Apocalyptic Ecology in the Graphic Novel: Life and the Environment After Societal Collapse - Paperback

by Clint Jones (Author)

As awareness of climate change grows, so do the number of cultural depictions of environmental disaster. Graphic novels have reliably produced dramatizations of such disasters. Many use themes of dystopian hopefulness, or the enjoyment readers experience from seeing society prevail in times of apocalypse. This book argues that these generally inspirational narratives contribute to a societal apathy for real-life environmental degradation. By examining the narratives and art of the environmental apocalypse in contemporary graphic novels, the author stands against dystopian hope, arguing that the ways in which we experience depictions of apocalypse shape how we respond to real crises.

Author Biography

Clint Jones, PhD, University of Kentucky, is a social and political philosopher. His books include A Genealogy of Social Violence, Environmental Reflections on Post-Capitalist Society, and Stranger, Creature, Thing, Other. He currently lives in Plover, Wisconsin.