Climate and Capital in the Age of Petroleum: Locating Terminal Landscapes

In his book, Jeff Diamanti explores the destructive relationship between climate and capital, highlighting the exponential growth of the petroleum industry over the last 40 years. He introduces the concept of the 'terminal landscape' as a site of storage, transformation, and transition, essential to critical ecology in the 21st century. By redefining the post-industrial landscape, Diamanti reveals the global flows of exchange and storage that precede the distribution of fossil fuels. He argues that this infrastructure rests on millennia of compact matter, centuries of colonial violence, and decades of technological development and offers a radical critique of the current energy infrastructure. Through case studies of oil companies, countries, artworks, and historical events, Diamanti further theorizes and politicizes the climate crisis for scholars and activists.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 29 December 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Jeff Diamanti delves into the intricate relationship between climate and capital, unveiling the profound impact of the exponential growth of the petroleum industry over the past four decades. Building upon foundational insights from the environmental and energy humanities, Diamanti introduces the concept of the 'terminal landscape,' a vital realm for the storage, transformation, and transition of critical ecological elements in the 21st century. In Climate and Capital in the Age of Petroleum, Diamanti presents these transformative scenes as key sites through which post-industrial capitalism distributes fossil fuels across the globe. By employing this concept, he redefines the post-industrial landscape, unveiling the global flows of exchange and storage that precede the distribution of fossil fuels as a social form. Through this novel perspective, Diamanti advances a groundbreaking media theory of energy, fossil fuels, and other finite resources, recognizing them as new forms of distributable media. By exploring these connections, the book establishes strong links between media technologies and energy cultures, contributing to a radical critique of the current energy infrastructure that underpins global capitalism.

Diamantis' analysis goes beyond mere description, delving into the historical, political, and cultural dimensions of the climate crisis. Through comprehensive case studies of oil companies, countries, artworks, and historical events, he deepens our understanding of the environment as a 'terminal landscape.' By further theorizing and politicizing the climate crisis through his under-examined typology of global energy, Diamanti offers valuable insights for scholars and activists alike.

In conclusion, Jeff Diamanti's Climate and Capital in the Age of Petroleum is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the destructive interplay between climate and capital. By exploring the terminal landscape, redefining the post-industrial landscape, and advancing a new media theory of energy, Diamanti offers a critical perspective on the current energy infrastructure and the climate crisis. Through his comprehensive analysis and insightful theorization, he empowers scholars and activists to challenge the status quo and work towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472984920