EVENT Feb 01
ABSTRACT Dec 15
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Call for chapters: Ecological Crises and Their Cinematic Echoes

Categories: Digital Humanities, Interdisciplinary, Popular Culture, Aesthetics, Anthropology/Sociology, Classical Studies, Cultural Studies, Environmental Studies, Film, TV, & Media, Food Studies, History, Philosophy
Event Date: 2026-02-01 Abstract Due: 2024-12-15

The Human Catalyst: Ecological Crises and Their Cinematic Echoes

As humanity confronts escalating environmental challenges, scholars recognize that the root of these issues lies not solely in the natural sciences but also in the social, cultural, and behavioral dimensions of human society. From climate change to biodiversity loss, these crises are deeply intertwined with human activities, policies, and choices. To address the complex causes and consequences of environmental degradation, we must integrate the insights of both the natural sciences and the humanities. This call for papers seeks contributions that explore how films depict the human dimensions of ecological crises, focusing on how cinema portrays not only the scientific facts but also the societal, ethical, and cultural contexts that shape both the causes of and solutions to these global threats.


This call is issued for a volume within the Bloomsbury's Environment and Society book series which emphasizes the critical role of the humanities and social sciences in understanding and addressing environmental concerns. We invite scholars, filmmakers, and interdisciplinary researchers to examine how films engage with the human-driven causes of environmental destruction and the consequences these crises have for societies, cultures, and individuals. By exploring cinematic representations of these themes, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of how environmental issues are culturally and socially constructed, and how film can inspire action to mitigate these threats.


Themes and Topics of Interest:


We welcome submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:


1. Human Causes of Environmental Crises in Film:

- How do films portray the role of human activities—such as industrialization, deforestation, overconsumption, and pollution—in driving ecological crises?
- What narratives do films use to critique the social, political, and economic systems that perpetuate environmental harm?

2. The Social and Cultural Consequences of Environmental Issues:

- How do films represent the impacts of ecological degradation on marginalized communities, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable populations?
- Exploration of environmental justice themes in cinema, highlighting the disproportionate effects of environmental crises on different social groups.

3. Cinema and the Human Response to Ecological Threats:

- How are human responses to environmental crises depicted in film, from activism and political advocacy to denial and apathy?
- Films that showcase grassroots movements, indigenous resistance, and community-led environmental solutions.

4. Ethical Dilemmas and Ecological Realities:

- How do films navigate ethical questions around humanity's responsibility toward nature, non-human species, and future generations?
- The portrayal of moral and philosophical debates about sustainability, resource management, and environmental stewardship.

5. Environmental Narratives Across Cultures:

- Comparative analyses of how different cultural and national cinemas represent the human dimensions of environmental issues.
- How do regional environmental crises (e.g., desertification, water scarcity, rising sea levels) shape the stories told in films from various parts of the world?

6. The Role of Filmmakers as Environmental Advocates:

- How do filmmakers use their platforms to raise awareness of ecological issues and advocate for change?
- Case studies of filmmakers and films that have directly influenced public policy or inspired environmental activism.

7. Human-Environment Relationships in Fiction and Documentary:

- How do fiction films differ from documentaries in their portrayal of the complex relationship between humans and the environment?
- The role of storytelling, visual symbolism, and emotional engagement in fostering a connection to ecological issues.

8. Imagining Solutions: Film as a Tool for Environmental Action:

- How do films offer visions of sustainable futures, alternative economies, or ways of living that prioritize ecological balance?
- Can cinema inspire real-world change by providing concrete steps toward addressing environmental challenges, as well as utopian or dystopian visions of the future?

 9. You propose a theme!

Please send your abstracts (250 words max.) in addition to your brief biography (75 words max.) to the editor, Dr. Amin Heidari at <amin.heidari@mq.edu.au>, with the subject "The Human Catalyst: Ecological Crises and Their Cinematic Echoes." Your abstract must include a tentative title of the chapter and five to seven keywords. 

Important: All chapters should have at least one author who has already completed a PhD.

Abstract submission deadline is 15 December 2024.

You will be notified of the decisions by 15 January 2025.

The submission deadline for the full chapters is 1 September 2025.

The chapters should be between 5000-6000 words, using the Chicago Manual of Style: author-date system.

The publication of the book will be in 2026.

Looking forward to receiving your abstracts! 

amin.heidari@mq.edu.au

Amin Heidari