Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

EMBODIED ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS: Investigating Performative Spaces as Sites of Resistance to Capitalist Societal Norms

Johansen, Maya Louise LU and Heuch, Naja Karoline (2024) HEKM51 20241
Department of Human Geography
Human Ecology
Abstract
Although the accounts confirming that we are in the midst of an ecological crisis are undeniable, the transformative action necessary to address climate change remains elusive. Capitalist norms of economic growth, self-interest and denialism obstructs paths towards sustainability. This research illustrates how embodied engagements with the ecological crisis through artistic practices can foster more in-depth ways of dealing with the crisis. More specifically, the research delves into a performance that was created by the authors, together with three peers from the CPS programme, in the winter of 2022. The performance was recreated and facilitated three times in the spring of 2024 to more deeply analyse its potential. The empirical data... (More)
Although the accounts confirming that we are in the midst of an ecological crisis are undeniable, the transformative action necessary to address climate change remains elusive. Capitalist norms of economic growth, self-interest and denialism obstructs paths towards sustainability. This research illustrates how embodied engagements with the ecological crisis through artistic practices can foster more in-depth ways of dealing with the crisis. More specifically, the research delves into a performance that was created by the authors, together with three peers from the CPS programme, in the winter of 2022. The performance was recreated and facilitated three times in the spring of 2024 to more deeply analyse its potential. The empirical data that was subtracted from these performances include reflections from the participants on site followed up by interviews. The research arises in the intersection between artistic research and ecological theory, contributing to broadening the methods in the field of Human Ecology. Our findings suggest that the performative space, detached from everyday time and space, provides an opportunity to reflect on taken-for-granted capitalist structures that allows for different imaginations to unfold. In our performance, we deprived participants of their vision with blindfolds, while leading them into a soundscape. This offered the participants an opportunity to cultivate other senses and lean into a bodily and emotional engagement with the ecological crisis. Hence, the performative space offered a site for resistance to the capitalist
pursuit of productivity, rationality and individualism by allowing participants to connect bodily with their emotions rising in the ecological crisis. Further, it encouraged a caring and hopeful connection through a feeling of community building and interconnectedness. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Johansen, Maya Louise LU and Heuch, Naja Karoline
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM51 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Embodiment, performative spaces, capitalist resistance, artistic research methods, interconnectedness
language
English
id
9161416
date added to LUP
2024-07-24 10:50:21
date last changed
2024-07-24 10:50:21
@misc{9161416,
  abstract     = {{Although the accounts confirming that we are in the midst of an ecological crisis are undeniable, the transformative action necessary to address climate change remains elusive. Capitalist norms of economic growth, self-interest and denialism obstructs paths towards sustainability. This research illustrates how embodied engagements with the ecological crisis through artistic practices can foster more in-depth ways of dealing with the crisis. More specifically, the research delves into a performance that was created by the authors, together with three peers from the CPS programme, in the winter of 2022. The performance was recreated and facilitated three times in the spring of 2024 to more deeply analyse its potential. The empirical data that was subtracted from these performances include reflections from the participants on site followed up by interviews. The research arises in the intersection between artistic research and ecological theory, contributing to broadening the methods in the field of Human Ecology. Our findings suggest that the performative space, detached from everyday time and space, provides an opportunity to reflect on taken-for-granted capitalist structures that allows for different imaginations to unfold. In our performance, we deprived participants of their vision with blindfolds, while leading them into a soundscape. This offered the participants an opportunity to cultivate other senses and lean into a bodily and emotional engagement with the ecological crisis. Hence, the performative space offered a site for resistance to the capitalist
pursuit of productivity, rationality and individualism by allowing participants to connect bodily with their emotions rising in the ecological crisis. Further, it encouraged a caring and hopeful connection through a feeling of community building and interconnectedness.}},
  author       = {{Johansen, Maya Louise and Heuch, Naja Karoline}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{EMBODIED ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE ECOLOGICAL CRISIS: Investigating Performative Spaces as Sites of Resistance to Capitalist Societal Norms}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}