Special

American Studies / Other Languages & Literatures

Deborah Hall (Valdosta State University)
deha@****.com (Log-in to reveal)

This panel seeks papers that explore how American literature has shaped--and been shaped by--knowledge of the natural world, from the transcendental reflections of the 19th century to contemporary ecofeminst and ecocritical perspectives. How have authors translated environmental observation and ecological awareness into literary forms of knowledge? How does nature writing reflect evolving understandings of identity, power, science, and stewardship.

Papers might examine foundational works such as Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature,” and Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, alongside the contemporary works of writers like Annie Dillard, Terry Tempest Williams, Janisse Ray, Barry Lopez, Wendell Berry, and Barbara Kingsolver. Proposals are especially welcome that explore the shift from anthropocentric to ecocentric worldviews, the role of feminism in environmental thought, and the relationship between ecological knowledge and American identity.

Possible topics include:

· Transcendentalism as ecological philosophy

· Environmental knowledge as resistance or activism

· Ecofeminism and the gendering of nature

· Place, belonging, and regional identity in ecological writing

· Scientific vs. intuitive knowledge in environmental texts

· Literature’s role in environmental justice and policy discourse

This session encourages interdisciplinary approaches and welcomes proposals from scholars in literature, environmental humanities, ecocriticism, gender studies, and American studies.

Please submit a 250-word abstract and a brief bio (100 words) to Deborah Hall at dehall@valdosta.edu by September 1, 2025.