Entranced Earth Volume 45: Art, Extractivism, and the End of Landscape

Jens Andermann's book Entranced Earth explores the impact of neocolonial extractivism on Latin American aesthetic modernity from 1920 to the present, focusing on the crisis of landscape and environmental exhaustion and exploring innovative modes of survival.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Northwestern University Press

A comprehensive examination of the enduring impacts of neocolonial extractivism on Latin American aesthetic modernity, spanning from 1920 to the present, is presented in the following text. By focusing on the extractive frontier as a central theme in Latin American art, literature, music, and film, Jens Andermann delves into the profound transformations that occur at the other end of the landscape. Art in the Global South has long served as a powerful medium for representing and exploring the "insurgent nature" of the region, encompassing both organic and inorganic elements, human and nonhuman life, and the turmoil they bring.

In his book, Entranced Earth: Art, Extractivism, and the End of Landscape, Andermann traces the profound effects of despaisamiento, or the world-destroying un-landscaping, throughout the Latin American modernist archive. At the same time, he explores innovative and resilient modes of alliance forged between diverse actors through their shared experiences of destruction. The book encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions, from the literary regionalism of the 1930s to contemporary bio art, from modernist garden architecture to representations of migration and displacement in sound art and film. Through this comprehensive exploration, Entranced Earth charts the crisis of landscape and environmental exhaustion beyond despair, leading to speculative and experimental forms of survival.

The book offers a rich and nuanced analysis of the complex relationships between art, extractivism, and the environment in Latin America. It sheds light on the ways in which the extractive economy has shaped the physical landscape, as well as the cultural and social dynamics that have emerged in its wake. Andermann highlights the ways in which artists and activists have used their work to challenge the dominant narratives of exploitation and dispossession, and to advocate for a more sustainable and equitable future.

One of the key themes of the book is the idea of "entranced earth," which refers to the ways in which the extractive economy has become embedded in the natural world, obscuring the boundaries between human and nonhuman life. Andermann argues that this entanglement has led to a profound sense of disconnection and disorientation, as individuals and communities struggle to navigate the increasingly fragmented and complex landscape.

To address this crisis, Andermann proposes a range of creative and political strategies for reimagining the relationship between art, extractivism, and the environment. He advocates for a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to art-making, which incorporates scientific knowledge and environmental concerns into the creative process. He also calls for a greater recognition of the role of art in shaping public discourse and policy, and for the establishment of more robust networks of support for artists and activists working in the field of extractivism and environmental justice.

Overall, Entranced Earth: Art, Extractivism, and the End of Landscape is a thought-provoking and timely book that offers a valuable contribution to the field of art history and environmental studies. It provides a critical analysis of the enduring impacts of neocolonial extractivism on Latin American aesthetic modernity, and offers a vision for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780810145924