Year Without a Winter

Anthropogenic climate change has led to relentless cognitive and imaginative challenges, and A Year Without a Winter explores how artistic and literary engagements with destabilizing natural patterns can summon new planetary imaginaries. The book combines science fiction, history, visual art, and exploration, inspired by the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora and the utopian architecture of Paolo Soleri.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 12 March 2019
Publisher: Columbia Books on Architecture and the City

The impact of anthropogenic climate change on our world is far-reaching and complex, presenting us with a range of cognitive and imaginative challenges that demand our attention. While the mainstream media plays a crucial role in reporting on these phenomena, there are also cultural registers that offer unique perspectives on the issue. In this essay, we will explore the cultural registers of climate change and how artistic and literary engagements with destabilizing natural patterns can summon new planetary imaginaries, reorienting our perspectives on humanity's position within the environment.

Science fiction has long been a genre that explores the potential consequences of human actions on the environment. In the aftermath of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora, on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, a climate crisis enveloped the globe. This event, known as the "year without a summer," led to unseasonal frosts, violent thunderstorms, and a general atmosphere of horror. It was during this time that Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein, a work of science fiction that continues to shape our attitudes towards emerging science, technology, and environmental futures.

Two hundred years later, in 2016, the world experienced the hottest year on historical record. In response to this crisis, four renowned science fiction authors were invited to the experimental town of Arcosanti, designed by Paolo Soleri, as a prototype for arcology. Arcosanti is an urban utopia that seeks to address the challenges of sustainable living and environmental stewardship. The authors were asked to respond to the present crisis and to imagine new planetary imaginaries that could help us navigate the uncertain future.

A Year Without a Winter brings together the stories of these four authors alongside critical essays, extracts from Shelley's masterpiece, and dispatches from expeditions to extreme geographies. The book is broad and ambitious in scope, offering a collective thought experiment that retraces an inverted path through narrative extremes. Through their stories, the authors explore the ways in which climate change is affecting our planet, from the melting ice caps in the Arctic to the rising sea levels in the Pacific. They also consider the ethical and philosophical implications of our actions, asking us to consider how we can live in harmony with the environment and create a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

In addition to science fiction, history also plays a crucial role in understanding the cultural registers of climate change. The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora, for example, was a major event that shaped the world's understanding of climate change and its potential consequences. The year without a summer led to a shift in attitudes towards the environment, with people becoming more aware of the impact of human activities on the natural world. This event also inspired a wave of scientific research and innovation, leading to the development of new technologies and strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Visual art is another cultural register that offers unique perspectives on climate change. Artists have been using their work to raise awareness about the issue and to inspire action. From climate change-themed exhibitions to street art installations, visual artists have been using their creativity to communicate the urgency of the situation and to encourage people to take action.

Literary engagements with destabilizing natural patterns can also summon new planetary imaginaries and reorient our perspectives on humanity's position within the environment. Writers have been exploring the ways in which climate change is affecting human societies, from the displacement of communities due to rising sea levels to the impact of climate change on cultural practices and traditions. By engaging with these issues through literature, writers can help us to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of climate change and to imagine new ways of living and working in response to the challenges it presents.

In conclusion, the impact of anthropogenic climate change on our world is far-reaching and complex, presenting us with a range of cognitive and imaginative challenges that demand our attention. While the mainstream media plays a crucial role in reporting on these phenomena, there are also cultural registers that offer unique perspectives on the issue. Artistic and literary engagements with destabilizing natural patterns can summon new planetary imaginaries, reorienting our perspectives on humanity's position within the environment. By exploring the cultural registers of climate change, we can develop a deeper understanding of the challenges we face and work towards creating a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 142 x 203 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781941332382