Anthropological Optimism: Engaging the Power of What Could Go Right

Description

This book theorizes the roles of optimism in anthropological thinking, research, writing, and practice. It sets out to explore optimism’s origins and implications, its conceptual and practical value, and its capacity to contribute to contemporary anthropological aims. In an era of extensive ecological disruption and social distress, this volume contemplates how an optimistic anthropology can energize the discipline while also contributing to bettering the lives, communities, and environments of those we study. It brings together scholars diverse in background, career stage, and theoretical approach in a collective attempt to comprehend the myriad intersections of anthropology and optimism. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have recently underscored the larger, longer-term catastrophes of climate change, ecosystemic collapse, social injustice, and antipathy toward scientific knowledge and those who produce it. In this context, exceedingly few anthropologists feel comfortable observing and documenting passively while their research communities face unrelenting waves of (un)natural disasters. We need to act. But we also need to hope. Discontent with the state of the world and cultural anthropology’s turn to increasingly positive, future-oriented, and engaged work have converged to unleash a courageously optimistic anthropology. This book is a timely springboard for this impactful and emergent approach. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Contributors Foreword Introduction: Why Optimism? What Is Optimism and Why Does It Matter? The Anthropology of the Good Time and the Future Engagement, Advocacy, and Activism Design Anthropology Anthropological Engagements with Optimism References Chapter 1: A World Made Safe for (Future) Difference: Anthropology and Utopian Possibility Burning It Down Little Creatures Between Coming and Becoming Difference at a Distance Relativism Reborn Extinguishing Hope Conclusion: Anthropology and Its Surplus References Chapter 2: Vertiginous Optimism: Optimistic Orientations in a Field of Chronic Crisis Optimistic Orientations in a Field of Chronic Crisis Ethnographic Vertigo and the Right Kind of Optimism The Vertiginous in Social Theory Conclusion Notes References Chapter 3: “Moving on and Moving Up”: Productive Angles of Exploring Optimism Perspective Is Everything: On How We Choose to See the World Forcing Ourselves to See the World Differently Theoretical Implications: Why Thinking about Optimism Is Important Methodological Implications: How This Changes What We Do Optimism as Fuel for Advocacy References Chapter 4: Where Have All the Flowers Gone?: Planting Optimism in a Disrupted Ecology Introduction Methodology Surviving the Fallout with Suisen (Narcissus) Himawari (Sunflower) and Attunement to a Disrupted Ecology Experimenting with Kosumosu (Cosmos) Resuming a Normal Life with Kikyō (Turkish Bellflower) Conclusion Acknowledgments Notes References Chapter 5: Indigenous Optimism in the Colonialcene Optimism and Indigenous Anthropology Indigenous Land Education and Community-Based Conservation in the Cherokee Nation Building a Strong Relationship to the Land Teach by Showing; Learn by Doing Communal and Spiritual Values Having a Good Time Setting Nets and Planting Seeds: Nmé Restoration, Slow Movement, and Facing Climate Change Conclusion Notes References Chapter 6: Putting the Pieces in Place: Optimistic Futuring in Transition Culture Optimistic Research: Transition as Self-Medication Embracing (and Creating) Change Optimistic Futuring in the Here and Now Conclusion Notes References Chapter 7: Optimism at Scale: Exploring Everyday Activism in Atlanta’s Alternative Food Networks Introduction Everyday Activism: Practical Actions and Iterative Self-Making Making Myself: Working as an Embedded Practitioner in Atlanta Food Systems Scales of Everyday Activism in Atlanta Food Systems’ COVID-19 Responses Community-Level Self-Making: Expanding Organizational Collaboration Iterative Self-Making within Organizations: Adjusting Missions and Goals Individual Iterative Self-Making: Optimistic Reorientations Conclusion Acknowledgments Conflicts of Interest Notes References Chapter 8: Fusing Outrage and Hope into Acts of Resistance, Volunteerism, and Allyships Emotional Fusions Positioning Hope and Optimism in Research Grief-Courage Prompts Social Justice Activism Exhaustion-Elation Realized in Wildlife Volunteerism Worry-Enthusiasm Shared in Intergenerational Dialogues and Allyships Conclusion: The Promise of Transformative Actions Acknowledgments Notes References Chapter 9: Optimistic Anthropology in the Work of Systems Changemakers Context and Background The Problem with Problem-Solving The Possibility of Systems Change The Work of Systems Changemakers Who Needs to Be Involved in the Work of System Transformation? How Do We Cultivate Interdependency among the People, Communities, and Institutions Who Make Up a System? How Did the System Come to Be This Way? Conclusion Acknowledgments Notes References Chapter 10: China 2060: Envisioning a Human-Centered Approach to Energy Transition Introduction China’s Energy Past and Present The View from 2060: Envisioning China’s Energy Future Anthropological Contributions: Linking the Empirical and the Ethical Conclusion: On Fate and Optimism Note References Chapter 11: Doing Anthropology Forward: Emerging Technologies and Possible Futures Prologue Introduction Beyond the Bind of Techno-Optimism and Techno-Dystopianism Technologies for Hope in the Construction Industry Emerging Technologies for Ethical Optimism Acknowledgments References Afterword: Optimism as Capacity References Index