An Essay on Ecocriticism in “the Century of Restoring the Earth”
Keywords:
ecocriticism, environmental degradation, growth economy, international scholarshipAbstract
This article analyzes the emergence and development of ecocriticism as a literary field, particularly in the United States. The author contends that ecocriticism arose as a response to environmental degradation caused by a growth-based economy and excessive consumerism. The paper explores the paradoxes within American environmental writing, highlighting both the dominion over land and the commitment to preserving it. This study examines the significant contributions of American ecocritics, including the rediscovery of early environmental texts, reexamination of canonical literatures from an ecological perspective, and integration of the sense of place in literary analysis. The article argues that ecocriticism has gained global recognition, presenting both opportunities and challenges for international scholars. The author demonstrates how ecocriticism in Turkey and other non-Western contexts can develop unique approaches while complementing existing Western ecocritical frameworks.
(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)
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