CFP: Call for Papers for Issue No. 6 of Anthropocenica

Submissions for Issue No. 6 of Anthropocenica are now open until January 31, 2025. The journal invites proposals for articles and critical book reviews that align with the specific requirements outlined by the publication. Authors are encouraged to carefully review and adhere to the provided guidelines to ensure that their submissions comply with the standards set by Anthropocenica.

The upcoming issue will focus particularly on the theme “Environmental Trauma in the Anthropocene Era.”

The concept of the Anthropocene has radically altered our understanding of the relationship between humans and the planet, highlighting the profound and often irreversible impacts of human activity on natural systems. In this context, “environmental trauma” emerges as a vital area of study, encompassing the emotional and psychological suffering resulting from ecosystem destruction, climate disasters, and the loss of significant places.

As a field of study, Ecocriticism expands the notion of environmental trauma, exploring not only individual experiences of loss and distress but also collective and intergenerational forms of suffering. It reflects the deep connections between human communities, their natural environments, and the non-human world. This issue seeks to investigate how trauma, as a lived and felt experience, shapes our understanding of the Anthropocene and influences cultural representations, artistic responses, and critical theories.

Suggested topics include:

Ecological Anxiety and Environmental Grief: How do individuals and communities process feelings of loss, anxiety, and grief due to the transformation or disappearance of natural environments? Discussions on eco-anxiety, solastalgia, and the emotional burden of witnessing ecological decline.

Narratives of Ruin and Resilience: Representations of environmental trauma in literature, film, and the visual arts. How do cultural works express ecological collapse, mourning, and the possibility of regeneration? What genres and narrative forms emerge to address environmental suffering?

Intergenerational Trauma and Ecological Injustice: Investigations into the cumulative impacts of environmental trauma across generations, particularly in communities most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, pollution, and resource extraction. How do environmental injustice and historical traumas intertwine in marginalized communities?

Post-Colonial and Decolonial Ecocriticism: Analysis of the enduring consequences of colonialism on landscapes and indigenous communities, including the loss of traditional ecological knowledge and the destruction of sacred sites.

Trauma Beyond the Human: Can ecosystems, animals, and even geological elements experience forms of trauma? How can ecocritical and Anthropocene studies integrate non-human perspectives on ecological harm

Ecological Melancholy and Paths to Healing: Research on strategies for healing and resilience in the face of environmental trauma. What role do ecological restoration projects, community action, and artistic expressions play in addressing the emotional impact of ecological loss?

Ecological Memory and Place Narratives: How does the memory of lost or altered landscapes influence collective identity and cultural heritage? The role of place-based narratives in understanding environmental trauma.

Legal and Ethical Implications of Environmental Trauma: Debates on the concept of ecocide, the rights of nature, and the ethical implications of recognizing trauma caused by environmental destruction.

Proposals, including articles and book reviews, must adhere to the editorial policy and detailed guidelines provided in the "Submissions – Instructions for Authors" section, available here: Submission Guidelines.

Accepted languages for submissions are English and Portuguese. Submissions should be made via the Open Journal System platform at: OJS Platform.

First-time visitors will need to register for proposal submission. Detailed registration instructions can be found here: Registration Instructions.