This week for class we talked a lot
about anthropological perspectives on climate change as well as how to talk and
think about it through a different lens. In class, I really liked the professor’s
explanation of these different lenses as we were asked to define the future.
Most people had a negative outlook on the future as a result as most of the
science lenses portray it usually in this way. One student made the argument
that this negative lens could be a potential motivator for people when taking
action, which makes complete sense, but as the anthropological articles make
clear there are other different knowledge. At first, I couldn’t part from my
hegemonic mindset because most of what we’ve talked about in environmental
studies stems from science. As I argue this should always be the first step, I
think we should at least view the future through a new positive out looking worldview.
Whether this be through Catholic Social Teaching or a Liberal Arts education,
it may help us to where a different pair of glasses (I mean c’mon, you wouldn’t
wear bifocals on a sunny day would you?). As a more specific example, I
reference back to class when a student drew a picture of a smiley face. This
simple, yet powerful, attitude change can make potentially a world of
difference. Do you ever notice that when someone starts to smile, other people
in the room start to smile without even realizing it? I think this effect can
take a similar effect on our outlook with climate change. I mean we kinda have
no choice to do something so let’s get motivated knowing that we were the ones
who prevented this global crisis rather accelerated its path to humanities
demise. (Yes the way we think about the future influences the future).
Other options include different approaches to telling the
world as Jerome Whitington discusses in his article on speculation and
anthropology.
Different methods: Fingerprint, Bellwether, Model Event
(Not to copy other blogs with cartoons, but it does keep things slightly funny and happier, yes? Here are a few more of my favorites)
Courtesy of Google Images
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