Title: Rhetoric of containment in the nature writing of a political activist
Abstract: The nature writing of Swedish author/biologist Stefan Edman (1946-) is shaped by a mainstream political agenda. Simultaneously it gives voice to aesthetic and spiritual reflections on nature's processes and on environmental change. This paper focuses on how Edman's texts function, through rhetoric, scientific clarification and ethical positioning, as both an integral part of an established political context, and as a reflective and critical instance, addressing environmental issues.Edman has for several years upheld a position at center of Swedish politics; apart from being one of major nature writers of this and last century, he is author of governmental investigations, and closely associated to Social Democratic Party and one of originators behind the green welfare state during Prime Minister Goran Persson's reign (1996-2006). In this paper analyses are made of Edman's nature writing and his work is contextualized with intent to demonstrate specific political significance of texts' different modes, with particular attention taken to key concepts 'limited resources' and 'sustainable development'.It is interesting to note that Social Democrats are political platform Edman have chosen to forward his message. The effects of this is that public areas in which he acts as a writer are closely associated with a political power that eagerly supported (e.g.) industrial exploitation of forests. This complex relationship is based on a merging of, rather than a collision of, two discourses †ethical stance of nature writing, and a political discourse that calls for change of existing social structures. To some extent, this merging of discourses is uniquely Swedish due to fact that Social Democratic Party during much of 1900s and first years of 2000s were basically monopolistic in their exercise of power. For environmental writer Edman this meant he had to work inside of given power structures, and utter his criticism of prevailing environmental agenda within (then) governing party.Stefan Edman is also active in 'the Fraternity Movement', a Christian formation closely connected to Social Democrats. His Christian faith finds its way into his texts as a spiritual feeling and awareness. The awareness relies on Christian idea of a certain human responsibility for earth, but also in Reformed churches often radical political agenda in Northern European secular societies. The type of nature writing created in connection to these religious and political manifestations is challenging 'recognizing need to transform society's way of life' but yet not so challenging or questioning that they may be perceived as problematic in relation to political power.The texts of Edman that I will pay attention to in this paper are drawn from his later work and provide examples of how he is using rhetoric and multimodal effects to combine environmental expertise with political activism and spiritual experience. 'Glantor'[Glades] of 1997 takes as its starting point Swede as a forest dweller and importance of forest glade as a natural room for contemplation and of being a place where ecological richness is given space to thrive. 'Vasterut' [Westbound] (2000) has a similar theme, while 'Solvarv' [Solar Cycle] (1993) is based on seasonal wanderings and thus contemplates nature's circular processes. I will further explore into texts which more explicitly describe spiritual experiences made by protagonist on nature walks, such as 'Forundran' [Amazement] (2006), 'Darwin och Var Herre' [Darwin and our Lord] (2009) 'Jorden och sjalens overlevnad' [The Earth and Survival of Soul] (2008) and essay 'Guds hjartslag i skapelsen' [God's heartbeat heard in creation] in anthology 'Ga med Gud' (1999).The theoretical basis of my paper includes Ursula Heise' 'Sense of Place and Sense of Planet' and Satterfield and Slovic (eds.) 'What is Nature Worth', as well as models of discursive analysis.
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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