Studying literature is a kind of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary study. Interdisciplinary study became the hallmark in research also. It provides diversity and variety to exemplify single things with different angles. Interdisciplinary study tries to find the interconnection between different approaches, ideologies, different sciences and different subjects and also tries to apply different theories and approaches. So Literature becomes a mall where every different method is applicable.
So today I am going to present my idea about what is Ecocriticism and ecofeminism and how these both terms are mingled with literature…
Ecocriticism
When we separate the word- Eco means related to environment or nature or criticism is wide term which is obviously connected with literature. So, Ecocriticism is study of the relationship between literature and Environment. How time and again nature interfere in literature with different perspectives, and how environmental issues and nature reflected in literature is the prime-focus of Ecocriticism. There are also some other terms for Ecocriticism…
- Environmental Literary Criticism
- Green Studies
- Eco-poetics
Ecocriticism as a Literary Theory
Generally in literature we use conventional theories which are from linguistics, Social studies, psychology etc. But ecology as theory is a new approach to explore dimensions. Use of Environment and Nature in literature is a common thing but there is no systematic method make criticism on it.
Ecocritics take nature as a dominant factor. Reasons behind dominant are as following…
- Human evaluation as society is largely dependent on natural forces.
- The world in which we live is not only made up of language or social elements. Nature is the driving force behind all these things.
- Human existence and development is also based on nature
- Human life is totally affected by nature.
So these are some of the reasons behind the flourishing of Ecocriticism especially during 1990s. William Rueckert in his book "Literature and Ecology: An experiment in Ecocriticism" first used the ecocriticism which originally published in 1978 and later edited by Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm in 1996. According to him major concern of ecocritic is to…
"To find the grounds upon which the two communities - the human,the natural - can coexist, cooperate and flourish in the biosphere."
Ecocriticism is a lens of theory which is an "Earth-centered approach to literary studies. (Glotfelty) So the core idea of Ecocriticism is to study how humans and their culture is affected by nature, how humans affect the nature. Ecocriticism is concerned about how human power and society undermine the nature for their own profit.
Ecofeminism
Before we dragged into Ecofeminism first let's try to understand what Feminism is.
Feminism is a worldwide political movement which seeks for an Equality between Men and Women. It emphasizes that men and women should have equal rights and equal positions in society. As Ott and Make said that…
"A movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression"
The Motto of Feminism is to vanish the Gender stereotypes, which are practiced worldwide in smaller or larger amounts. With the exploration of Feminist movement, there are also growth of some sub-branch of Feminism…
- Liberal Feminism
- Radical Feminism
- Marxist and Socialist Feminism
- Cultural Feminism
- Eco Feminism etc…
One of the important aspects of Feminism is EcoFeminism. There are innumerable perspectives that women are connected with nature. The term was first used by French Feminist and activist Francoise d'Eaubonne in her book Feminisme ou la Mort in 1974. In this book she tries to make comparisons between women and nature..
"The oppression of subordinate groups(such as women and people of colour) to the oppression of nature by man."
Ecofeminism is a philosophical and political theory that tries to connect environmental degradation and exploitation of women and gender inequalities with a dominance of man over woman and capitalism over planet. Both control nature as well as women and show their privileges. Ecofeminism tries to mingle two problems in one…
- Climate change
- Gender biases
By uniting these two problems in one one can get economical development with abolishment of inequality. By dismantling nature, culture became powerful, simultaneously men undermined the existence of women. So this is how we can see a relationship between woman and nature is like a sister. There are two distinct ways in which Ecofeminism works…
Radical Ecofeminism :
It signifies that woman and environment both are controlled by men. Women are exploited by patriarchal society. In the same manner man works on the field.and they used it in their uncaring way and destroy the naturality of nature for their sake and also waste our environmental richness. Thus what connects ecology and women is their degradation.
Cultural Ecofeminism
Second belief is that Climate change affects more women than it does to men. Because women are more near to nature in biological processes like Menstruation period and Pregnancy. So women are the better option to solve the economical crisis along with their own development. J.R Thorpe, author of "What is exactly Ecofeminism" on which Bustle says that…
"Women in their capacity as natural resource managers might have unique perspectives on how to help stop environmental damage, but if their voices are silenced, they can’t help”
In regards to the above statement we can connect how Great Thunberg a female economist emerges to save the environment and stand against Climate Change. She got world-wide acclaim. But there are so many women whose voices remain unheard like environmental damage is also not seen as a great loss in our economy. Here are some of the important factors which are touched upon by Ecofeminism study….
- Ecofeminism sees parallel between the Earth and Women
- Ecofeminism challenges Power Hierarchy
- Ecofeminism also points out women's unique involvement in Environmental Damage
Ecofeminism and Maleficent
Disney movies are generally seen as enchanting magic and a completely fictional world. But when "Read" it deeply these are not simply for entertainment but it also explores deep messages in it. According to Marry Mellor…
Ecofeminism is a movement that sees a connection between exploitation and degradation of the natural world and subordination or oppression of women.
Ecofeminism is a link between feminism and economy and the common thing is suppression or oppression of something. Using this definition let's have a look at the movie about how ecofeminism is used in Maleficent not only as a connection between both but also used to strengthen female roles.
During 1950s, the course of time period in which Disney movies are non-feminist and and portraying patriarchal society from anti-feminist way. Steven Watts, the author of The Magic Kingdom:Walt Disney and the American Way of Life states that…
"Disney Female heroine in the 1950swas quite simply, the ideal American woman of the time."
But, We can see Maleficent take one step ahead from conventional and stereotypical representation of women. Here, Maleficent is the queen of Moore's and she has a responsibility to save nature from Human world. The protection of the land and ecosystem is on Maleficent and she is defeated by King Stephen and her wings are also stolen by Stephen. If the story of movie ends here then it may be included in the category of Non-feminist Disney movie. But no, In burning desire to take revenge Maleficent cursed the Stephen Daughter and and took her into her Kingdom. Where the bond between two became stronger because of their Love for Nature. So here, Also showing that the bond between two women can be created through Nature and women are very near to nature because of their oppression.
So, In Maleficent movies, By giving a love for nature in Maleficent and need to save nature from civilization what Disney Movie is trying to show is that…
"Maleficent an environmentally conscious fairy that protects an enchanted ecosystem on the edge of a destructive kingdom”
So still there are some of the stereotypes regarding women character and non-Feminist approache towards women but slowly and steadily Disney movies are changing their shift from Patriarchy to Feminism and also Showing women as the "Mother Nature" By using Cultural Ecofeminism Maleficent emerges as fight against Male dominant socisty and exploitation of forest by society and Women who is the center for oppression remain as the saver of nature.
Thank You….
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