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Date of Graduation
5-9-2024
Semester of Graduation
Spring
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
School of Communication Studies
Second Advisor
Peter K. Bsumek
Third Advisor
Michael L. Broderick
Abstract
This thesis delves into the realm of eco-art, examining its multifaceted role in informing, educating, and mobilizing audiences towards sustainable environmental practices. Through an interdisciplinary lens that intertwines environmentalism, critical explorations of the anthropocene, ecofeminism, Indigenous knowledge, and social justice, this research investigates various themes, approaches, and methodologies employed by eco-artists. Utilizing a diffractive methodology, I acknowledge and respect these concepts’ contextual and theoretical differences while exploring their relationality to one another and to the artworks. By recognizing these entangled relationships, the diffractive framework creates and re-creates ‘research assemblages’ that shift away from conventional anthropocentric or representational methods of interpretation, providing more creative avenues to materialize affective thought. By analyzing artworks ranging from installations to video pieces, the thesis highlights the potential of art to foster critical consciousness, offer praxical solutions, and inspire collective action. Drawing insights from Indigenous practices of stewardship and relationality, I advocate for an intersectional approach to environmentalism that centers nature as a vital stakeholder in dialogues. Through experiential reflections, critical analysis, and an interview, the thesis underscores the imperative of amplifying Indigenous voices and integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into mainstream environmental discourse. Ultimately, this research argues for a radical reimagining of our relationship with nature and each other, grounded in principles of reciprocity, respect, and interconnectedness.
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Social Justice Commons
