Narrating the Mesh: Form and Story in the Anthropocene

The book Narrating the Mesh explores how narratives can challenge the hierarchical model of human societies' relations with the natural world and undermine notions of unlimited technological progress and economic growth. It engages with contemporary works by various authors to illustrate how stories can bridge the gap between scientific models of the climate and the human-scale world of everyday experience, powerfully illustrating the complexity of the ecological crisis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2021
Publisher: University of Virginia Press

A profound exploration into the intricate relationship between human societies and the natural world lies at the heart of the current climate crisis. Narrating the Mesh, a thought-provoking book, argues that narrative form holds immense potential in challenging and dismantling the ideology that perpetuates this relationship. Drawing inspiration from Timothy Morton's concept of the mesh, which symbolizes the complex interplay between humans and nonhuman entities in the face of climate change, Marco Caracciolo delves into the ways in which narratives across various genres, such as novels and short stories, employ formal devices to effectively convey the entanglement of human communities and nonhuman phenomena.

One of the central questions posed by Narrating the Mesh is how narrative can undermine the linear mindset that perpetuates notions of unlimited technological progress and economic growth. By exploring the ways in which stories can challenge and subvert these ideologies, the book offers a powerful alternative perspective. It suggests that nonhuman materials and processes, from contaminated landscapes to natural evolution, can be transformed into compelling characters within stories, enabling a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of our environment.

Conversely, Narrating the Mesh also explores how narrative can trace the rising awareness of climate change within the minds of human characters. By delving into the internal thoughts and emotions of individuals grappling with the ecological crisis, the book offers a poignant portrayal of the human experience and the challenges we face in navigating this complex and rapidly changing world.

Through engaging with a wide range of contemporary works by authors such as Ted Chiang, Emily St. John Mandel, Richard Powers, Jeff VanderMeer, and Jeanette Winterson, Narrating the Mesh enters into interdisciplinary debates on narrative and the Anthropocene. By exploring how stories can bridge the gap between scientific models of the climate and the human-scale world of everyday experience, the book provides a powerful illustration of the complexity of the ecological crisis at multiple levels.

In conclusion, Narrating the Mesh is a thought-provoking and insightful book that offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between human societies and the natural world. By employing narrative as a tool for challenging and subverting ideologies, the book provides a powerful means of promoting a more sustainable and equitable future. Through its exploration of the ways in which stories can convey the entanglement of human communities and nonhuman phenomena, trace the rising awareness of climate change within human minds, and bridge the gap between scientific models and human-scale experiences, Narrating the Mesh offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the ecological crisis and the urgent need for transformative action.

Weight: 370g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813945835