Communicating a World-in-Crisis
New York: Peter Lang (2025), xiv, 391 pp.
Contains figures, tables, index
Series: Global Crises and the Media, 31
ISBN 978-1-63667-186-4 (ebook); 978-1-63667-188-8 (pbk)
"We live in a world increasingly defined by systemic, deepening and compounding crises. They threaten not only future human existence but also the planetary web-of-life. With the help of academics, creative practitioners and activists, this book explores some of the innovative ways in which different media, communicative fields, and creative practices are seeking to make a difference. From different forms of journalism and participative documentary to climate photography and ecosophical film; from radical theatre, eco-literature and eco-art to green festivals, popular music and immersive museums; and from journalism training in the climate emergency and sustainability education to communicating with 'whole intelligence' and 'integrated intelligence' beyond AI (artificial intelligence). This panoramic approach enables us to see how diverse communicative fields are engaging with some of the most critical concerns of our times - and what can be learned, shared and developed further in the challenging years ahead." (Publisher description)
1 Introduction: Communicating a World-in-Crisis / Simon Cottle, 1
SECTION I: MAINSTREAM JOURNALISM AND THE PLANETARY EMERGENCY
2 Reporting a World-in-Crisis: On Silence, Silos and the Symbiocene / Simon Cottle, 25
3 Evaluating Reporting Roles in Climate Disasters / Victoria Fielding, 43
4 Reporting Protests and the Planetary Emergency / César Jiménez-Martínez, 65
SECTION II: COMMUNITY ACTIVISM HARNESSING MEDIA AND HOPE
5 From Climate Crisis to Environment(al) Hope: Community, Affect and Local Television / Elke Weissmann and Belinda Tyrrell, 85
6 First Nations Community Media and the Climate Crisis: Towards Radical Eco-Communicative Democracy / Kerrie Foxwell-Norton, Bridget Backhaus, Troy Meston with Wilcannia River Radio, 103
7 Green Festivals and Re-figurative Politics: Communicating Resilience and Hope / Steve Muggeridge, 121
SECTION III: PHOTOGRAPHY, DOCUMENTARY AND FILM: VISUALISING CHANGE
8 Fantasy in Visual Spectacles of Climate Change / Niina Uusitalo, 141
9 Earthship Freo: A Case Study of the Potential and Limitations of Participatory Documentary Filmmaking / Michelle Johnston and Mignon Shardlow, 161
10 The New Weird: Independent Cinema as an Ecosophical Response to Climate Change / Kingsley Marshall, 179
SECTION IV: LITERATURE, THEATRE AND ART: EXPRESSING AND EMBODYING AFFECT
11 ‘There’s something you need to hear’: The Literature of Environmental Crisis / Pippa Marland, 199
12 From Hidden Wars to Hidden Theatre: Embodying a World-in-Crisis / Carrie Westwater, 217
13 Visionary Ecoart: Stories for Regenerative Ecologies / Ruth Wallen, 233
SECTION V: MUSIC AND MUSEUMS: IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
14 Music in an Era of Planetary Discontinuity: What Music Can and Can’t Do in This Crisis / Simon Kerr, 257
15 Communicating ‘Stories That Matter’: Activist Museography and Immersive Practice in the Climate Emergency / Jenny Kidd and Salsabilla Sakinah, 273
SECTION VI: EDUCATION AND TRAINING: PEDAGOGIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD
16 Communicating Sustainability: Science Literacy and Transformative Pedagogies / Ron Johnston, 293
17 ‘All Journalists Will be Environmental Journalists Tomorrow’: On Problems, Pedagogy and Prospects / Chris Paterson, 313
SECTION VII: COMMUNICATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE FOR A WORLD-IN-CRISIS
18 Communicating Whole Intelligence to Regenerate the Living Human World / Malcolm Parlett, 331
19 Beyond Artificial Intelligence: Toward Integrated Intelligence for a World-in-Crisis / Jeremy Lent, 349
AFTERWORD
Cultural Response and Creative Resilience: A Personal Reflection / Simon Cottle, 363
SECTION I: MAINSTREAM JOURNALISM AND THE PLANETARY EMERGENCY
2 Reporting a World-in-Crisis: On Silence, Silos and the Symbiocene / Simon Cottle, 25
3 Evaluating Reporting Roles in Climate Disasters / Victoria Fielding, 43
4 Reporting Protests and the Planetary Emergency / César Jiménez-Martínez, 65
SECTION II: COMMUNITY ACTIVISM HARNESSING MEDIA AND HOPE
5 From Climate Crisis to Environment(al) Hope: Community, Affect and Local Television / Elke Weissmann and Belinda Tyrrell, 85
6 First Nations Community Media and the Climate Crisis: Towards Radical Eco-Communicative Democracy / Kerrie Foxwell-Norton, Bridget Backhaus, Troy Meston with Wilcannia River Radio, 103
7 Green Festivals and Re-figurative Politics: Communicating Resilience and Hope / Steve Muggeridge, 121
SECTION III: PHOTOGRAPHY, DOCUMENTARY AND FILM: VISUALISING CHANGE
8 Fantasy in Visual Spectacles of Climate Change / Niina Uusitalo, 141
9 Earthship Freo: A Case Study of the Potential and Limitations of Participatory Documentary Filmmaking / Michelle Johnston and Mignon Shardlow, 161
10 The New Weird: Independent Cinema as an Ecosophical Response to Climate Change / Kingsley Marshall, 179
SECTION IV: LITERATURE, THEATRE AND ART: EXPRESSING AND EMBODYING AFFECT
11 ‘There’s something you need to hear’: The Literature of Environmental Crisis / Pippa Marland, 199
12 From Hidden Wars to Hidden Theatre: Embodying a World-in-Crisis / Carrie Westwater, 217
13 Visionary Ecoart: Stories for Regenerative Ecologies / Ruth Wallen, 233
SECTION V: MUSIC AND MUSEUMS: IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
14 Music in an Era of Planetary Discontinuity: What Music Can and Can’t Do in This Crisis / Simon Kerr, 257
15 Communicating ‘Stories That Matter’: Activist Museography and Immersive Practice in the Climate Emergency / Jenny Kidd and Salsabilla Sakinah, 273
SECTION VI: EDUCATION AND TRAINING: PEDAGOGIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD
16 Communicating Sustainability: Science Literacy and Transformative Pedagogies / Ron Johnston, 293
17 ‘All Journalists Will be Environmental Journalists Tomorrow’: On Problems, Pedagogy and Prospects / Chris Paterson, 313
SECTION VII: COMMUNICATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE FOR A WORLD-IN-CRISIS
18 Communicating Whole Intelligence to Regenerate the Living Human World / Malcolm Parlett, 331
19 Beyond Artificial Intelligence: Toward Integrated Intelligence for a World-in-Crisis / Jeremy Lent, 349
AFTERWORD
Cultural Response and Creative Resilience: A Personal Reflection / Simon Cottle, 363
