New Animist Thinking through the Ecological Crisis: An exploration of Ecology, Anthropocentrism and Animism expressed through Art

Abstract

Animist thinking could alter our relationship as humans with the more-than-human world. As defined by Graham Harvey, animists are people who recognise that the world is full of persons, only some of whom are human, and that life is always lived in relationship with others. These more-than-human persons could be animals, plants, rocks or trees that are in constant communication with each other and the world around them. In this thesis, I explore how animism expressed through art could contribute to a more ecological worldview by moving beyond Anthropocentric thinking. I build my argument upon the work of Donna Haraway (“We need a new story”), Leigh McKagen (“We need an inclusive story”) as well as Graham Harvey and David Abram. The main question I examine is how art could provide a framework through which to express contemporary animism. To explore how art can be utilised as a tool to discuss animism, how art can serve as a tool to translate alternative knowledge and how art can create a connection with the more-than- human through artistic practice, I interview as well as analyse the artworks and art practices of several artist from diverse backgrounds and artistic mediums through an animist frame. Throughout this thesis, I discuss the origin of the term animism and the rise of new or contemporary animism. I explore and how art, storytelling and counter-narratives contribute to the way we shape our reality including our understanding of alternative knowledge. Additionally, I analyse artworks that visualise animism and artworks which require collaboration with the more-than-human and include the importance of connecting with the more-than- human through our senses. Through discussing these themes, this thesis offers an exploration of the way stories shape our reality and how animism expressed through art could increase our connection to the more-than-human world.