Is contemporary literature—and storytelling in general—helping to address the accelerating climate and nature crisis, or adding fuel to the fire? Tens of thousands of articles in literary and cultural criticism have approached this question primarily through close readings of environmentally focused novels and films, but this methodology cannot provide a much-needed macro perspective. In this talk, Prof. Schneider-Mayerson discusses the potential of narratives to shape our beliefs, attitudes and behaviors and describe the development of the Strategic Environmental Narratives codebook and the results of its application to 500 stories in the most prestigious literary magazine in the Anglosphere. He concludes by questioning what constitutes a „good story” in this age of climate and nature crisis, soaring inequality, and rising fascism.
If you would like to participate, please register via the following email address: grk2686@uni-bremen.de