| Autor: |
Johns, Rebecca A. |
| Zdroj: |
Material Culture; Spring2024, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p1-30, 30p |
| Abstrakt: |
Dominant narratives of the human relationship with nature and normative suggestions of how humans ought to relate to the larger biosphere permeate American culture. The public looks to spaces of science education to offer suggestions for action to ameliorate current crises of climate disruption and mass extinction. This paper applies discourse analysis to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History's contemporary exhibits through a framework of storytelling and six archetypes of humanature. The museum's exhibits tell a story of human superiority to others that bends toward optimism about the human ability to adapt to climate change, while deflecting responsibility from any particular place, institution or sector. Lack of interrelatedness and agency afforded to nonhuman others diminishes the chance that visitors will relate to the animals on display and hence limits motivation for action. I make suggestions on changes in discursive practice that might make the NMNH's exhibits more engaging and energizing for environmental citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
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