Review of ‘Thinking with the Harrisons’

Iain Biggs has reviewed Anne Douglas and my book ‘Thinking with the Harrisons’ on his blog here http://www.iainbiggs.co.uk/2024/10/thinking-with-the-harrisons-re-imagining-the-arts-in-the-global-environmental-crisis-leuven-university-press-october-9th-2024-a-review/

He says of our project

…they write both as observant participants working from direct first-hand involvement in the Harrisons’ processes, and from a researcher’s concern with rigorous creative ‘thinking with’. Thinking that in the course of their study ranges across the arts, particularly in relation to engagement with environmental concerns, but also across the work of a variety of important scientists, philosophers, and other thinkers.

and

Significantly, the final chapter of the book, entitled Conclusions, offers the reader no such thing. Instead it consists of a series of questions about the impact and value of the Harrisons’ work. This is entirely in keeping with the authors’ understanding of the Lagoon Cycle as marking the point in the Harrisons’ work where the concern: “shifts from solving a problem” – more specifically one of food production – “to participating in a dialogue with the universe, while coming to terms with the processes of climate change that we have set in motion”. (p. 216)    

And there is some follow up discussion on specific issues highlighted in the review http://www.iainbiggs.co.uk/2024/10/anne-douglas-response-to-my-review-of-thinking-with-the-harrisons/

Many many thanks Iain.

2 thoughts on “Review of ‘Thinking with the Harrisons’

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  1. This follow-up discussion is important. Anne Douglas’ statement, “It would make an important book around the kind of judgements artists need to make in how to become recognised…” strikes a chord. Not the book reference specifically, although that would be of interest, but the very real question of recognition and where and how this is located; not so much by whom (e.g. the artworld, in Dickie’s and Danto’s sense/s). I won’t elaborate here, but I’d be interested to pick this up in conversation (perhaps around some discussion papers). Thanks for sharing.

    1. It is an important issue – you should add this comment to Iain’s post. That being said ecoartscotland could host a set of blogs on recognition if you wanted to propose/guest edit?

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