Art as a Companion in a Changing Climate

What is it about?

Literature and the arts have been called upon to help address climate change, biodiversity loss, and other global environmental problems. Many artists, scholars, and researchers believe that art could contribute to fostering pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. However, discussions about art and climate change often contain unfounded optimism and vague proposals. Art should not be seen as automatically positive, because artworks might also distort our understanding of environmental crises and the measures required for sustainability transformations. The article first explores common views about how art could support pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors, highlighting the weak parts of these proposals. It then examines the potentially positive role of art in addressing the climate crisis.

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Photo by Tícia Vesztergombi on Unsplash

Photo by Tícia Vesztergombi on Unsplash