Atlas of Material Worlds: Mapping the Agency of Matter for a New Landscape Practice

The Atlas of Material Worlds is a narrative atlas that explores the agency of nonliving materials and their often-overlooked influence on our daily lives. It challenges the boundaries between organic and inorganic, suggesting that a closer examination of these roles may reveal an undeniable agency that shapes social structures, ecologies, economies, cosmologies, technologies, and landscapes. The book offers a materialist perspective on the world, highlighting the stories of deserts, flamingos, lithium ponds, shipping logistics, jiggling substrates, monuments, galactic bodies, radioactive sheep, and uranium. It aims to inspire readers to see the world anew, from a material perspective, in the face of mounting crises such as climate change, socioeconomic inequality, and toxic nationalism.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 363 pages
\n Publication date: 18 August 2021
\n Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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Atlas of Material Worlds is a meticulously crafted narrative atlas that unveils the profound and often overlooked influence of nonliving materials on our daily lives. Drawing upon the concept of new materialism, it delves into the intricate boundaries between organic and inorganic entities, raising thought-provoking questions about the roles that nonliving materials play in shaping our world.

By examining these roles in greater detail, the book seeks to uncover an undeniable agency that has been previously overlooked or disregarded. It poses the question: does this material agency alter our understanding of the social structures, ecosystems, economies, cosmologies, technologies, and landscapes that surround us? Moreover, it emphasizes the significance of material agency and asks why it matters.

This captivating story unfolds across diverse realms, encompassing the driest nonpolar desert, vibrant pink flamingos, and enchanting cerulean blue lithium ponds. It explores the intricate logistics of industrial shipping, the jiggling substrates reminiscent of pudding, and the monumental structures formed from mud. It also delves into the cosmic realms, featuring radioactive sheep and the precious yellowcake of uranium.

In essence, Atlas of Material Worlds challenges readers to perceive the world from a fresh perspective, focusing on the material aspects that shape our environment. It serves as a valuable resource for practitioners and students in landscape, architecture, and other built environment disciplines, offering them a materialist lens through which to understand and navigate the world.

In a time of escalating crises, such as rapid climate change, growing socioeconomic inequality, and the rise of toxic nationalism, Atlas of Material Worlds provides a unique perspective on these pressing issues. It offers materialist stories that resonate with practitioners and students, equipping them with the tools to address these challenges and create a more sustainable and equitable future.

\n Weight: 658g\n
Dimension: 138 x 216 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780367624156\n \n