Accumulation: The Art, Architecture, and Media of Climate Change

Images of accumulation have formed a cultural infrastructure focused on the relationships between humans, other species, and their environments, and can help open up the climate to cultural inquiry and political mobilization.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 22 March 2022
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

The current era is characterized by a remarkable accumulation of resources, including capital, raw materials, and human populations. This accumulation extends to various aspects of our environment, such as plastic waste in the ocean and carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Alongside this material expansion, image-making practices have emerged as powerful tools for cultural inquiry and political mobilization. Images of accumulation have the ability to create a sense of openness and vulnerability in the climate, making it receptive to cultural exploration and political engagement.

In the realm of art and architecture, images of accumulation have played a crucial role in shaping a cultural infrastructure that focuses on the complex relationships between humans, other species, and their environments. These images have become a means of documenting and interpreting the impact of human activities on the natural world, as well as a platform for advocating for change.

The essays collected in Accumulation address the methodological challenges of analyzing this cultural infrastructure. They offer a response to the relative invisibility of the climate, which is now recognized as material manifestations of social behavior. Contributors explore the potential of visual scholarship to make climate visible, culturally and politically. They discuss how knowledge of climatic instability can influence collective behavior and provide alternative trajectories that lead to a more sustainable and livable future.

The contributors to Accumulation come from diverse academic backgrounds and fields, including art history, architecture, environmental studies, and sociology. Their essays offer a rich tapestry of perspectives and methodologies, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of studying images of accumulation. They explore various themes, such as the representation of nature, the politics of consumption, and the role of technology in shaping our understanding of the climate.

One of the key insights of the essays is that images of accumulation are not static or neutral but are actively shaped by cultural and political forces. They can be used to perpetuate dominant narratives or challenge them, depending on the intentions and perspectives of the creators and viewers. Moreover, images of accumulation can have a powerful impact on public perception and policymaking, as they can shape public attitudes and influence decision-making processes.

In conclusion, the essays in Accumulation provide a valuable contribution to the study of images of accumulation and their role in shaping our understanding of the climate. They offer a timely and insightful analysis of the challenges and opportunities that arise in the current moment, as we navigate the complex and interconnected relationships between humans, other species, and their environments. By making climate visible, culturally and politically, we can work towards creating a more sustainable and just future.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 178 x 254 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517911515