Elements of Nature WritingElements of Nature Writing

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

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

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Nature WritingNature Writing

How is nature writing related to our How is nature writing related to our world?world?

How does it help us understand our social How does it help us understand our social and political systems?and political systems?

How does spirituality impact the weave of How does spirituality impact the weave of nature, society, and politics?nature, society, and politics?

How is nature writing related to our How is nature writing related to our world?world?

How does it help us understand our social How does it help us understand our social and political systems?and political systems?

How does spirituality impact the weave of How does spirituality impact the weave of nature, society, and politics?nature, society, and politics?

1. Accounts of nature 1. Accounts of nature

Natural history information. This refers not Natural history information. This refers not just to historical accounts of nature over time, just to historical accounts of nature over time, but information about nature now as well.but information about nature now as well.

Descriptions of scenes in nature: the swoop Descriptions of scenes in nature: the swoop of the hawk, the color of rocks in sunset.of the hawk, the color of rocks in sunset.

These accounts are objective - scientific These accounts are objective - scientific findings and historical facts.findings and historical facts.

Natural history information. This refers not Natural history information. This refers not just to historical accounts of nature over time, just to historical accounts of nature over time, but information about nature now as well.but information about nature now as well.

Descriptions of scenes in nature: the swoop Descriptions of scenes in nature: the swoop of the hawk, the color of rocks in sunset.of the hawk, the color of rocks in sunset.

These accounts are objective - scientific These accounts are objective - scientific findings and historical facts.findings and historical facts.

2. Personal experience in nature.2. Personal experience in nature.

Types of experience , such as Types of experience , such as observation of nature, encounters with observation of nature, encounters with animals or plants, working with nature animals or plants, working with nature (e.g., as a farmer), and living with (e.g., as a farmer), and living with others (friends, family, community) in others (friends, family, community) in relation to nature.relation to nature.

This is a subjective focus of the writer’s This is a subjective focus of the writer’s encounter with nature.encounter with nature.

Types of experience , such as Types of experience , such as observation of nature, encounters with observation of nature, encounters with animals or plants, working with nature animals or plants, working with nature (e.g., as a farmer), and living with (e.g., as a farmer), and living with others (friends, family, community) in others (friends, family, community) in relation to nature.relation to nature.

This is a subjective focus of the writer’s This is a subjective focus of the writer’s encounter with nature.encounter with nature.

3. Social experience of nature.3. Social experience of nature.

Modes of living. The concern here is the Modes of living. The concern here is the context and basic activity. Major types include context and basic activity. Major types include living in place (either temporarily, as in living in place (either temporarily, as in WaldenWalden, or indefinitely, as with Edward , or indefinitely, as with Edward Abbey), rambles in familiar territory, and Abbey), rambles in familiar territory, and travel to unfamiliar lands (whether hiking in travel to unfamiliar lands (whether hiking in the Moab Desert).the Moab Desert).

Social situation: solitude, with companions, Social situation: solitude, with companions, with family, or in a community.with family, or in a community.

Modes of living. The concern here is the Modes of living. The concern here is the context and basic activity. Major types include context and basic activity. Major types include living in place (either temporarily, as in living in place (either temporarily, as in WaldenWalden, or indefinitely, as with Edward , or indefinitely, as with Edward Abbey), rambles in familiar territory, and Abbey), rambles in familiar territory, and travel to unfamiliar lands (whether hiking in travel to unfamiliar lands (whether hiking in the Moab Desert).the Moab Desert).

Social situation: solitude, with companions, Social situation: solitude, with companions, with family, or in a community.with family, or in a community.

Social experience of nature.Social experience of nature.Nature writing is not limited to the Nature writing is not limited to the

author’s personal experience of the author’s personal experience of the natural world.natural world.

Examples:Examples: Present communities: (e.g. Wendell Present communities: (e.g. Wendell

Berry’s rural Kentucky)Berry’s rural Kentucky) Historical: the reflections of past Historical: the reflections of past

generations concerning a particular generations concerning a particular relationship to an area.relationship to an area.

Nature writing is not limited to the Nature writing is not limited to the author’s personal experience of the author’s personal experience of the natural world.natural world.

Examples:Examples: Present communities: (e.g. Wendell Present communities: (e.g. Wendell

Berry’s rural Kentucky)Berry’s rural Kentucky) Historical: the reflections of past Historical: the reflections of past

generations concerning a particular generations concerning a particular relationship to an area.relationship to an area.

4. A philosophy of nature, including views of:4. A philosophy of nature, including views of: the fundamental way nature worksthe fundamental way nature works

the essential relationship between humans the essential relationship between humans and natureand nature

the value of naturethe value of nature

our ethical responsibility in regards to natureour ethical responsibility in regards to nature

the fundamental way nature worksthe fundamental way nature works

the essential relationship between humans the essential relationship between humans and natureand nature

the value of naturethe value of nature

our ethical responsibility in regards to natureour ethical responsibility in regards to nature

5. Ecological consciousness5. Ecological consciousness

This aspect consists of reflections on a This aspect consists of reflections on a writer’s consciousness of nature, as in writer’s consciousness of nature, as in Annie Dillard’s Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker’s CreekPilgrim at Tinker’s Creek and Edward Abbey’s and Edward Abbey’s Desert SolitaireDesert Solitaire..

What about in Berry’s essay?What about in Berry’s essay?

This aspect consists of reflections on a This aspect consists of reflections on a writer’s consciousness of nature, as in writer’s consciousness of nature, as in Annie Dillard’s Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker’s CreekPilgrim at Tinker’s Creek and Edward Abbey’s and Edward Abbey’s Desert SolitaireDesert Solitaire..

What about in Berry’s essay?What about in Berry’s essay?

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6. Philosophy of language6. Philosophy of language

This element of nature writing concerns This element of nature writing concerns language’s limits and possibilities of language’s limits and possibilities of misrepresenting nature.misrepresenting nature.

In other words, does language have the In other words, does language have the power to convey nature to a reader?power to convey nature to a reader?

This element of nature writing concerns This element of nature writing concerns language’s limits and possibilities of language’s limits and possibilities of misrepresenting nature.misrepresenting nature.

In other words, does language have the In other words, does language have the power to convey nature to a reader?power to convey nature to a reader?

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8. Ecosocial politics . 8. Ecosocial politics .

Ecosocial: the interconnectedness of Ecosocial: the interconnectedness of environmental and social issuesenvironmental and social issues

This element includes critique – This element includes critique – reflections on the nature, extent, and reflections on the nature, extent, and causes of negative human impact on causes of negative human impact on the natural world – as well as the natural world – as well as speculations on the ecosocial ideal.speculations on the ecosocial ideal.

Ecosocial: the interconnectedness of Ecosocial: the interconnectedness of environmental and social issuesenvironmental and social issues

This element includes critique – This element includes critique – reflections on the nature, extent, and reflections on the nature, extent, and causes of negative human impact on causes of negative human impact on the natural world – as well as the natural world – as well as speculations on the ecosocial ideal.speculations on the ecosocial ideal.

Ecosocial critique.Ecosocial critique.

Bearing witness to the loss and suffering.Bearing witness to the loss and suffering.

Analysis of nature, causes, and effects of the Analysis of nature, causes, and effects of the loss and suffering.loss and suffering.

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

Active resistance to the forces and structures Active resistance to the forces and structures that lead to the loss of suffering.that lead to the loss of suffering.

8. Ecosocial ideal.8. Ecosocial ideal.

Bearing witness to the beauty and value of Bearing witness to the beauty and value of nature and to examples of what Edward nature and to examples of what Edward Abbey calls “living wisely on the land.”Abbey calls “living wisely on the land.”

Analysis of the nature of the ideal and the Analysis of the nature of the ideal and the path of achieving it.path of achieving it.

The active work of building a positive The active work of building a positive alternativealternative

Bearing witness to the beauty and value of Bearing witness to the beauty and value of nature and to examples of what Edward nature and to examples of what Edward Abbey calls “living wisely on the land.”Abbey calls “living wisely on the land.”

Analysis of the nature of the ideal and the Analysis of the nature of the ideal and the path of achieving it.path of achieving it.

The active work of building a positive The active work of building a positive alternativealternative

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9. Praxis and policies9. Praxis and policies

What should we do to change the What should we do to change the current condition/relationship with current condition/relationship with nature?nature?

These include suggested actions and These include suggested actions and measures toward change.measures toward change.

What should we do to change the What should we do to change the current condition/relationship with current condition/relationship with nature?nature?

These include suggested actions and These include suggested actions and measures toward change.measures toward change.

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10. Spirituality.10. Spirituality. This element includes both traditional This element includes both traditional

religious beliefs (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism) religious beliefs (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism) and more general difficult-to-define “nature and more general difficult-to-define “nature spirituality.” spirituality.”

It is related to other elements, since it It is related to other elements, since it involves a certain state of mind and emotions involves a certain state of mind and emotions (eco-psychology) and religious view of nature (eco-psychology) and religious view of nature (philosophy). (philosophy).

Usually strongly impacts the social and Usually strongly impacts the social and political dimensions. Depictions of personal political dimensions. Depictions of personal experience often manifest the spiritual experience often manifest the spiritual perspective of the author.perspective of the author.

This element includes both traditional This element includes both traditional religious beliefs (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism) religious beliefs (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism) and more general difficult-to-define “nature and more general difficult-to-define “nature spirituality.” spirituality.”

It is related to other elements, since it It is related to other elements, since it involves a certain state of mind and emotions involves a certain state of mind and emotions (eco-psychology) and religious view of nature (eco-psychology) and religious view of nature (philosophy). (philosophy).

Usually strongly impacts the social and Usually strongly impacts the social and political dimensions. Depictions of personal political dimensions. Depictions of personal experience often manifest the spiritual experience often manifest the spiritual perspective of the author.perspective of the author.