Coalition Objectives

The main objective of empirical ecocriticism is to put to empirical test claims made within ecocriticism, and the environmental humanities more generally, about the impact of environmental narratives. To this end, it employs empirical methods used in disciplines such as environmental communication, environmental psychology, and the empirical study of literature. These include correlational and experimental studies, and others.

In its current working definition, empirical ecocriticism is

• Empirically grounded
• Open to qualitative and exploratory methodologies
• Focused on the effects of narrative strategies and techniques, with the kind of depth and nuance that cultural critics have brought to their research for decades
• Open to critical engagement with competing definitions of “empirical” data

While empirical ecocriticism focuses on employing established empirical methods, it therefore remains open to different characterizations of empirical data and to the use of humanistic methods as well, including those characteristic of traditional ecocriticism, such as textual and historical analysis.

For more information about this emerging coalition, follow this link: Empirical Ecocriticism. Recently the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society hosted a workshop on Empirical Ecocriticism. A report on that workshop is available here.