Subjunctive Aesthetics: Mexican Cultural Production in the Era of Climate Change

Subjunctive Aesthetics emphasizes the importance of ecocritical approaches within Mexican Studies, highlighting the reality of climate change concerns in Mexico, including high levels of anxiety, economic losses, and environmental activism. The book explores the diverse cultural responses to climate change in Mexico, such as poetry, sci-fi, and performance art, using the subjunctive to disrupt current paradigms and envision a more just and sustainable future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2024
Publisher: Vanderbilt University Press

Subjunctive Aesthetics emphasizes the significance of incorporating ecocritical perspectives within the realm of Mexican Studies. While environmental historians in Mexico have been at the forefront of highlighting the nonhuman as a valid subject of analysis, Mexican cultural studies is only now beginning to explore this dimension. This monograph engages with established and emerging Latin American ecocritical scholars who argue that Latin America presents a crucial corrective to Anglocentric approaches to the Anthropocene, by foregrounding colonialism and empire.

Studies suggest that Mexicans exhibit greater concern about climate change than any other global issue, exhibit greater anxiety about natural disasters than any other daily threat (including crime), and have experienced a rise in suicide rates coinciding with temperature increases. These fears are rooted in reality, as Mexico has issued over 2,000 extreme weather warnings linked to hydrometeorological events in the past two decades, ranking among the top ten countries in terms of absolute economic losses caused by (un)natural disasters. Moreover, Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for environmental activists, with twenty-one defenders of the land murdered in 2018 alone, and many others facing criminalization or intimidation.

The pervasive social anxiety in Mexico regarding ongoing and future climate change is evident in the abundance of eco-cultural production that has emerged over the past decade. While this body of work has yet to receive comprehensive scholarly attention, it encompasses a diverse range of artistic expressions. Mexican poets such as Karen Villeda and Isabel Zapata have delved into the theme of extinction, sci-fi writer Alberto Chimal recently released a dystopian young adult climate fiction novel, and performance artist Naomi Rincón Gallardo has crafted works that address climate change.

In conclusion, Subjunctive Aesthetics advocates for the integration of ecocritical approaches within Mexican Studies, recognizing the importance of foregrounding the nonhuman and colonialism in understanding the Anthropocene. The studies indicate that Mexicans are deeply concerned about climate change, exhibit heightened anxiety about natural disasters, and have experienced a concerning rise in suicide rates. These fears are grounded in the country's historical experiences with extreme weather events and the ongoing threats faced by environmental activists. The eco-cultural production that has emerged in Mexico over the past decade reflects the pervasive social anxiety and artistic responses to climate change, highlighting the need for comprehensive scholarly exploration of this field.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780826506177