Bakalářská práce se zabývá ekofeminismem, hnutím, které začalo s aktivistickými cíli a postupně se propracovalo k různým studijním oblastem, mezi něž patří i literatura. Ekofeminismus je postavený na myšlence, že mezi způsoby, jakým se k ženám a přírodě přistupuje ve spojení s existencí hierarchické struktury společnosti, se dají najít podobnosti, a tedy, že dominantní strana, jako muži a progres, má inklinaci je diskriminovat. Tohle hnutí je nejprve prozkoumáno z hlediska historického kontextu, který započal v 70. letech 20. století, a z hlediska vývinu na teorii, kterou je možné aplikovat v různých oblastech. Následně je představeno a prozkoumáno pár klíčových konceptů, jmenovitě druhý, příroda, spirituální spojení, uctívání bohyně, vzájemné propojení, s cílem vybudování metodologie, která by měla vedoucí charakter v rámci analýzy vybraných současných děl fantasy. S pomocí těchto konceptů práce zachycuje, jak může být ekofeminismus zobrazen v žánru fantasy a k jakým závěrům to může vést. Porovnání jejich rozdílů a podobností by mělo umožnit lepší pochopení role, již je schopný ekofeminismus ve fantasy hrát, a taky k přesvědčení, že se vyplatí věnovat mu více pozornosti.
Annotation in English
This bachelor thesis focuses on ecofeminism, a movement which started with activist aims and slowly worked its way to different areas of study, one of which is literature. Ecofeminism is based on the idea that there is a similarity between how women and nature are treated in relation to the existence of the hierarchical structure of society, and therefore, that there is an inclination to discriminate against them by the dominating side, such as men and progress. This movement is firstly explored through its historical context, starting from its roots in the 1970s and how it evolved into a theory that can be applied to various areas. Next, a few key concepts, namely the other, nature, spiritual connection, goddess worship, and interconnectedness, are presented and explored in order to establish a methodology that would serve as a guiding point through the analysis of selected contemporary fantasy works. By focusing on these concepts, this thesis aims to capture how ecofeminism can be depicted in this genre and what conclusions can be drawn from it. Comparing their differences and similarities should lead to a better understanding of what role ecofeminism could play in fantastic works and to a conviction that ecofeminism in fantasy is worth more diving into.
Bakalářská práce se zabývá ekofeminismem, hnutím, které začalo s aktivistickými cíli a postupně se propracovalo k různým studijním oblastem, mezi něž patří i literatura. Ekofeminismus je postavený na myšlence, že mezi způsoby, jakým se k ženám a přírodě přistupuje ve spojení s existencí hierarchické struktury společnosti, se dají najít podobnosti, a tedy, že dominantní strana, jako muži a progres, má inklinaci je diskriminovat. Tohle hnutí je nejprve prozkoumáno z hlediska historického kontextu, který započal v 70. letech 20. století, a z hlediska vývinu na teorii, kterou je možné aplikovat v různých oblastech. Následně je představeno a prozkoumáno pár klíčových konceptů, jmenovitě druhý, příroda, spirituální spojení, uctívání bohyně, vzájemné propojení, s cílem vybudování metodologie, která by měla vedoucí charakter v rámci analýzy vybraných současných děl fantasy. S pomocí těchto konceptů práce zachycuje, jak může být ekofeminismus zobrazen v žánru fantasy a k jakým závěrům to může vést. Porovnání jejich rozdílů a podobností by mělo umožnit lepší pochopení role, již je schopný ekofeminismus ve fantasy hrát, a taky k přesvědčení, že se vyplatí věnovat mu více pozornosti.
Annotation in English
This bachelor thesis focuses on ecofeminism, a movement which started with activist aims and slowly worked its way to different areas of study, one of which is literature. Ecofeminism is based on the idea that there is a similarity between how women and nature are treated in relation to the existence of the hierarchical structure of society, and therefore, that there is an inclination to discriminate against them by the dominating side, such as men and progress. This movement is firstly explored through its historical context, starting from its roots in the 1970s and how it evolved into a theory that can be applied to various areas. Next, a few key concepts, namely the other, nature, spiritual connection, goddess worship, and interconnectedness, are presented and explored in order to establish a methodology that would serve as a guiding point through the analysis of selected contemporary fantasy works. By focusing on these concepts, this thesis aims to capture how ecofeminism can be depicted in this genre and what conclusions can be drawn from it. Comparing their differences and similarities should lead to a better understanding of what role ecofeminism could play in fantastic works and to a conviction that ecofeminism in fantasy is worth more diving into.
The aim of this bachelor’s thesis will be to present ecofeminism as a literary movement and genre from both diachronic and synchronic perspective. The thesis will then argue for the importance of distinctive aspects of worldbuilding and concepts of space and analyze these features applying contemporary theories on the selected fantasy works of feminist writers. Since fantasy was traditionally a genre more associated with male authors, the thesis will compare works which marked the beginnings of a shift toward fantasy written by female authors with the more recent feminist fantasy. The thesis will analyze four works, two by authors from the twentieth century and two by authors from the twenty-first century to see how the approach toward ecofeminism and its iterations in the spheres of worldbuilding and spatiality evolved throughout the years and what the latest tendencies are. One of the works analyzed in this thesis will be by a male author to widen the scope and offer possibly another perspective on the subject matter. Finally, based on the results, the thesis will conclude whether the topic is worth more investigation and what the potential next steps could be.
Research Plan
The aim of this bachelor’s thesis will be to present ecofeminism as a literary movement and genre from both diachronic and synchronic perspective. The thesis will then argue for the importance of distinctive aspects of worldbuilding and concepts of space and analyze these features applying contemporary theories on the selected fantasy works of feminist writers. Since fantasy was traditionally a genre more associated with male authors, the thesis will compare works which marked the beginnings of a shift toward fantasy written by female authors with the more recent feminist fantasy. The thesis will analyze four works, two by authors from the twentieth century and two by authors from the twenty-first century to see how the approach toward ecofeminism and its iterations in the spheres of worldbuilding and spatiality evolved throughout the years and what the latest tendencies are. One of the works analyzed in this thesis will be by a male author to widen the scope and offer possibly another perspective on the subject matter. Finally, based on the results, the thesis will conclude whether the topic is worth more investigation and what the potential next steps could be.
Recommended resources
Adams, Carol J., and Lori Gruen. Ecofeminism: Feminist Intersections with Other Animals and the Earth. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014.
A.E. Kings. "Intersectionality and the Changing Face of Ecofeminism." Ethics and the Environment 22, no. 1 (2017): 63-87. Accessed June 11, 2021. doi:10.2979/ethicsenviro.22.1.04.
Buckingham, Susan. "Ecofeminism in the Twenty-First Century.” The Geographical Journal 170, no. 2 (June 2004): 146–54.
Chen, Ling. "Ecological Criticism Based on Social Gender: The Basic Principles of Ecofeminism.” Higher Education of Social Science 7, no. 1 (July 28, 2014): 67–72. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/4895.
Craddock, Curtis. An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors. New York City, New York: Tor Books, 2017.
Gaard, G. "New Directions for Ecofeminism: Toward a More Feminist Ecocriticism.” Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment 17, no. 4 (2010): 643–65. doi:10.1093/ISLE/ISQ108.
Garrard, Greg. Ecocriticism. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge, 2012.
Garrard, Greg. The Oxford Handbook of Ecocriticism. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Le Guin, Ursula K. The Tombs of Atuan. New York City, New York: Atheneum Books, 1971.
Murphy, Patrick D. "Ecofeminism and Postmodernism: Agency, Transformation, and Future Possibilities." NWSA Journal 9, no. 3 (1997): 41-59. Accessed June 11, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4316529.
Pierce, Tamora. Alanna: The First Adventure. New York City, New York: Atheneum, 1983.
Shannon, Samantha. The Priory of the Orange Tree. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019.
Stein, Rachel. New Perspectives on Environmental Justice: Gender, Sexuality, and Activism. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2004.
Vakoch, Douglas A., and Sam Mickey. Women and Nature?: Beyond Dualism in Gender, Body, and Environment. Abingdon: Routledge, 2018.
Recommended resources
Adams, Carol J., and Lori Gruen. Ecofeminism: Feminist Intersections with Other Animals and the Earth. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014.
A.E. Kings. "Intersectionality and the Changing Face of Ecofeminism." Ethics and the Environment 22, no. 1 (2017): 63-87. Accessed June 11, 2021. doi:10.2979/ethicsenviro.22.1.04.
Buckingham, Susan. "Ecofeminism in the Twenty-First Century.” The Geographical Journal 170, no. 2 (June 2004): 146–54.
Chen, Ling. "Ecological Criticism Based on Social Gender: The Basic Principles of Ecofeminism.” Higher Education of Social Science 7, no. 1 (July 28, 2014): 67–72. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/4895.
Craddock, Curtis. An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors. New York City, New York: Tor Books, 2017.
Gaard, G. "New Directions for Ecofeminism: Toward a More Feminist Ecocriticism.” Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment 17, no. 4 (2010): 643–65. doi:10.1093/ISLE/ISQ108.
Garrard, Greg. Ecocriticism. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge, 2012.
Garrard, Greg. The Oxford Handbook of Ecocriticism. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2014.
Le Guin, Ursula K. The Tombs of Atuan. New York City, New York: Atheneum Books, 1971.
Murphy, Patrick D. "Ecofeminism and Postmodernism: Agency, Transformation, and Future Possibilities." NWSA Journal 9, no. 3 (1997): 41-59. Accessed June 11, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4316529.
Pierce, Tamora. Alanna: The First Adventure. New York City, New York: Atheneum, 1983.
Shannon, Samantha. The Priory of the Orange Tree. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019.
Stein, Rachel. New Perspectives on Environmental Justice: Gender, Sexuality, and Activism. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2004.
Vakoch, Douglas A., and Sam Mickey. Women and Nature?: Beyond Dualism in Gender, Body, and Environment. Abingdon: Routledge, 2018.