TIME FOR SHIFT CHANGE IN THE FABRIC OF EXISTENCE Exploring the role of darkness and artificial light for humans and biodiversity Author: Maya Strömgren Supervisor: Mattias Sandberg Master’s thesis in Geography with major in Human Geography Spring semester 2021 Department of Economy and Society Unit for Human Geography School of Business, Economics and Law at University of Gothenburg Student essay: 30 hec Course: GEO230 Level: Master Semester/year: Spring 2021 Supervisor: Mattias Sandberg Examiner: Jerry Olsson Key words: Darkness, artificial light, light pollution, biodiversity, human- non-human relations, all-ecology, non-representational theory. Abstract This thesis departs from the loss of biodiversity due to artificial light at night. The diurnal human has taken over all hours of the day instead of the natural light once, meaning that space and time have become limited for the nocturnal living species. Earlier research concern how darkness and artificial light affect either animals, insects, and plants, or humans’ health. The combination of the two, however, remains largely unresearched. Therefore, this geographical thesis dives into this gap by exploring humans and biodiversity in relation to darkness and artificial light. Building on that exploration, the aim was further to formulate generative ways forward in the matter. A qualitative method was conducted, consisting of a self-written Darkness Diary and walking interviews with a moth-expert, a bat expert, and a light designer and light artist. The theory of all-ecology was applied as an ontological stand and a geographical toolbox. Non- representational theory (NRT) was further applied as a guide in the exploration of experience. The Darkness Diary yielded experiences of darkness as an enabler of profound presence, and experiences of artificial light as a source of stress and exhaustion, knowing the effects of the overuse. The walking interviews showed the complex “timetable of needs” of the moths (nocturnal Lepidoptera) and brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auratus), with darkness as a requirement and artificial light as a trap or a blockage. The twilight emerged as a central theme in both the Darkness Diary and the interviews. The walk with the lighting designer and light artist emphasised the importance of acknowledging outdoor spaces as shared, and that individual awareness about light pollution must be increased and met by political and economic initiatives. The Darkness Diary filled in with thoughts on generative ways by the concept of ‘leave space’ (as a built upon all-ecology’s understanding of ‘take space’), the importance of time, and the attitude towards darkness, claiming that we need to embrace it to enjoy the fruits of it. Overall, this thesis highlights the importance of where and when there are darkness and lights: space and time matter. Adding on the how, and by acknowledging our (as in everyone) circadian rhythms, this thesis implies that there is a fundamental need for a shift change in the fabric of existence. Unit for Human Geography, Department of Economy and Society School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg Viktoriagatan 13, PO Box 625, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden +46 31 786 00 00 es.handels.gu.se i Sammanfattning Den här uppsatsen tar avstamp i förlusten av biologisk mångfald, och då specifik förlusten av biologisk mångfald på grund av överflödigt artificiellt ljus under dygnets mörka timmar, även kallat ljusföroreningar. Den daglevande människan har utvidgat sina timmar från de naturligt ljusa till att inkludera dygnets alla timmar, vilket resulterat i minskat handlingsutrymme för den nattlevande flora och fauna. Tidigare forskning inom ämnet har fokuserat antingen på hur djur, insekter och växter påverkas av artificiellt ljus på natten, eller på hur människan påverkas av det samma. Kombinationen biodiversitet och människa ihop har dock inte undersökts, även om vi på lever samma jord. Därav dyker den här uppsatsen ner i det glappet genom att undersöka mörker och artificiellt ljus i förhållande till människan och biodiversitet. Utöver att undersöka, var syftet med den här uppsatsen att formulera möjliga vägar framåt för en bättre samlevnad under dygnets mörka timmar. En kvalitativ metod utfördes, bestående av en egenförfattad ”Mörkerdagbok” och promenad-intervjuer med en nattfjärilexpert, en fladdermusexpert och en ljusdesigner och ljuskonstnär. Teorin all-ekologi applicerades som en ontologisk utgångspunkt och geografisk verktygslåda, samt ”non-representational theory” (NRT) som en guide i utforskandet av upplevelsen. Resultatet från mörkerdagboken gav upplevelser av att känna sig närvarande i mörkret och samtidigt känslor av något mellan stress och utmattning av överkonsumtionen av ljus. Promenad-intervjuerna visade på komplexiteten i nattfjärilarnas (nattliga Lepidoptera) och fladdermusen brunlångörats (Plecotus auratus) “behovstidtabell”, där mörkret är ett krav och det artificiella ljuset en fälla eller en blockad. I både dagboken och intervjuerna framkom skymningen som ett centralt tema. Promenaden med ljusdesignern och ljuskonstnären underströk vikten av att erkänna utomhus som ett delat rum och att individuell medvetenhet om ljusföroreningar måste höjas och mötas av politiska och ekonomiska initiativ. Mörkerdagboken fyllde på med tankar om möjliga vägar framåt med koncepten ’lämna rum’ (uppbyggt från all-ekologins förståelse av ’äga rum’), vikten av tid, samt att vi måste omfamna mörkret för att kunna njuta av frukterna från det. På det hela taget så framhäver den här uppsatsen vikten av var och när det är mörker och ljus. Genom att lägga till hur, samt genom att uppmärksamma våra (som i alla levande) cirkadiska rytmer, så pekar den här uppsatsen i riktningen att det finns ett fundamentalt behov av ett skiftbyte i tillvaroväven. Nyckelord: Mörker, artificiellt ljus, ljusföroreningar, biodiversitet, människa-natur relationer, all-ekologi, non-representational theory. ii Preface “I will study geography in Gothenburg” was my standard answer when people asked me what I would do when I finished my work- and traveling life. I said that for some years, but now I can change the tense to “I have”, and for five years in a row! Enriched with new knowledge, academic skills, abroad semesters, and friends, I’m now signing out with this master thesis, a good summary of what I find fascinating with geography: the relations between humans and non-humans, living and non-living, and how we can think about this wonderful and challenging mix. I want to thank several people for their involvement in this thesis. First, to my informants, thank you for your time, your devotion, and for walking with me, meeting you was truly inspiring. Special thanks to Johan Eklöf for writing about darkness and light in an eye- opening way and supporting me in my engagement in the subject. Second, many thanks to my supervisor Mattias Sandberg, senior lecturer at Unit for Human Geography, Department of Economy and Society. Your support and encouragement have meant a lot to me during this thesis development; however, I will carry your curious way of looking and twisting the world with me after the final submission as well, thank you. Then my two self-chosen “supervisors”, Simon and Louise, your insights and critical eyes in combination with your humour had made this thesis so much better and the last months so much more fun than it would have been without you, you’re the best! And Sara, I love that you’re having my back, it’s a pleasure having yours. Last, but not least, the back office: my Joakim at the base camp who have made sure that I took well-needed breaks from the computer and given me perspectives on what’s important in life, you certainly are to me. A final bunch of thanks to my parents who have hosted me during some intense weeks and given me food, love, and encouragement, as always. Gothenburg, May 24, 2021 Maya Strömgren iii Table of contents Abstract........................................................................................................................................ i Sammanfattning .......................................................................................................................... ii Preface ....................................................................................................................................... iii 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem statement and thesis position ............................................................................. 3 1.3 Thesis aim and research questions ................................................................................... 4 1.6 Clarifications .................................................................................................................... 4 1.7 Disposition ....................................................................................................................... 5 2. Background ............................................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Eklöf’s (2020) “The Manifesto of the Dark” ................................................................... 6 2.2 National context of the study ........................................................................................... 6 2.3