Teaching Postcolonial Environmental Literature and Media

Editor: Cajetan Iheka. Modern Language Association, 2021.

Taking up the idea that teaching is a political act, this collection of essays reflects on recent trends in ecocriticism and the implications for pedagogy. Focusing on a diverse set of literature and media, Teaching Postcolonial Environmental Literature and Media also provides background on historical and theoretical issues that animate the field of postcolonial ecocriticism. The scope is broad, encompassing not only the Global South but also parts of the Global North that have been subject to environmental degradation as a result of colonial practices. Considering both the climate crisis and the crisis in the humanities, the volume navigates theoretical resources, contextual scaffolding, classroom activities, assessment, and pedagogical possibilities and challenges. Essays are grounded in environmental justice and the project to decolonize the classroom, addressing works from Africa, New Zealand, Asia, and Latin America and issues such as queer ecofeminism, disability, Latinx literary production, animal studies, interdisciplinarity, and working with environmental justice organizations. The volume includes contributions by Byron Caminero-Santangelo, Laura Wright, Elaine Savory, Christina Gerhardt, Salma Monani, Supriya M. Nair, Jonathan Steinwand, Amit R. Baishya, and many others.