Are creative responses to the climate crisis too gloomy?
There’s a distinct trend within climate fiction to focus on “gloom and doom.” A stereotypical work of grimdark climate fiction involves a stoic protagonist on a difficult journey through a post-apocalyptic environment forever altered by catastrophic climate disruptions. In such stories, it’s either impossible or too late to avert the worst consequences of the climate crisis. All that the protagonist can hope to do is survive the horrors they encounter on their journey for long enough to find some modicum of personal happiness in a ruined world.
Whether or not that tone appeals to a reader is largely a matter of personal taste. However, such framing can easily be overdone, especially if the goal of climate fiction is to inspire meaningful reflection, conversation, and action in response to the climate crisis.
I do see great value to the occasional cautionary tale. But such tales must be balanced by narratives that help us to reclaim our agency and envision our role in co-creating an exciting and enjoyable world informed by the principles of climate justice.
With that said, let’s explore some creative climate news. This week, we’ll be talking about bonus content, climate fiction, climate music, and climate podcasts.
Bonus Content Preview
Once per month, paid subscribers to Creative Climate get a bonus short story and poem. Here’s a quick preview of this month’s bonus content.
The Sheep and the Sun
What do a shepherd and a solar array owner have in common? More than you might think! The Sheep and the Sun is a short story inspired by the agrivoltaics movement. Most of my climate fiction contains at least some speculative elements, but this story is a simple solutions-oriented tale set in the present day.
Now
One of the most common misconceptions about the climate crisis is that it’s some abstract threat looming in the distant future. My new climate poem, Now, explores the tension between this perception and the present-day realities of the climate crisis.
Bonus Content
Where can you find this bonus content? If you’re a paid subscriber, you’ll receive it in a separate email this afternoon. If you’re on the free list, subscribe now so you don’t miss out!
Climate Fiction
There are many counterexamples to the trend of “gloom and doom” in climate fiction. Climate fiction can be a source of inspiration, motivation, courage, and hope rather than a cautionary tale of gloom and doom.
“Literary” climate fiction, including many of the titles and authors covered by the Burning Worlds column, often avoids this “climate doomer” tendency by focusing on personal stories, avoiding portrayals of over-the-top climate catastrophes, or otherwise focusing on character development and human-scale plots rather than emphasizing the collapse of larger systems.
Solarpunk, on the other hand, avoids a purely dystopian framing by emphasizing solutions and the agency of the characters and communities responding to the climate crisis. Such stories often still portray significant challenges related to the climate crisis, but the characters find meaningful and effective ways to respond to those challenges, individually and collectively.
But what exactly is solarpunk?
Solarpunk: A Reference Guide
Solarpunk is a movement in speculative fiction, art, fashion, and activism that seeks to answer and embody the question “what does a sustainable civilization look like, and how can we get there?”
If you’re new to solarpunk, the Solarpunk Reference Guide is a good place to start. It’s an extensive collection of links and stories exploring the nature of solarpunk, including examples of both solarpunk as a genre of fiction and solarpunk as a real-world practice of radical social change.
Sunvault
I’m a big fan of anthologies, especially when the reader’s goal is to explore a new theme or genre.
Sunvalut: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation is an excellent example of this basic literary principle. This anthology features over thirty short stories by different authors. If you want to get a feel for solarpunk by reading fiction from a variety of different authors, Sunvault is a great place to start.
More Climate Fiction
Climate Music
I’m always looking for music with climate themes! If you have any suggestions, please let me know. My dream is that eventually, I’ll have a long list of climate-themed songs and albums that includes examples from every genre.
On A High Hill
On A High Hill is a solo album by Anna Fritz, a cellist and folksinger based in Portland, Oregon. Anna’s cello work has been featured on more than 50 albums by many bands including the Decemberists.
The album is like an intimate concert, with Anna recording her cello and singing at the same time, just as she does in live performance. It explores themes of colonization, climate change, racial justice, and connection to the natural world. There’s a surprising power and beauty in the simple combination of soaring cello music and soulful vocals about climate justice.
I first heard about Anna Fritz on Episode 15 of the Citizens’ Climate Radio podcast. The Arthouse section of Citizens’ Climate Radio features many creative responses to the climate crisis, including numerous musicians.
More Climate Music
Climate Podcasts
I keep finding more climate podcasts! There are so many of them now that most people won’t be able to stay current on all of them. The good news is that the broad range of themes, tones, etc. means that there’s bound to be a climate podcast out there that you’ll absolutely love. Check out as many as you can and see which ones are right for you.
No Place Like Home
No Place Like Home is a podcast that gets to the heart of climate change. It’s hosted by Mary Anne Hitt and Anna Jane Joyner, two Southern women, climate activists, and dear friends. No Place Like Home dives into the spiritual, personal, cultural, and emotional dimensions of climate change. They don't shy away from science and politics, but they always bring along their sense of humor and a feisty dose of hope.
This was one of the first climate podcasts I listened to. It’s stayed among my favorite climate podcasts because of the empathic tone and the way that it explores the more personal and spiritual dimensions of the climate crisis that most podcasts (and most climate communicators) don’t address.
Fun Fact: I did a thirty-second recording for their “Staying sane in the age of climate change” series! They asked for listener submissions and aired mine near the beginning of Episode #30: Art Might Save Us with Joel McKerrow.
Generation Green New Deal
A new generation has pushed the climate crisis to the center of American politics. Generation Green New Deal tells the story of this youth movement: who they are, what they’ve accomplished so far, and where they go from here. This podcast is hosted by filmmaker Sam Eilertsen who is also working on a documentary by the same name.
This podcast drew me in with the glimpses behind the scenes of the rise of the current vision of the Green New Deal in American politics. Once it offers that glimpse, it moves on to explore many different aspects of the Green New Deal and the youth who have been the driving force of bringing the Green New Deal framing and policy push to the forefront of American climate discourse.
More Climate Podcats
Coming Next Week
Thank you for reading Creative Climate! Here’s a sneak peek at a few topics we’ll be exploring next week.
Climate Fiction
Climate TV & Film
Climate Podcasts
And Beyond!
Paying subscribers (and gift subscribers) will receive their first bonus short story and poem this afternoon! If you haven’t subscribed yet, subscribe now so you won’t miss out. Be sure to tell your friends too!
About Creative Climate
Creative Climate is a newsletter created by me, Treesong. I’m a father, husband, author, talk radio host, and Real-Life Superhero living in Southern Illinois, USA. I’ve spent most of the past twenty years or so looking for creative ways to advocate for environmental justice and climate justice. You can learn more about my writing and superhero adventures on my website, treesong.org.
If you like Creative Climate, please tell your friends! I have no advertising budget for this newsletter, so people only hear about it through word of mouth. The more subscribers we get, the better the newsletter will be, especially in terms of discussion among subscribers and bonus content for paid subscribers.
If you have ideas for future issues, let me know! Email me at creativeclimate@treesong.org with your suggestions. In the meantime, thanks for reading Creative Climate!