The Plastic Turn

The Plastic Turn offers a novel perspective on plastic as the defining material of our age, tracing its emergence and development alongside literary modernism. It proposes plastic as a theory machine to explain literature and life in the Anthropocene, exploring its unique properties and destructive ubiquity through innovative readings of canonical modernist texts, art works, and environmental impact.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2022
Publisher: Cornell University Press

The Plastic Turn presents a groundbreaking perspective on plastic as the defining material of our era and on the versatility of plastic as a creative tool for understanding the arts and literature. Renowned author Ranjan Ghosh refers to this approach as the material-aesthetic, and through this lens, he traces the emergence and evolution of plastic polymers alongside the historical trajectory of literary modernism. Ghosh argues that the growth of plastic as a product in the culture industry, its formation through various applications and chemical syntheses, and its circulation via oceanic movements all correspond with and provide unique insights into developments in modernist literature and critical theory.

By employing innovative readings of canonical modernist texts, analyses of artistic works, and accounts of plastic's devastating environmental impact, The Plastic Turn proposes plastic's unique qualities and widespread presence as a theory machine to explain literature and life in the Anthropocene. Through the integration of literature and theory, materiality and philosophy, history and ecology, Ghosh delves into the reasons why plastic, as a substance and as an idea, captivates, unsettles, and lingers with us.

Furthermore, The Plastic Turn introduces several novel concepts into critical-humanist discourse, such as plastic literature, plastic literary, and plastic philosophy. By intertwining literature and theory, materiality and philosophy, history and ecology, Ghosh aims to explore the intricate connections between plastic and our human experiences, shedding light on the complex ways in which it shapes our lives and cultures.

In conclusion, The Plastic Turn offers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on plastic, challenging our conventional notions and offering new avenues for understanding the arts, literature, and the world around us. Through its interdisciplinary approach, Ghosh invites us to reevaluate our relationship with this ubiquitous material and to consider its profound impact on our lives and the environment.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501766978