Intermedial Ecocriticism

Scientists have been establishing the ecological crisis as a fact for decades.

But how do such matters of fact become matters of concern? “Intermedial Ecocriticism”, cross-linking for the first time two dynamic but unconnected academic fields, responds from a humanities perspective to the urgent ecological challenge of UN Sustainable Development Goal no 13: how to react to climate change.“Intermedial Ecocriticism” is concerned with constructing a theory and method which can analyse and compare fictive and non-fictive representations of climate change in diverse media types.

The project identifies three focal points that will be investigated by way of case studies: narrativity, truth claims, and notions of personal agency. How are these questions represented in different media types?

The answer to this question will help clarify and possibly predict which media types are best suited to represent certain questions as opposed to others.In addition to providing a textual analysis, two British science journalists (Hickman and Dunne) and two Swedish fiction writers (Rut Carlsson and Söderlund) will be interviewed for the project.Using the results of this project, neighbouring fields such as risk, science and climate change communication studies will be better equipped to understand communicative problems and to advise, for instance, NGOs or governmental institutions.The project includes an outreach programme that involves international academics and the lay, local Swedish public.