent with their traditional beliefs. Whether it is because of legal laws or just unwritten social rules, it is hard to act in a manner that opposes cultural norms.

The author discusses, the western worlds current ideology of preservationism. This value system is based on the principle that we must preserve our wilderness and its therapeutic, aesthetically pleasing value, so humans can continue to benefit from it. However, the tone of the article suggests that the author is not happy with the current system and wants an overhaul of social change so that humans do not consider themselves more valuable than anything else. As much as I love nature and hate to see that my materialistic greed causes it great damage, I must refer back to Darwin and his theory of evolution. In a nutshell Darwin proposed that life is a competition of resources, and that only the fit will survive. Humans were lucky enough, over millions of years, to develop a prefrontal cortex, which gave us the ability to be self aware, creating an edge over all other species. At this point in time, mankind is the mentally superior species and we have the inherent ability to exploit anything we want. That being said, although I believe humans are a superior species, I do not believe by any means that we are more valuable. On the contrary, I believe we are less valuable, evidenced by the fact we have done more damage to the only thing that allows us to be in existence, earth, than any other species on record. I’m not sure when it will occur, but at some point we will evolve yet again and realize that the only way to undo all the damage we have done, is by eliminating ourselves and allowing mother earth, who has given us so much, to finally rest from the incessant depredation she has endured from the human race.