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Humanising Climate Change Through Climate Fiction: a Literary

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Humanising Climate Change Through Climate Fiction: a Literary HUMANISING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH CLIMATE FICTION: A LITERARY EXAMINATION OF NEW YORK 2140 (2017) BY ROBINSON AND THE DROWNED WORLD (1962) BY BALLARD A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH STUDIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA BY EVA-LIISA ANDIMA 201125471 APRIL 2021 SUPERVISOR: Dr N. MLAMBO Abstract Cli-fi is a neologism that is accredited to Dan Bloom, and it is used to refer to novels, short stories and films whose main focus is on the consequences of climate change (Svoboda, 2016). This thesis employed a qualitative desktop literary analysis and purposively sampled two cli- fi novels, New York 2140 (2017) by Robinson and The Drowned World (1962) by Ballard as they explicitly capture the main theme of this study. The study employed thematic content analysis to analyse gathered data which was systemised into different themes to ease the data analysis and presentation process. Through the ecocriticism theory and the econarratology theory, the study examined how climatic concerns are fictionally expressed in the selected novels, explored the complexity of the relationship between human systems and natural systems as presented through specific environmentally destructive events in the selected cli-fi novels and analysed how cli-fi narratives enhance innovative understandings of the human place in an expanded ecosphere as presented in the selected novels. The study found that in both novels, climate change is “humanised” by the abnormality of growth of humans, animals and plants too, as well as their declining health. Though the identified themes in both novels are similar, each novel expresses each theme uniquely. Under the climatic concern theme in New York 2140 (2017), it was established that climate change is a consequence of human activities on the environment over a long period of time. Contrastingly, in The Drowned World (1962), climate change happens naturally, and humans have to adapt and figure out how to survive the calamity. Future studies are recommended to look beyond written cli-fi narratives and look at, for example, orality and visual narratives to examine humanised climate change. Future studies could also use the Rhetorical Narrative Theory (RNT) to explore the humanisation of climate change in cli-fi works. i Acknowledgements I would like to express my profound appreciation to the greatest supervisor-cum-lecturer, Dr Nelson Mlambo for the outstanding support, constant encouragement and constructive approach towards the writing and completion of this research project. Massive thank you to Dr Mlambo, for always, even at odd hours, being available to contribute, guide and respond to any queries for this thesis, I could never thank you enough. I would also like to express my appreciation to the University of Namibia MAES Class of 2021, The A-team, for the continuous support, encouragement and cheers during our Master’s journey together. To my parents and siblings, thank you for your love and support during my academic journey. Also, I would like to thank my friends for being understanding and patient when I could not spend more time with you as I was completing this research project. Special gratitude goes to MJ, for your unswerving motivation, guidance, unparalleled support, and resolute care. Above all, I thank the Almighty God, to Him be the glory. ii Dedication To my parents, siblings and niblings. And to my number one fan, MJ. iii Declaration I, Eva-Liisa Andima, hereby declare that this study is a true reflection of my own research, and that this work, or part thereof has not been submitted for a degree in any institution of higher education. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by means (e.g. electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior permission of the author, or The University of Namibia in that behalf. I, Eva-Liisa Andima, grant The University of Namibia the right to reproduce this thesis in whole or in part, in any manner or format, which The University of Namibia may deem fit, for any person or institution requiring it for study and research; providing that the University of Namibia shall waive this right if the whole thesis has been or is being published in a manner satisfactory to the University. ___ ____ ______________ Eva-Liisa Andima Date iv Table of Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................... ii Dedication ................................................................................................................................ iii Declaration ................................................................................................................................ iv CHAPTER 1 .............................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background of the study ................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Statement of the problem .................................................................................................. 4 1.4 Research objectives .......................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Significance of the study .................................................................................................. 6 1.6 Limitations of the study .................................................................................................... 6 1.7 Delimitations of the study................................................................................................. 7 1.8 Definition of terms............................................................................................................ 7 1.9 Organisation of the study .................................................................................................. 8 1. 10 Chapter summary ........................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2 ............................................................................................................................ 10 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................... 10 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Theoretical framework ................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Ecocriticism .............................................................................................................. 11 2.2.2 Econarratology ......................................................................................................... 15 2.3 Literature review ............................................................................................................. 17 2.3.1 Contextualising cli-fi ................................................................................................ 20 2.3.2 Book reviews for New York 2140 (2017) and The Drowned World (1962) ............ 26 2.3.3 The rise of cli-fi ........................................................................................................ 28 2.3.4 Cli-fi as a literary genre ............................................................................................ 32 2.3.5 Cli-fi versus Sci-fi .................................................................................................... 37 2.3.6 Man and the environment ......................................................................................... 40 2.3.7 Human resilient nature ............................................................................................. 44 2.3.8 The migration-climate change nexus ....................................................................... 45 2.3.9 Humanising climate change ..................................................................................... 47 2.3.10 Parallelism between climate change and Covid-19................................................ 50 2.3.11 Incorporating cli-fi in classrooms .......................................................................... 53 2.4 Gaps identified ................................................................................................................ 56 2.5 Chapter summary ............................................................................................................ 56 v CHAPTER 3 ............................................................................................................................ 58 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 58 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 58 3.2 Approach and design .....................................................................................................
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