Into the ecoregion : Robert Sullivan’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 and the nature/culture divide : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Creative Writing at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand

Abstract

This thesis interrogates the role of nature/culture dualism in ecological and environmental creative nonfiction through a critical analysis of Robert Sullivan’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴: 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 and a creative component titled 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱. Both the critical and creative sections take the view that the concept of nature/culture dualism in creative nonfiction must first be problematized through a locally scaled, ecoregional lens to truly comprehend ecological and environmental issues at a global scale. Through my reading of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 in the critical portion of this thesis, I explore how Sullivan’s attention to the overlap between the natural and the human cultural aspects of the Meadowlands problematises the commonly accepted nature/culture dualism inherent in the natural world and how this problematization aids new ways of understanding the nature/culture relationships in our urban environments. I examine the problematization of nature/culture dualism in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 through a dispute brought about by the work of two critical theorists: Timothy Morton’s 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦: 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 and Christien L. Marran’s 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦: 𝘈𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘛𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. Morton argues that extant Romantic ideas of nature must be abolished in favour of ecocriticism that embraces cultural forms of ecology. Marran counters Morton’s view, calling instead for more binding, trophic forms of ecocriticism that favour aesthetic perspectives of the human and the more-than-human world. I argue that by problematising the nature/culture dualism found at the urban fringe, rather than leaning too heavily on either cultural or nature tropes, ecological and environmental creative nonfiction can open new, imaginative spaces for understanding the nature/culture relationships in our urban environments. In the creative portion of my thesis, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱 probes the broader question of nature/culture relationships in ecological and environmental creative nonfiction by exploring my personal story of learning to make my clothes over the past twelve years. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱 is specifically focused on the moral and environmental concerns surrounding the use of wool and cotton. I problematize the concept of nature/culture dualism and local/global perspectives surrounding these contentious materials by focusing on my experiences with crafting in local settings while maintaining a critical perspective on the textile and fashion industries in a more generalized and global sense.