Energy Narratives at ASLE-UKI Conference
The organisers of the ASLE-UKI conference ‘Green Knowledge’ (Cambridge, 2-4
September 2015) have kindly given permission for the AHRC-funded project ‘Stories of
Change: The Past, Present and Future of Energy’ to post this call for expressions of
interest in contributing to a special section of the conference on
‘Energy Narratives’
Provided a sufficient number of proposals are received, we aim to organise a thematic
strand of panels running through the conference.
The aim of the ‘Energy Narratives’ panels is to examine literary, filmic, and other cultural
representations of energy production and consumption, and to learn more about how
these relate to non-fictional written accounts (e.g. historical documents and media reports)
and oral stories. We are particularly interested in analyses of depictions of and reflections
on the social and cultural impact of energy system change, whether this be with respect
to the contemporary transition to a post-carbon economy, or to historical precedents such
as the industrial revolution.
The principal focus of the ‘Stories of Change’ project is the role played by stories and
narratives in organizing environmental knowledge in general and shaping perceptions of
energy system change in particular. An important practical question behind both the
project in general and this strand of the conference is how interdisciplinary research
centred on stories can support more imaginative and open thinking in society at large
about decarbonisation and the transformation of the current energy system.
Questions for the analysis of literary, media and historical texts, feature films and
documentaries, exhibitions, museum displays, etc. will therefore include:
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How have attitudes towards energy production and consumption as articulated in
texts and images changed over time?
What part have writers, directors and artists played in negotiating such change?
What experiences of energy transition have been forgotten, but deserve to be
remembered?
What perspectives are articulated, and how are they framed in narratives?
What role do cultural master narratives, tropes and genres play in shaping the
perception of our relationship with energy?
Equally welcome are contributions looking beyond individual media, examining the ability
of a transdisciplinary focus on stories to open up new thinking on the production and
consumption of energy, via literary, historical, social science, arts and digital media
research.
For further information on Energy Narratives and suggested research questions please
write to Axel Goodbody <mlsahg(at)bath.ac.uk>. Working titles and 250 word abstracts
should be submitted by 7 February, to enable us to liaise with the conference organisers
before the general deadline for paper proposals (14 February).