SHUM 4625

Deranged Authority: Culture, Power, and Climate Change

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2018-2019.

How does climate denialism persist in the face of mounting evidence that global warming is real? Conversely, how do environmentalists come to believe specific actions are necessary to save the world? How can climate justice efforts include local forms of knowledge and expertise? As humans struggle to conceive of new ways to live—and create change—in a time of "derangement," this seminar explores how forms of environmental in/action become authoritative in different social contexts. Here classical and critical theories of authority illuminate how environmental knowledge attains power in some settings but not others; additionally, ethnographies of ecoauthority reveal forms of resiliency that diverge from conventional models of climate remediation. Participants will write short discussion papers, co-lead one class meeting, and submit a final essay.

When Offered Fall.

Permission Note Enrollment limited to: 15 students.

Course Attribute (CU-SBY)

Comments Co-meets with ANTHR 7025/SHUM 6625.

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